3 Components of Karate

 Technical Notes 

 

Topic - The three elements of Karate 

Karate practice is generally divided into 3 components 

 

Kihon ( basics )

Kata ( forms )

Kumite ( sparring )

 

     Kihon 

Components of kihon 

a.Tachi kata ( stances ) eg. Zenkutsu dachi 

b.Tsuki waza ( punches ) eg. Jodan tsuki – upper punch 

c. Keri waza ( kicks ) eg. Mae geri – front kick 

d.Uke waza ( blocks ) eg. Shuto uke – knife hand block 

e. Uchi waza ( strikes ) eg. Uraken uchi – back fist  

Classifications of kihon 

a.Kotei kihon ( stationary techniques ) eg. Hachiji dachi , chudan tsuki 

b. Ido kihon ( moving techniques) eg. Zenkutsu dachi, oi tsuki (Forward stance land forward punch )

c. Renzoku kihon ( stationary combination techniques) eg . Zenkutsu dachi gedan barai , ushiro ashi mae geri ( back leg front kick ) and land back in zenkutsu dachi,  gyaku tsuki ( reverse punch). 

d. Renzoku Ido kihon – (moving combination techniques) 

 

  Kata

a. Kata kihon ( basic movement specific to a kata ) eg. Neko ashi dachi, Uchi otoshi uke in Pinan nidan

b. Kata bunkai ( analysis of techniques in a kata )

 

Kumite 

a. Ippon kumite ( basic prearranged sparring – one step )

b. Ippon jyu kumite ( semi free style sparring ) 

c. Jyu kumite ( free style sparring)

 

d. Shiai kumite ( point sparring – sports karate )