Karate Shotokan

Sample 1: Parts of the body Seiken This part of the fist is probably the most often used for attacks, so it should be done properly. Consider this - if your punch is strong, it means that you are using your hand, and you also turn your body, to add some power of your back and hips muscles, and you may also step forward, to add the speed of your body moving towards the target. If your wrist is weak, all this power will twist it, instead of going into the target. It is a common trauma. To close the fist properly, start from the baby finger, then the ring finger, and so on, thumb is the last. The thumb should be on the side of the fist (approx. on top of the middle finger) and NOT on top of the fist, covering the pointing finger. Beginners are often getting traumas when neglecting this rule. The area used for the punch (the seiken) is circulled on the following picture, it includes the nockles of the pointing and middle fingers. Note that I am only listing the parts of the body here, later, when we discuss particular techniques, we will talk about additional details, like concentration and relaxation, keeping the wrist aligned with the fist and so on. Uraken Same part of the fist as above (the nockles of the pointing and middle fingers) is used in the ura punch (ura means back or reversed, you will see this term as part of many names in karate techniques). Shuto Used both for blocks and attacks. It is very important to know that the area you are supposed to use is NOT at exact side of the palm, but slightly inside the palm. If you touch your hand at the side of the palm, you will feel the bone that connects your baby finger to the wrist. This bone is not protected by the muscules and can easily be broken if you try to use it. Now move your finger half of an inch inside, towards the center of the palm. There you have a large muscle, that will protect your bones, allowing (practice required) to break objects or to block hands and even feet of your opponent.