Shotokan: Enpi or Empi

  • Natural Stance.
  • (YOI) Bring the feet together and place the right vertical fist against the left open palm on your left side.
  • Step to the left with the left foot whilst simultaneously looking 45 degrees to the right and dropping the body downwards. Swing the right arm across the body.
  • And perform a right downward block. The left hand which closes into a fist is pushed to the centre of the chest. The right knee lands next to the left heel. Fast.
  • Stand up and pull the right arm across.
  • To the left side of the body – right vertical fist on top of the left fist. Stand in natural stance.
  • Step to the right with the right foot and swinging the right fist up to the left shoulder.
  • Assume a right front stance, and perform a downward block. Fast.
  • Pull the left foot back to the same line as the right and use the swing of the right arm to perform.
  • A left hook punch as you look to the front and land in a straddle leg stance. Fast.
  • Step forward with the left foot, and crossing the left arm over the right.
  • Land in a left front stance and perform a left downward block. Fast.
  • Twist the hips to the front, and pulling the left fist back to the hip, start to perform a right rising punch.
  • Extend the arm upward  as the wrist is twisted.
  • To complete the technique. Fast.
  • Without moving the arm, open your hand by slightly twisting the wrist.
  • Without moving the arms, lift the right knee up.
  • And step forward, dropping into a deep crossed stance. Simultaneously perform a left downward punch and pull the right fist across and up to the left shoulder. Fast.
  • Step backwards with the left leg and continue to look to the front, while swinging the right arm down across  the body.
  • To land in a deep left front stance as you perform a right downward block, leaning away so that the body and blocking arm are in alignment. Fast.
  • Turn to face the rear and rotating your hips to the left, cross the left arm over the right.
  • As the body straightens up, perform a left downward block. Fast.
  • Start  to perform  a rising punch.
  • Midway stage.
  • Completion of the rising punch with full hip rotation. Fast.
  • Without moving the arm, open your hand by slightly twisting the wrist.
  • And without moving the arms, lift the right knee up.
  • And step forward, dropping into a deep crossed stance, simultaneously perform a left downward punch and pull the right fist across, and up to the left shoulder. Fast.
  • Step backwards with the left leg whilst continuing to look over your right shoulder, and swinging the right arm down across your body.
  • Land in a deep left front stance and perform a right downward block, leaning away from the block as before. Fast.
  • Turn to face the front and rotating your hips to the left, cross your left arm over your right.
  • As  the body straightens up perform a left downward block. Fast.
  • Shifting your weight back onto your right leg, slowly pull the left foot back toward the right and opening your hand begin  circling your left arm in front of your body.
  • Coordinating both limbs, lift your leg and circle it in the same directions as your arm (palm facing you).
  • Continue the slow circle, your eyes following your hand movement.
  • The circle at full height – the right fist remains at the side throughout the movement.
  • Still watching the hand, lower your weight down assuming.
  • A straddle leg stance. Your left hand is in front of you, slightly to the side.
  • Without moving the left arm, simultaneously lift the right foot up and swing the right arm across your body.
  • And as the right forearm strikes the left palm your right leg crosses your left behind the knee. Fast.
  • Cross the left arm (hand open) under the right arm and step back.
  • Into the previous position – straddle leg stance.
  • Sweep the left hand out to the front, performing a mid-level  knife-hand  block.
  • Perform a  straight punch with the right arm.
  • And then the left. Fast.
  • Look and step to the left crossing the left arm over the right.
  • On reaching a left front stance, perform a downward block. Fast.
  • Start  to perform a rising punch.
  • Midway stage.
  • Completion of the rising punch with full hip rotation. Fast.
  • Step forward with the right foot crossing the right arm over the left (hand open, palm to ear).
  • Land in a left back stance and perform a knife-hand block. Fast.
  • Pull the right foot back to the left and cross the left arm over the right.
  • Step forward with the left foot into a right back stance and perform a knife-hand block. Fast. Note, only the foot positions have been reversed – the body has not advanced.
  • Without moving the legs, perform a right reverse punch. Fast.
  • Step forward with the right foot, crossing the right arm over the left.
  • Land in a left back stance and perform a knife-hand block. Fast.
  • Turn 180 degrees around to the left by pivoting on the right foot, then step to the left with the left foot crossing  the left arm over the right to.
  • Land in a left front  stance and perform a downward block. Fast.
  • Start to perform a rising punch.
  • Midway stage.
  • Completion of the rising punch with full hip rotation. Fast.
  • Without moving the arm, open your hand by slightly twisting the wrist.
  • Without moving the arms, lift the right knee up.
  • And step forward, dropping into a deep crossed stance. Simultaneously perform a left downward punch and pull the right fist across and up to the left shoulder. Fast.
  • Step back with the left leg and continuing to look over your right shoulder, swing the right arm down across the body.
  • Land in a deep left front stance, and perform a right downward  block leaning away from the block as before. Fast.
  • Look in the opposite direction, over your left shoulder and straightening the body, cross the left arm over the right.
  • And perform a left downward block.
  • Look 45 degrees to the right and slowly swing the right open hand (wrist bent backwards) down and then upwards, whilst pulling the left fist back to the hip.
  • Perform an upward block at 45 degrees with the palm heel. Slow.
  • Turn to face the front and move the right leg through 90 degrees towards a front stance, whilst swinging the open left hand up from the hip and lowering the right open hand.
  • Continue stepping forward, whilst pressing the left palm heel downwards and lifting the right palm heel upwards.
  • Land in a right front stance.
  • And perform a simultaneous double palm heel block – the left hand a downward block, the right hand a mid-level block. Slow.
  • Step forward with the left leg whilst raising the right open hand.
  • Land in a left front stance and press the left palm heel up and the right palm heel down – reversing the position of the previous technique. Slow.
  • Step forward with the right leg whilst raising the left open hand.
  • Land in a right front stance and press the left palm heel down and the right palm heel up. Slow.
  • Move the right foot to the left until it is on line with the left foot and cross the right arm over the left.
  • Push both feel forward to land in a left back stance and perform a right downward block. Fast.
  • Push the feet forward and thrust both open hands out from the body.
  • Land in a straddle leg stance with both arms thrust out to grasp – right hand low, left hand high and both on the same vertical line. Fast. Note the upper body is leaning slightly forward in the direction of the hands.
  • Turn 180 degrees around to the left (to face the rear) and as you swing around.
  • Leap high.
  • Turning in mid-air and crossing the left arm over the right.
  • Land in a left back stance and perform a right knife-hand block. Fast.
  • Step back with the right leg crossing the left arm (palm open) over the right.
  • Land in a right back stance and perform a left knife-hand block. Fast.
  • (YAME) pull the left foot back to the right and bring the right arm across your body.
  • To return to the starting position – feet together and right vertical fist against the left open palm.
  • Back to the natural stance.

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