Pronounced Say-ken

Required for 1st Stripe

There are 3 major differences between the Isshinryu punch and most other styles of Karate.

1. When making the fist the thumb goes on top of the fist instead of the side of the fist.

2. The basic punch to Center Chest (Solar Plexus for kids) is a vertical fist. The fist does not turn.

3. We do not lock the arm out in a straight position. All techniques return to a guard position. Including punches nothing stays extended.

The Seiken starts with a tight fist on the hip, at or above the belt. Punch straight forward to the center of the target area. Striking with only the 2 largest knuckles of the fist. The fist then returns to a guard position. (The same position that a chest block finishes in)  Note: The fist you are not punching with, always returns to the opposite hip at the same time the punching hand is extended to the target.

What we watch for when testing  

Keep a tight fist - Punch in a straight line from the hip to center chest - Do not bend the wrist - Recoil the punch to a guard position - The opposite fist returns to the opposite hip at the same time the punching hand is extended to the target. Correct stance, heels down, erect posture, and head up.

When doing drills without a physical target. Weather punching blocking or kicking. The target will be an imaginary opponent  the same size as the person doing the drill.

Always keep the wrist straight

Age Tsuki Seiken

(Rising Punch)

Pronounced Ahh-ge  zoo-key   say-ken

Required for Yellow Stripe

The Rising Punch (Age Seiken) Starting with the fist on the hip. Turn the fist so the thumb side is pointing outward. Punch upward at a 45 degree angle striking the tip of the chin or the nose, with the two large knuckles. The opposite fist returns to the hip at the same time the punching hand is extended to the target. The punching hand immediately returns to a guard position. As if it had been a chest block.

What we watch for when testing  

Keep a tight fist - Turn your fist so that the two large knuckles strike the target, punch in a straight line from the hip to the nose - Do not bend the wrist - Recoil the punch to a guard position - The opposite fist returns to the hip at the same time the punching hand is extended to the target. Correct stance, heels down, erect posture, and head up.