Karate (i.e. Shotokan and Shidokan Styles)

 

Is a form of Marital Arts with 4 to as many as 8 different styles. However not all are accepted or included in top Karate Federations or Organizations. Karate has multiple upper body striking techniques meaning the utilization of hands/fists, elbows, and forearms,etc. As well as variations of Round Kicks, Side Kicks, and Front kicks. Also incorporates some excellent blocking techniques using either upper or lower extremities. Note: If interested in Karate it is important to read the history of Karate. There are plenty of online and hardcopy references for the history of Karate.

Karate is known for its excellent self-defense techniques and its wide variety of impressive upper extremity Strikes and Blocking techniques. Taekwondo has Superior Kicking Techniques but Karate Style(s) kick should not be ignored.

Popularized in Movies and TV by Chuck Norris. To Note Chuck Norris has several World Karate Championship wins.

Current Popular MMA Fighter utilizing a Shotokan Karate Style: Lyoto Machida.

Techniques Most Utilized in Full Contact Sanctioned Fighting Sports

To Note: Most Shotokan Karate style classes do not put emphasis on full contact sparring or competition. Instead on perfecting techniques and self-defense. The Karate techniques can be applied to any ones stand up fighting style.

  • Hammer-fist: Can be modified for ground and pound.
  • Back-fist: May be utilized in Kickboxing if it is a spinning back-fist, check rules.
  • Knife-hand: To the Clavicle, Spleen, Sternum, and head, etc.
  • Elbow Strikes: Used in MMA.
  • Ridge-Hand: Excellent technique to the mid section when your opponent is doing a spinning kick. I Have used a version in a sparring session worked beautifully. Opponent ended up on the ground. Punches: Karate styles have multiple different techniques such as the Rising Fist or punch. That if delivered to your opponents chin could lead to a knock out.
  • Knee Strikes: May be good to learn to diversify kneeing techniques from the standard Muay Thai Knees. Although some say Muay Thai knees may have came from Shidokan Style of Karate.
  • Roundhouse Kicks: Suggest using the Snapping style because it seems to be more geared for Full Contact Sports.
  • Back kicks (Mule Kick): As I have said before Back Kicks whether it be spinning or thrust are lethal in close range and help creating space from you opponent.
  • Side kicks: Rib Breakers.
  • Front Kicks: May use Thrusting style, timed right, can knock a opponent back or down. Similar to a Push kick. Can be used in close range, beware of incidental groin shot, need to be flexible. Spend time increasing flexibility. Stretching exercises should be emphasis in your warm ups.
  • Stances: In Karate the stances are often lower and longer than martial arts such as Taekwondo. Which may account for the spacing fighters such as Lyoto Machida has against his Continuation of Stances: opponents. That generally utilize closer striking stances such as Boxing. The most impressive stance is Fudo-dachi, immovable or rooted stance, when properly done the fighter is hard to knock down or take down. May have application in Take-Down Defense.
  • Blocks: I have sparred with a Shotokan practitioner and their blocks can defend well against kicks.

Karate Techniques would complement the following fighting styles:

  • Boxing (blocking kicks and adding striking moves)
  • Taekwondo(upper body techniques)
  • Judo
  • Wrestling
  • Jiu Jitsu

I believe the Stances with Shotokan Karate have great applications in Take-Down Defense when properly executed in a sanctioned fight.