Shotokan Karate Quick Reference
Mat Manual companion guide to "Shotokan Karate: An Instructor's Overview." Print it, keep it in your training bag, and use it as your at-a-glance map of the style.
| Art | Shotokan Karate |
|---|---|
| Family | Karate |
| Level | all-levels |
| Format | reference |
| Topics | fundamentals, forms, rules, safety |
Mat Manual companion guide to "Shotokan Karate: An Instructor's Overview." Print it, keep it in your training bag, and use it as your at-a-glance map of the style.
The Three Pillars of Training
| Pillar | What it is | What it builds |
|---|---|---|
| Kihon (basics) | Solo drilling of stances, punches, blocks, strikes, and kicks, usually in lines | Correct body mechanics, power, and automatic technique |
| Kata (forms) | Pre-arranged sequences of techniques against imaginary opponents | Balance, breath control, timing, focus, and the style's stored knowledge |
| Kumite (sparring) | Partner work, from pre-arranged one-step drills to free sparring | Distance, timing, control, and applying technique against a person |
Every Shotokan class, anywhere in the world, is built from these three.
Shotokan Karate Quick Reference
Mat Manual companion guide to "Shotokan Karate: An Instructor's Overview." Print it, keep it in your training bag, and use it as your at-a-glance map of the style.
What's Inside
- The Three Pillars of Training
- Belt Ladder: White to Black
- The 26 Canonical Kata
- Also Practiced: Outside the Canon
- Kata Annex: The Beginner Set, Movement by Movement
- Kata Annex: The Advanced Kata by Theme
- …and 7 more sections
The full guide is a paid Mat Manual product. Checkout is not connected yet — no payment is taken on this page.
Free companion article: Shotokan Karate: An Instructor's Overview — the full article, free in full.