Rainhill Kase Ha Shotokan Karate Academy
Kihon
Kihon is one of the three main sections of karate training, along with kata and kumite. Literally translated kihon means basics or fundamentals and is used to describe the practice and repetition of the basic individual techniques that form the building blocks of karate.
Kihon training allows students:
- to learn individual techniques:
- to improve individual techniques, e.g. by performing it forward, backwards, on the left and right side, faster, stronger, etc.,
- to understand and develop breathing and muscle control, which contribute to making the technique more powerful; and
- to exercise, build strength and develop the suppleness.
Kihon can be performed:
- with footwork or from a stationary position (sonoba kihon) or moving in all directions (ido kihon),
- individually or in large groups,
- by organising various kihon techniques into sequences, creating kata; and
- when learning how to apply kihon techniques to another person, creating kumite.
Whilst considered by many students to be the least exciting form of training when compared with kata and kumite, kihon is considered by many to be the ABC of karate and probably contributes the largest amount to the power of your karate. Consequently, if your kihon is poor, your karate will be poor.
See also
Ten No Kata
"To practice a technique you must first know what it is for. To perfect a technique you must first forget what it is for".
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