2a. Naihanchi Shodan

Push Block (Osai Uke)

To perform the “push” block commonly referred to as “lay”, the karateka turns their palm upward and presses their wrist against the chest. They then “push” the hand straight outward making contact against an opponent’s oncoming punch with their wrist. This is meant to be a pushing deflection rather than a strike, but can be performed as a strike. The common stance for this movement is either Horse Stance (as in Naihanchi) or Natural Stance.

Elbow Strike (Empi Zuki)

The elbow moves horizontally outwards so that the outer bone of the forearm and the elbow strike the opponent. It is important that this strike hit horizontally or else the karateka will “chicken-wing” by striking with the muscular part of the forearm and do little damage.

Double Block (Chuge Uke)

The double block can be applied as either a double block (as the name implies) or as a block and a strike. One arm performs a low block while the other performs a hook block. This is done from Ready Stance in the kata but can be done in many other stances.

Back Fist (Uraken)

The back fist in Naihanchi Shodan is done with a whipping motion. Starting with a hand held up in a guard position. The fist is dropped and pulled towards the body before rising back up and out toward your opponent. This should make a circular movement. Your striking surface is the two knuckles as in a punch, and the target area is the face, particularly the nerves left or right of the nose.

Forearm Block (Uchi Uke)

Performed in Horse Stance, the forearm block uses both hands. The blocking hand blocks an oncoming attack with the outside bone of the forearm. The non-blocking arm moves in parallel with the blocking arm but is only meant to be a guard for a possible second attack. The wrists are relaxed and make bend towards the attacker. The elbows are bent at a 90 degree angle and there is about two to four inches between the upper arm and the body.

Double Strike (Sayu Zuki)

To perform a double strike, the karateka chambers both hands onto one side of the body while in Horse Stance. The hands shoot across the body (staying close to the body) towards the opponent. The hand closest to the opponent strikes slightly higher than the hand further from the opponent. Both hands are in fists and the striking surface is the same as a normal punch.

• Attention.
• Bow.
• Announce the Kata.
• The hands are straightened and then come together with the right overlapping the left. The palms are presented away from the body before being brought back towards the face and finally down at stomach height making a triangle. The palms should be facing the ground at the end.
• Look to the right. The left foot steps across the right so that you are cross-legged.
• The right foot slides out from behind the left into horse stance. The right hand performs the “push” block to the right of the body.
• The left arm performs an elbow strike against the right hand. This move is done to the right of the body. the elbow needs to meet the hand more so than the hand meets the elbow.
• The right and left hands are chambered to the right side of the hip.
• Look to the left. The left hand performs a low block to the left of the body.
• The right hand performs a middle height punch across the body.
• The right foot steps over the left into cross-legged stance.
• The left foot steps out into ready stance. Look forward.
• The right hand performs a single hook block.
• Perform a double block (left hand doing a hook block and right hand doing a low block).
• The left hand does a high back fist.
• Look left and then perform a leg check with the left leg. Double arm block to the left.
• Look to the right and then perform a leg check with the right leg. Then end with an augmented arm block with the left arm (right arm augments below) to the right.
• Chamber the hands to the right hip. Look left. Double punch to the left.
• The left hand performs the “push” block to the left of the body.
• The right arm performs an elbow strike against the left hand to the left of the body.
• The right and left hands are chambered to the left side of the hip.
• Look to the right. The right hand performs a low block to the right of the body.
• The left hand performs a middle height punch across the body.
• The left foot steps over the right into cross-legged stance.
• The right foot steps out into ready stance. Look straight ahead.
• The right hand performs a single hook block.
• Perform a double block (right hand doing a hook block and left hand doing a low block).
• The right hand does a high back fist.
• Look right and then leg check with the right leg. Double arm block to the right.
• Look left and then perform a leg check with the left leg. Then end with an augmented arm block with the right arm (left arm augments below) to the left.
• Chamber the hands to the left hip. Look right. Double punch to the right.
• Straighten the fingers out.
• Return to attention with the fingers pointed to the floor in a triangle like the kata started.
• Bow.