Combat pit official logo black
Back to Glossary
Home
Search
Martial Arts Culture and History
Gear and Equipment
Personalities
Skill Development
Mind and Body Connection
Weapons and Traditional Tools
Martial arts map
Complete blog posts directory
Contact

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

To achieve anything we must grind, but to enjoy anything we must flow.
Chris Matakas

Check out the latest blogs

See all articles

Other Glossary terms

Kihon
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Kumite (組手) in Japanese martial arts means “grappling hands” or more loosely, “sparring.”
K
Karate is a traditional martial art that originated in Okinawa, Japan. It focuses on striking techniques such as punches, kicks, knee strikes, and elbow strikes, as well as open-hand techniques like knife-hands and spear-hands.
K
Zanshin is a fundamental concept in Japanese martial arts, referring to a state of relaxed alertness and total awareness. Practitioners cultivate zanshin to maintain vigilance before, during, and after combat.
Z
Taihojutsu, also spelled Taiho-jutsu, is a Japanese martial art specifically developed for law enforcement and self-defense.
T
The Long Staff, or "Côn," is a traditional weapon used in various martial arts, including Vovinam, which is a Vietnamese martial art.
L
Suri-ashi is a fundamental footwork technique used in various Japanese martial arts, including Kendo, Iaido, and Aikido. The term "suri-ashi" translates to "sliding feet" or "gliding step."
S
Kakuremino, often referred to as the "cloak of invisibility," is a term from Japanese folklore and traditional ninjutsu that describes a tool or technique used to render the user invisible or highly concealed
K
Xing Yi Quan, also spelled Hsing I Chuan, is one of the major internal martial arts of China.
X
In the context of martial arts and combat sports, a submission is a technique used to force an opponent to concede defeat, typically due to pain, the threat of injury, or an inability to escape.
S
A shihan is a master instructor, often regarded as a "teacher of teachers." The term is composed of "shi" (teacher, master) and "han" (model, example), underscoring their role as a paragon of excellence and leadership in martial arts. Shihan signifies a higher rank and greater responsibility than sensei, marking a significant milestone in a practitioner’s journey.
S
Bajiquan (八极拳), also known as Baji Quan or Eight Extremities Fist, is a traditional Chinese martial art that is renowned for its explosive power and close-range combat techniques.
B
Boxing is a combat sport in which two participants, usually wearing protective gloves and other protective equipment such as hand wraps and mouthguards, throw punches at each other within a roped-off area called a boxing ring.
B
Mantis Boxing, also known as Praying Mantis Kung Fu, is a traditional Chinese martial art that mimics the movements of the praying mantis insect.
M
The term "Samurai" refers to the military nobility and officer caste of medieval and early-modern Japan.
S
Zanshin is the eighth and final stage in the Hassetsu, the "Eight Stages of Shooting," in Kyudo, the Japanese martial art of archery.
Z
No Items Found