# List of shotokan techniques

This is a list of techniques practiced in the Shotokan style of karate.

## Stances (Tachi Kata)

* Heisoku Dachi: formal attention stance
* Musubi Dachi: informal attention stance, both heels touching and feet at 45° angle
* Heiko Dachi: parallel attention stance (e.g. in the kata Kanku Dai)
* Hachiji Dachi: outward feet stance
* Uchi Hachiji Dachi: inward feet stance; reverse of hachiji Dachi
* Iaigoshi Dachi: kneeling stance (e.g. in the kata Enpi)
* Fudo Dachi: rooted stance (e.g. in the kata Bassai Dai)
* Hangetsu Dachi: half-moon stance (e.g. in the kata Hangetsu)
* Kiba Dachi: horse stance/side stance (e.g. in the Tekki katas)
* Kokutsu Dachi: back stance (in almost all Shotokan katas; usually first learned in Heian Shodan)
* Kosa Dachi: cross-legged stance (e.g. in the kata Heian Yondan)
* Neko ashi Dachi: cat stance (e.g. in the kata Bassai Sho)
* Mitsurin Dachi: jungle stance
* Renoji Dachi: stance in which the feet form the shape of the Japanese katakana “レ” when seen from above, or relaxed stance (e.g. in the kata Kanku Dai)
* Teiji Dachi: t-stance
* Sanchin Dachi: hourglass stance (e.g. in the kata Sanchin)
* Katashi Dachi: crane-like stance (e.g. in the kata Enpi)
* Sagi Ashi Dachi: heron stance (e.g. in the kata Jitte)
* Gankaku Dachi: crane stance (e.g. in the kata Gankaku)
* Tsuru Ashi Dachi: hanging leg stance
* Zenkutsu Dachi: front stance ТжвЧ
* Yoi Dachi (usually called Yoi): basic stance/Ready position
** Yoi Dachi is Heiko Dachi with the hands out in a ready position.
* Yama Dachi: mountain stance (e.g. in the kata Jitte)
* Sochin Dachi: high-low blocking rooted stance
* Shizen tai: natural stance

### Preparatory positions

* koshi gamae: hip preparatory position
* ryoken koshi gamae: double hip preparatory position (e.g. in the kata, Heian sandan)
* morote koko gamae: double handed preparatory position (e.g. in the kata, Enpi)

## “Reception” techniques (uke-waza) Blocks
### Using the arms

* age-uke: rising block
* empi uke: elbow block (e.g. in the kata, Heian sandan)
* gedan barai: sweeping low block
* gedan morote barai: double sweeping low block (usually while going into kiba Dachi)
* haiwan uke: square side block (e.g. in the kata, Heian nidan)
* gedan juji uke: downward x block
* jodan juji uke: upward x block
* kaisho age uke: open-palm rising block
* kaisho haiwan uke: knife-hand square side block (e.g. in the kata, Heian yondan)
* kaisho juji uke: open-palm x block (e.g. in the kata, Heian godan)
* kakiwake uke: floating x block (e.g. in the kata, Heian yondan)
* morote uke: double forearm block (e.g. in the kata, Heian sandan)
* nagashi uke: rising palm sweep block (e.g. in the kata, Tekki shodan)
* osae uke: palm block
* otoshi uke: dropping forearm block
* shuto age uke: rising knife-hand block
* shuto gedan barai: knife-hand sweeping low block
* shuto uke: knife hand block
* shuto mawashi uke (roundhouse block with knife-hand)
* soto uke (外受け): outside forearm block
* morote sukui uke: scooping block
* tate shuto uke: half knife-hand block
* Te osae uke: dropping palm block
* Uchi ude uke (内腕受け)/ uchi uke (内受け): inside forearm block
* Gyako uchi uke: reverse outside mid-level (e.g. in the kata, Heian nidan)
* Ude barai: reverse sweeping forearm block
* Heo Tsukami: hair grab (e.g. in the kata, Enpi)
* Ushiro gedan barai: back low sweeping block (e.g. in the kata, Enpi)
* Teisho uke: palm heel block
* Chudan soete uke: added hand inside block (e.g. in the kata, Bassai Dai)
* Tsuki uke: punching block
* Morote Tsukami uke: augmented grabbing/throwing block
* Mawashi uke: roundhouse or circle block (e.g. in the kata, Unsu)
* Haishu uke: backhand block (e.g. in the kata, Heian godan)
* Kosa uke (also known as joge uke): cross block (e.g. in the kata, Heian sandan)
* Teisho awase uke: hands together block (e.g. in the kata, Gankaku)
* Zenwan uke: forearm block
* Gedan kaki uke: downward hook block
* Joge kaki uke: up & down hook block (e.g. in the kata, Enpi)
* manji uke: "manji (卍)"-shaped block

### Using the legs

* Ashikubi Kake Uke: hooking ankle block
* Mika Zuki Geri Uke: crescent kick block (e.g. in the kata, Heian sandan)
* Nami Ashi, a.k.a. Nami Gaeshi: leg snapping wave block (e.g. in the kata, Tekki shodan)
* Sokutei Osae Uke: pressing sole block
* Sokuto Osae Uke: pressing footedge block

## Striking techniques (Uchi-waza)

* Age Empi: Rising elbow strike
* Age Zuki: Rising Punch
* Choku Zuki: Straight punch
* Chudan Juki (originally,"tsuki"): Mid-level punch
* Empi Uchi: Elbow strike
* Gyaku zuki: Reverse punch
* Haishu Uchi: Back hand strike
* Haito Uchi: Ridge hand strike
* Gyaku Haito: Reverse Ridge hand strike
* Otoshi Gyaku Haito: Dropping reverse Ridge hand strike
* Jodan Haito: Upward Ridge hand strike (e.g. in the kata, Unsu)
* Age Heito: Rising Ridge hand strike
* Heiko Zuki: Parallel or Double punch
* Hasami Zuki: Scissor strike
* Hasami Nakadaka Ken: Scissor Middle Finger strike (e.g. in the kata, Chinte)
* Jun Zuki or Oi-zuki: Step through punch
* Kagi Zuki: Hook punch
* Atama Shiri Uchi: Head-Butt strike
* Kizami Zuki or Maete: jabbing punch (like a 'jab')
* Mae Mawashi Empi Uchi: Augmented side elbow strike (e.g. in the kata, Heian yondan)
* Mawashi Empi: Hook elbow strike
* Atsuen Empi Uchi: Rolling elbow strike (e.g. in the kata Nijushiho)
* Sokumen Zuki: Double side punch (e.g. in the kata, Tekki shodan)
* Ippon Ken: One finger Punch/Strike
* Nakadaka Ken: Middle finger punch/strike
* Nihon Ken: Two finger punch/strike; eye strike (e.g. in the kata, Chinte)
* Hiraken: Four knuckle strike
* Nukite: Spear-hand strike
* Ippon Nukite: 1 finger Spear-hand strike (e.g. in the kata, Unsu)
* Nihon Nukite: 2 finger Spear-hand strike
* Oi zuki: Stepping punch
* Sanbon Zuki: Triple punch (Age zuki, Gyaku Zuki, Choku Zuki)
* Shuto Uchi: Knifehand strike
* Shuto Yoko Ganmen Uchi (knife-hand strike to head)
* Shuto Sakotsu Uchikomi (driving knife-hand to sternum)
* Shuto Sakotsu Uchi (knife-hand strike to clavicle)
* Shuto Hizo Uchi (knife-hand strike to spleen)
* Shuto Jodan Uchi (inside knife-hand to neck)
* Sokumen Empi Uchi: Augmented elbow strike (e.g. in the kata, Tekki shodan)
* Tate Zuki: Half reverse punch, with a vertical fist
* Amuba Tsukami: Arm-Bar hold
* Teisho Furi Uchi: Sideways palm-heel strike
* Teisho Uchi: Palm-heel strike
* Tate Teisho Uchi: Vertical, or Rising palm heel strike
* Tettsui: Hammer-fist strike
* Tettsui Hasami Uchi: Hammer-fist scissor strike
* Tettsui Yoko Uchi (bottom fist strike to side)
* Otoshi Uraken: Dropping Backfist in kosa Dachi (e.g. in the kata, Heian yondan)
* Uraken Uchi: Backfist strike
* Uraken Mawashi Uchi (backfist circular strike to the head)
* Uraken Sayu Ganmen Uchi (backfist strike to side)
* Uraken Hizo Uchi: backfist strike to spleen
* Ushiro Empi Ate: backwards elbow strike
* Ura Zuki: Close short punch, with inverted fist, similar in nature to an 'uppercut'
* Ushiro Empi: Back elbow strike
* Yama Zuki ("mountain punch"): Wide double fisted strike (e.g. in the kata, Bassai dai and Wankan)
* Awase Zuki: Narrow double fisted strike
* Yoko Empi: Side elbow strike
* Yoko Tettsui: Sideways hammer-fist strike (e.g. in the kata, Heian nidan)
* Gyaku Age Zuki: Rising reverse punch (e.g. in the kata, Enpi)
* Tsukiage: Uppercut (e.g. in the kata, Heian godan)
* Kumate: Bear Claw, or Tiger Claw strike
* Seiryuto: Ox-Jaw Strike
* Heiko Seiryuto: Parallel or double Ox-Jaw Strike (e.g. in the kata, Gojushiho Sho)
* Kokuto: crane head strike
* Washite: Eagle hand or, eagle claw strike (e.g. in the kata, Gojushiho Dai)
* Keito: Chicken head strike
* Age Keito: Rising Chicken head strike
* Yumi Zuki: Bow drawing strike (e.g. in the kata, Sochin)

## Kicking techniques (Keri-waza)

* Ashi barai: Foot sweep
* Fumikomi Geri: Stomp kick
* Hiza geri: Knee strike
* Kin geri: Kick in the groin, performed like front kick but with the feet
* Mae-ashi geri: Front kick with front leg
* Mae-ashi mawashi geri: Front roundhouse kick with front leg
* Mae geri: Front kick
* Mae Hiza geri: Front knee kick
* Mae-ren geri: Double front kick (= double mae geri)
* Tobi mae geri: Front flying/jump kick
* Tobi yoko geri: Jumping side kick
* Tobi mawashi geri: Jumping roundhouse kick
* Tobi mikazuki geri: Jumping crescent kick
* Tobi gyaku mikazuki geri: Jumping reverse crescent
* Tobi ushiro geri: Jumping spinning back kick
* Tobi ushiro mawashi geri: Jumping spinning hook kick
* Tobi hiza geri: Jumping knee kick
* Oi Mae Geri: Lunging rear-leg front kick
* Mawashi geri: Round kick
* Mawashi hiza geri: Circular knee kick
* Mikazuki geri: Crescent kick
* Gyaku mikazuki geri: Reverse Crescent kick
* Nidan tobi geri: Jumping Double front kick
* Ura mawashi geri or Kagi geri: Upper inside round kick, a.k.a. hook kick
* Ushiro geri: Back kick
* Ushiro mawashi geri : spinning hook kick
* Ushiro kekomi: Back side thrust kick
* Otoshi Mawashi Geri: Circular falling kick
* Yoko geri keage: Side snap kick
* Yoko geri kekomi: Side thrust kick
* Yoko tobi geri: Jumping side kick
* Ono Geri: Axe Kick
* Yoni Tsokia: Ducking leg hook
* Ushiro Hiza Geri : back spinning knee strike
* Otshi Hiza Geri : circular falling knee strike
* Kakato Geri :kick with heels to jaw
* Ura kakato geri: upper inside roundhouse heel kick
* Otoshi kakato geri: circular falling heel kick to head or spine
* Hasu geri: lotus kick, or reverse roundhouse kick
* Kakudo geri: Angle kick