Learn Karate Blocks Online - Uchi Ude Uke - Inside Forearm Block

Uchi ude uke, or inside forearm block is one of the first shotokan karate blocks that e new karateka will learn in the karate dojo. It's a good idea to practice this block in shizentai (natural stance), with feet approximately shoulder width apart and toes facing forward, before trying to practice stepping forward and backwards in Zenkutsu dachi (front stance).
Remember, the blocking part of the arm, is the outside of the forearm, not the edge of the arm!

Karate For Beginners Kizami-zuki or Jab Punch

Shotokan karate kihon is very fast, strong and direct! Kizami-zuki is great example of a very direct strike. The video below gives some tips and advice for karateka practicing the jab punch, especially if you are practicing karate at home.

Shotokan Karate Exercises Pad Work

If you are learning karate at home and can get someone to help, there are some awesome shotokan karate exercises that can be practiced on the focus pads. This exercise works on speed, distance, accuracy and timing. Starting with the left leg in front, the first person attacks with kizami-uki, gyaku-uki, then quickly pulls the left leg back, then immediately attack with a right leg mawashi-geri, landing with uraken, gyaku-zuki, followed by a left leg mawashi-geri, gyaku-zuki. As you land with the gyaku-uki, skip up with the right leg and finish with a left leg mawashi-geri and gyaku-zuki. There are many other shotokan karate exercises that can be practiced on the focus pads, but this one does cover some important shotokan karate kihon fundamentals.

Learning Karate A Basic Three Stance Combination

A basic three stance shotokan karate exercise video, focusing on the driving leg and use of the body and hips. The full article can be read here

How To Learn Karate At Home

Karate Do

Is it really possible to learn karate at home? Well there are problems when trying to learn karate at home. But if you cannot join a good karate dojo, then the next best thing is to discover how to learn karate at home!

Books, DVD's and the incredible world wide web, now make it possible for anyone to learn martial arts, even if they have no access to proffesional instructors.

Many karate sensei will disagree with me, they will say you can only learn from a high level black belt instructor, one who sees you on a regular basis. I say, attending a good dojo, is the best way, but if there is no dojo accessable, then NO ONE should be able to tell you that you cannot learn karate.

It will take tremendous effort and determination, It's very hard to practice karate on your own, day in and day out. But once you get yourself in a routine, training on your own becomes easy.

It's now time to start researching, this will include not just karate moves, but karate history, karate philosophy. Karatedo translates as the way of karate, karate is more than just physical moves, it's a way of life.

Good luck with your karate journey Ossu, linden

Learn Karate Online Shomen and Hanmi

Shomen and hanmi are basic fundamentals within the shotokan karate system, although there are many interpretations of shomen and hanmi.

Shomen (square facing). Oizuki (stepping punch) and gyaku zuki (reverse punch) are both performed with the body and hips in the square position (shomen).

Hanmi (side facing). All the basic blocks plus kizami zuki (jab punch), are performed with the body and hips in the side facing position (hanmi).

Here is a shomen hanmi video which has a good exercise for developing this important area.

Karate Stances Kokutsu dachi Back stance

Kokutsu dachi or back stance, is one of the first karate stances you learn in shotokan karate. this is a difficult stance and many people struggle, on a more positive note, people basically make the same mistakes. Below is a quick video explaining this shotokan stance, for a more detailed explanation, follow this link for kokutsu dachi.