Kihon Sono Yon

Yoi, come to ready, hands to cross in front of body, right hand inside, coming up to as though to grab your ears. As your hands come down, make fists with pinky and thumb tight, bend the knees, lower your center of gravity in unison. You will come to heiko dachi (parallel stance), hands come down with strength of movement to middle area of body. After attaining opening position take 80% off your dynamic tension, relax but do not relax. Now eyes look straight ahead, and gaze on one point in front of you. Listen for commands from your Sensei. Repeat after Sensei "Kihon  Sono Yon" (so you understand which form you are asked to do). Sensei will say either ippon count (one move at a time) or no count, make sure you understand with a loud Osu!

Note: This kata is going to require you have a excellent side thrust kick (Yoko Geri), it's the same as basic katas 1 & 2 your basic kicks need to show that you understand their execution, front kick, round kick, and the complicated back kick and now side kick. There is no getting around it (excuse the pun) four basics kicks of karate and you need to perfect them before you move on to all the others.

Ichi: Look left first, Slide right foot to left foot into musubi dachi (heels together, feet at 45 degree angle), executing a left back fist strike (uraken uchi), left forearm on top of right forearm pulling back right hand to ready and striking the face of your opponent with your wrist bent, and striking with the two knuckles, face high. This move as with any form, the opening move should be explosive, set the tone, you know the drill by now. The first move (and last move) must be dynamic and in between keep your form alive.

Ni: Now while in this position, chamber left leg above belt, need to balance on one leg, bend base leg ever so slightly. Keep your centerline of gravity. With knee chambered to your chest, keep looking left, tightened your left ankle, (by this level of kata you should understand the importance of foot position). Big toe up, little toes down, ankle heel pushed out emphasizing the blade of your foot, this is all done well maintaining your ready position to kick. Now while maintaining balance, thrust out side kick (Yoko Geri Kekomi), pivoting base leg at (imagery opponent) at impact. Do not lean over to your right (bad form) keep your hands up while executing this basic kick. After full extension, re-chamber back to original position. Now while maintaining this re-chambering position you need to keep looking left, and as in the previous three forms slide out to your left into Zen stance executing a reverse vertical fist strike (tatecan) to middle area and do a powerful kia.

San: Now while maintaining this position, look over your right shoulder, bring your left forearm to your right forearm, shoulder high, left arm underneath right arm, slide left foot into right musubi dachi (angel 45) while executing another back fist strike (uraken gammen uchi) to your opponent's face. While maintaining this stance you will once again execute right yoko geri kekomi kick followed once again by a left reverse vertical strike to the middle area with a powerful kia. If you execute move San as described in Ni, you will be right on spot.

Shi: While in right Zen stance holding reverse vertical strike to the middle area. Now look to your left, do a left fist uraken to your left, slide your right foot out into horse stance (kiba stance) and execute a right vertical fist strike, shoulder high. This is considered one technique move, period. Its important to keep your kibas low throughout this form now, perfect horse stances, period, knees bent, 50/50 weight, feet parallel, knees plum (bent in) chest out, back straight, period.

Note: Now you are moving down that imaginary line of your katas.

Go: Now slide left foot close to your right foot keeping your knees bent, right hand will be pulled back to ready (hikite) with your hips turned in a energy saving position. Execute left vertical fist strike, shoulder high, while releasing the energy from your torque position.

Roku: Now superb timing for the next move is essential, because you will be standing in a left horse stance, having executed a vertical fist strike, maintaining a deep horse stance. Now the right foot slides out at a 45 degree angle (as with most of your starting positions of these forms 1-4). You slide into a right Zen stance and do three punches ( "Ren-tsuki" alternate punching you have been doing with me for decades) high punch, low punch, middle punch. After executing the three punches with zest, you continue on by moving your left foot into a horse stance bringing your left forearm inside of your right forearm (as we do in basics ever night) and execute a spinning back fist (tetsui uchi) to jodan (face area) and do a powerful kia! This is all one move.

Shichi:Now your moving go back down the imaginary line, right foot slide past left foot saving power and execute another vertical fist strike, holding that deep kiba.

Hachi: Now sliding your left foot past your right foot saving power torque hips, and execute another vertical fist strike. Staying low, perfect kiba all the way trough this form.

Ku: Once again, coming to the near end of your kata, right foot slides out 45 degree angle and prepares to execute another alternate punching combination, jodan, gedan, chudan, with power and speed. Kia powerfully on third punch.

Ju: Now as a separate move, slide left foot into position for kiba stance, left forearm inside of right forearm as you execute your second tetsui uchi strike to jodan area. Continuing on, slide left foot to the left until a line connecting the feet is at a 45 degree angle to direction of body. Execute a powerful reverse punch (gyaku tsuki), kia strong loud and clear.

Ichi: Quickly slide right foot into fighting stance (kumite no tachi, kumite no kamae, morote no kamae), move out and give out a loud spirit kia "IISHA"!

Yamae: Sensei says come back to ready, do we relax, no! You move your front foot back to parallel stance to the yoi dachi as explained in the above "Yoi" ready movement , nothing changes, smooth, controlled, and maintain "Zanshin". You say "what is Zanshin? When you come back to ready, plain English, keep the motor running, knees bent, 50/50 weight distribution, gaze set, and maintaining Zanshin.

Example: Kyudo (archery) the final position of the archer, after the release of the arrow. The archer should remain in the final position of having released the arrow at least until it has reached the target, without moving and without watching its flight.