Shotokan Karate Kihon Basics 4 X Block Punch Using Tsugi Ashi (2024)

The shotokan karate follow along class is a recording from one of our Inner Circle live zoom classes.

Although this shotokan karate kihon basics combination has four basic blocks and reverse punch, it is classed as intermediate because of the style of step.

I am going to break down each tsugi ashi both forwards and backwards. There is a lot to think about with this style of step and one of the most important elements is non telegraphic movement.

Try to only move the legs for the first half of the step, when stepping forward and when stepping back, try and use the front stepping leg and blocking arm preperation sharply together.

Be sure and drive off the legs when stepping, try not to just fall forwards or backwards, drive from the legs!

1. Starting from a right gyaku tsuki in zenkutsu dachi, with the left leg in front.
2. Sharply pull the front left leg back to the back right leg, at the same time prepare the right arm for age uke with the left. Keep the same height, try not to come up. this foot work is known as tsugi ashi (Shuffling step)
3. Drive back off the left leg, step back with the right leg into zenkutsu dachi and block age uke (upper block) with the left arm.
4. Make sure you are in the hanmi (side facing) position on the completion of age uke (upper block).
5. Shoot the back right leg up to the front left foot, try not to move anything but the right stepping leg. Keep the same height.
6. Drive off the right leg and step forward with the left leg and punch gyaku tsuki (reverse punch) with the right arm, once again keep the same height throughout the tsugi ashi.
7. Sharply pull the front left leg back to the back right leg, at the same time prepare the arms for soto ude uke with the left arm. Keep the same height, try not to come up.
8. Drive back off the front left leg, step back with the right leg into zenkutsu dachi and block soto ude uke (outside forearm block) with the left arm.
9. Shoot the back right leg up to the front left foot, try not to move anything but the right stepping leg. Keep the same height.
10. Drive off the right leg and step forward with the left leg and punch gyaku tsuki (reverse punch) with the right arm, once again keep the same height throughout the tsugi ashi.
11. Sharply pull the front left leg back to the back right leg, at the same time prepare the arms for uchi ude uke with the left arm. Keep the same height, try not to come up.
12. Drive back off the front left leg, step back with the right leg into zenkutsu dachi and block uchi ude uke (inside forearm block) with the left arm.
13. Shoot the back right leg up to the front left foot, try not to move anything but the right stepping leg. Keep the same height.
14. Drive off the right leg and step forward with the left leg and punch gyaku tsuki (reverse punch) with the right arm, once again keep the same height throughout the tsugi ashi.
15. Sharply pull the front left leg back to the back right leg, at the same time prepare the arms for gedan barai with the left arm. Keep the same height, try not to come up.
16. Drive back off the front left leg, step back with the right leg into zenkutsu dachi and block gedan barai (down block) with the left arm.
17. Shoot the back right leg up to the front left foot, try not to move anything but the right stepping leg. Keep the same height.
18. Drive off the right leg and step forward with the left leg and punch gyaku tsuki (reverse punch) with the right arm, once again keep the same height throughout the tsugi ashi.

We hope you enjoyed this shotokan karate follow along class, which has been created for all karateka and is suitable for intermediate and advanced karateka.

This shotokan karate kihon basics blog post, has a shotokan karate kihon basics article and video.

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