Oizuki Karate Classes and the Importance of Stepping Punch

Watch and copy the Stepping Punch slow drill below

Oizuki is simple, fast and direct, but hard to land!

During a karatekas first few weeks of karate classes, they will be shown oizuki (stepping punch), this is a very basic karate move, which is used in the first karate belt test, kata (form) and kumite (sparring).

Oizuki, starting from a left leg in front, karate front stance (zenkutsu dachi).

1. The left leg bent in front and the right leg placed behind, almost straight.
2. The hip and body are side on (hanmi).
3. The arms are in the gedanbarai (downward block) position, left arm placed over the left leg, the left fist should be a fist to two fists away from the knee, approximately. The right fist in the hikite position, placed just below the ribs, with the palm of the fist facing up.
4. Step forward with the right leg and punch as you land in a right zenkutsu dachi.
5. On completion of the punch, the body should be square (shomen).

Oi Zuki (Stepping punch)

This is a very basic explanation of the punch, as this article is more concerned with the importance of the technique, than how to perform the move itself.

I once witnessed Aihara Shihan deliver an incredible oizuki to the throat of his

tournament opponent, who was himself, a very high level karateka. His timing and speed were incredible, if the control had not been there, the damaged caused would have been devastating. I will always remember the speed and straight forward directness of Aihara senseis stepping punch.

Oizuki is a basic karate technique that very few karateka take to a high level. Such a seemingly simple karate move, but underneath this basic karate move, lies a whole art form all on its own.

When stepping forward, many karateka think of the upper body first, now the upper body plays a big part, but so does the front knee, hips, both sides of the body, back leg, front leg, stomach, breathing, etc.

Oizuki is an extremely hard technique to land on an opponent. It takes a long time to execute, you are open to attack because it is a long karate move, it is a straight karate technique, so it is much easier to evade than say, a hook punch.

This is an important karate move that should be practiced intensely, by working on this punch in your karate classes, you will improve not only your oizuki, but many other karate techniques will benefit because of your effort with this one move.

They say oizuki is a simple karate move, but go ask an experienced shotokan karate instructor, I’m sure the answer you get, will be anything but simple!

If you are one of the many karateka, who learn karate at home, as well as at the dojo, I urge you to work on the stepping punch.

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