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Kihon

What is Kihon?

Kihon (基本) is a Japanese martial arts term that means “fundamentals” or “basic techniques.”

🔹 What Kihon Means in Martial Arts

  • It refers to the core building blocks of a martial art — the basic stances, strikes, kicks, blocks, and movements.
  • Practiced repeatedly to develop form, power, speed, balance, and coordination.
  • In Karate (where it’s most commonly used), kihon is one of the three pillars:
    1. Kihon → basics
    2. Kata → patterns/forms
    3. Kumite → sparring

🔹 Examples of Kihon in Karate

  • Punches (oi-zuki = lunge punch, gyaku-zuki = reverse punch)
  • Kicks (mae-geri = front kick, yoko-geri = side kick)
  • Blocks (age-uke = rising block, gedan-barai = downward block)
  • Stances (zenkutsu-dachi = front stance, kiba-dachi = horse stance)

🔹 Why Kihon Matters

  • Builds muscle memory → so techniques come naturally under pressure.
  • Improves form and efficiency → reducing wasted movement.
  • Develops spirit and discipline → because repetition trains focus.
  • Without strong kihon, advanced techniques (kata, sparring) fall apart.

Related Article: Shotokan Karate: Complete Guide to the World's Most Popular Martial Art Style

The highest aim was never to master Jiu Jitsu; it was to master myself.
Chris Matakas

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