INSTRUCTOR'S COMMENT:

The following descriptions are of the basic movements. Everyone is required to learn and perform the basic movements. You will be asked to explain these movements on each and every belt test. The explanation of these should be to the best of your knowledge. We know that the explanations will improve with every belt test taken.

Once you have completed the basics, you will be shown and taught some advance versions of these basic movements. WORK ON THESE FIRST

• Side Squat Stance (Hachiji-Dachi)
  Body weight should be distributed 50% on each leg. Lefs should be spread shoulder width apart and the knees should be bowed outward so as to strengthen the stance. This is a side fighting stance, 75% defense and 25% offense. The feet shyoould be pointing straight or at a slightly outward angle in front of the body and the hips should be tucked in so they are in line with the heels. The knees should be bent so they will allow slight viewing of the toes.
• Forward Leg Block Stance (Senkutsu-Dachi)
  Body weight should be 60% on the front leg an 40% on the back leg. The front leg is bent so that the knee is straight above the ankle and the front foot is pointing straight ahead. The back foor is to be pointing at about a 30 to 40 degree angle. The knee of the back leg should be straight, but, not locked into position. This is a front fighting stance and should be accompainied with the forward leg block. This stance is 50% offense and 50% defense.
• Cat Foot Stance (Neko-Ashi-Dachi)
  Body weight should be distributed 90% on the back leg an 10% on the front leg. The back leg is to be in a somewhat crouched position with the back foot turned to a slight angle in order to support the body weight. The front leg is bent with only the ball of the front foot touching the floor. The front foot is approximately 1 1/2 to 2 foot lengths from the ball of the back foot. This stance is 75% offense and 25% defense.

• Rising Block (Age-Uki)
  

  This block can be done from any of the three stance. The blocking arm should pass in front of the body rising above the front of the head and continuing until the arm reaches a 45 degree angle above the head. The fist should be tightly closed. The wrist should be straight in line with the forearm and should be pointing upward. The forearm should be covering the entire area of the head from side to side and should , also, be slightly in front of the head. The movement of the arm should pass approximately 1 fist width from the body and when it reaches the extent of its upward motion there should be a popping action. The angle of the arm will allow the striking force to be deflected.

  
  
• Check or Chest Block with Forearm (Ude-Uki)
  

  This block can be done from any of the three stances. The blocking arm should pass across the front of the body. As soon as the wrist fo the blocking arm clears the other arm's elbow, the fist and wrist should be in a tight position all the way to the blocks completion. The fist should be level with the shoulder and the lebow should be 1 fist width from the dise of the body. As with all blcoks, the other arm should move back into the ready position with the fist at the hip and palm facing upward. Don't overblock.

  
  
• Forward Leg Block (Zenkutsu-Uki or Gedan Barai)
  This block can be done from any of the hree stances, but, most usually from a Senkutsu-Dachi or Hachiji-Dachi. The blocking arm crosses down in front of the body form the opposite shoulder of the blocking hand to a point 1 to 1 1/2 widths above the bocking side leg or knee. The last part of the blocking motion should be a popping action with the arm that is a blocking extending slightly beyond the side of the body and then returning to a postion of evenness with the side of the body.
  
• Chop Block (Shuto-Uki)
  Most commonly this block is performed from the Neko-Ashi-Dachi stance, but, can be done form any of the three stances. This block is performed with the Shuto hand position. THe blocking starts with the blocking hand moving to the opposite side shoulder and then extending in a slight circle or arching motion with the palm facing outward toward the striking force. THe opposite hand and arm should be brought back into the ready position with the palm facing upward.

• Forefist Punch (Seiken-Zuki)
  There are basically three levels to focus the forefist punch: High right under the nose and above the upper lip. Middle: located at the opponents solar plexus. Low; lower front of the body at belt level or below. The punch starts at the side of the body with the hand located somewhere between the hip and the upper chest - palm facing upward. As the punch develops the following action should take place:
  
  a. The wrist should twist over to where the palm will be facing down when the punch is fully completed.
  b. The elbow of the punching arm/hand is to slightly rub the side of the body.
  c. At completion the wrist should be straight. the elbow slightly bent, the two inside knuckle making contact with the object or area vou are striking.
  
  Also, it should be understood that there are three stages of the forefist punch that can in themselves be effective in punching. The three stages are: Short, Middle, and Fully Completed. You should not extend the punching motion in the last stage as to cause the shoulder of the punching arm to be pulled forward with the punching action.
  
  
• Forefist Thrust Punch (SeE ken-Zuki-Kekomi)
  This punch is performed with the movement into a Hachiji-Dachi stance. If punching with the right hand/arm, the right leg begins the movement as it moves out in front of the left foot. The punching hand must be in the ready position as the leg slides toward the target and has reached the distance of a shoulder's width or more (if you want to go lower than your opponent) you pivot into a Hachiji-Dachi stance: With Your Hips Leading the Punching Motion. Your punching hand should be extending at the same time your foot is sliding toward the target with the hand/arm movement stopping at the same time the foot movement stops. At the contact point the first two knuckles should be in position to strike with the arm straight, but, the elbow is not to be locked. The other hand should be at the hip in the ready position.
  
  
• Reverse Punch (Gyaku-Zuki)
  This punch is performed the same as the forefist punch (Seiken-Zuki). The only difference being that it is performed as part of a stepping motion. The punching hand is on the opposite side of the leading or forward leg/foot.
  
  
• Lunge Punch (Oi-Zuki)
  This punch is performed the same as the forefist punch (Seiken-Zuki). The only difference being that it is performed as part of a stepping motion. The punching hand is on the same side as the leading or forward leg/foot.

• Front Kick (Mae-Geri-Keagi)
  The kicking leg should be raised until the knee is slightly higher than the point of the target. The other leg should be slightly bent to allow for stability and balance of the body on this leg. The ball of the foot on the kicking leg should be extended as far forward as possible. Bending at the ankle, thus locking the ankle joint and making it strong - with the toes curled back. All of this development should be done by the time the leg/ankle/foot is raising off the floor. If kicking with the back leg, this should be done when the kicking leg passes the other (support) leg. This kick can be used at three different levels; High, Middle, Low. This kick can be done in two different ways: Snapping; to emphasize speed and a popping action upon the target, and: Thru~LllwI so as to emphasize speed and a powerful thrusting upon the target. This kick can be done from any of the stances.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Side Kick (Yoko-Geri-Keagi)
  This kick can be done from any stance. Body weight is shifted from one leg to the other. Either by bodyshifting or by a stepping movement. The kicking leg is raised to the side, if done from Hachiji-Dachi, or to the front, if done from Zenkutsu-Dachi with the knee of the kicking leg facing or pointing toward the target. In this raised position, the foot position and ankle position should be completed. As the leg is extended to the target, the hips are to be thrusted. Not Rolled. into the movement of the kicking leg. The upper part of the body is to be planed out horizontally to the floor. The point of contact on the kicking foot is the heel in the thrust kick and the edge of the foot in the snapping kick.