The 4 Steps to Karate Success 

Welcome to our second blog and thanks for taking the time to read. 


This blog will give a way that we would recommend all of our members at the Shukokai Karate Club to use as  a good reference for improving technique on whatever exercise they may be doing whether it's pad work, sparring, kata etc. 

The 4 step plan to improvement 

Whatever technique you choose to do or you are given in class from combinations, Kata, Padwork, Distance, Timing absolutely anything from the Shukokai Tree will improve with this method. 

This pretty much applies well to anybody looking to learn a technique correctly which in turn will also help you learn that specific move effectively. 


The 4 Steps are...


Step 1 
As slow as you can do it with correct technique. 

Step 2 
Slow with correct technique

Step 3
Slightly Faster with Control and timing and technique

Step 4 
Full speed with Control, speed timing and technique. 

Now depending on what that particular exercise you are doing is, step 4 might also have Impact in it too. 

So what would an example of this be?

Here are two examples of how the 4 step plan would work. 

Pinan Nidan (1st Kata) 

Step 1 - Perform as slow as you can while  dropping in to the correct stances and while punching or blocking correctly too.

Step 2 - Same as Step 1 only this time slightly faster but still slow.

Step 3 - This time slightly faster  at dropping in to the correct stances and slightly faster and snappier with any punches or blocks you might do also. 

Step 4 - Performing the Kata with correct stances, fast and sharp punches or blocks with correct timings and kai along with being powerful. 

It doesn’t matter how long you spend on each step what’s important is that you spend as long as you need on each step to get it right before moving on to the next step. 

Mae Geri (Front Kick)

Step 1 - Performing as slow as you can while maintaining the correct standard stance, keeping guard hands up when you kick and landing properly after the kick. 

Step 2 - Same as step 1 only slightly faster but still slow.

Step 3 - Slightly Faster with Control if against a partner or making impact with correct part of foot with a pad. 

Step 4 - Full speed with correct stances along with speed and power. 

These are two examples however all four steps can be used and implemented when learning anything new or even going back to something you have already learned and doing it again at step 1 as it will tidy up any flaws in your technique of the particular exercise and no matter how well you think you know something resetting back to step 1 with it will always help. 

The problem is that there are plenty of people who will go from step 1 straight to step 4 which could lead to injuries or someone doing things differently from the way it was shown so the most important thing is to be patient and always look to take yourself through each step whatever that particular exercise may be. 

And most importantly Practice, Practice, Practice.


Thanks for reading 

Steven Miller
5th Dan 
Shukokai Karate Club