Contraction and Expansion in Shotokan Karate

 The art of Karate is built on precise movements, controlled power, and fluid transitions.

One of the most important concepts behind its techniques is the balance of contraction and expansion. While these two terms might seem straightforward, there’s actually a lot of nuance in how they apply to Karate, especially when it comes to generating power and controlling energy during a strike or block.

In Karate, there are two distinct types of contraction. One happens before a strike, preparing the body to release force, much like a snake coiling before it strikes. The other occurs at the moment a technique finishes, which is referred to as Kime. Understanding the difference between these two forms of contraction and how they work alongside expansion is critical to mastering the art.

At its core, contraction in Karate refers to the tightening of muscles. But there’s a key distinction between the pre-strike contraction (which stores energy) and Kime (which delivers focused power at the moment of impact). Both serve different purposes:

Before a strike, the body contracts slightly to store potential energy. This is when muscles slightly tense, preparing to release the strike with speed and power—just like a spring winding up or a snake coiling before it strikes.

Kime happens at the end of a technique, where the muscles tighten briefly to lock in the energy of the strike or block, making sure it lands with maximum force and precision.

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Shotokan Kumite Simultaneous Block Strike Exercise

 

Here is a really good combination, working on speed striking and simultaneous block counters.

With a fast strike immediately after the block and a take down on the fourth combination. The attacker punches with a left kizami zuki (jab punch), the defender blocks and strikes simultaneously, soto uke (outsideblock) and gyaku zuki (reverse punch). The blocking hand can be closed or open. As soon as the reverse punch lands, immediately use the blocking arm to Strike uraken uchi (back fist strike) to the side of the neck or jaw. The second combination has the same attack kizami zuki (jab punch), followed by the same defence outside forearm block reverse punch. This time the blocking arm immediately strikes tettsui (bottom fist), read more

A Really Great Historical Karate Video

A really good historical karate video, after the 'eighties style' start :)

Shotokan Karate Shoto Niju Kun (Gichin Funakoshi's 20 Precepts)

Karate-do wa rei ni hajimari, rei ni owaru koto wo wasuruna.

Karate begins and ends with courtesy.

Karate ni sente nashi.

There is no first attack in karate.

Karate wa gi no tasuke.

Karate is an assistance to justice.

Mazu jiko wo shire, shikoshite tao wo shire.

Know yourself before you know others.

Gijutsu yori shinjutsu.

Spirit before technique.

Kokoro wa hanatan koto wo yosu.

Be ready to free your mind.

Wazawai wa getai ni shozu.

Accidents come from inattention.

Dojo nomino karate to omou na.

Karate training is not only in the dojo.

Karate no shugyo wa issho de aru.

You will never stop learning karate.

Arai-yuru mono wo karate-ka seyo, soko ni myo-mi ari.

Make karate part of your life and you will find myo (hidden secrets).

Karate wa yu no goto shi taezu natsudo wo ataezareba moto no mizu ni kaeru.

Karate is like hot water. If not given continual heat, it will go cold.

Katsu kangae wa motsu na makenu kangae wa hitsuyo.

Do not think you must win. Instead, think that you do not have to lose.

Tekki ni yotte tenka seyo.

Adapt yourself subject to your opponent.

Tattakai wa kyo-jitsu no soju ikan ni ari.

The fight depends on your handling of your marksmanship.

Hito no te ashi wo ken to omoe.

Think that your hands and feet are swords.

Danshi mon wo izureba hyakuman no tekki ari.

Be aware of your actions so as not to invite trouble.

Kamae wa shoshinsha ni ato wa shizentai.

First master low stances, then natural posture.

Kata wa tadashiku jissen wa betsu mono.

Practicing kata is no substitute for the real thing.

Chikara no kyojaku, karada no shinshuku, waza no kankyu wo wasaruna.

Hard and soft, tension and relaxation, quick and slow, all connected with correct breathing.

Tsune ni shinen kufu seyo.

Think of ways to apply these precepts every day.

Ossu

Linden

Karate For Beginners

PS Many new karateka ask, how often should I train? Well i believe the question should be, what sort of person am I and do I have the right attitude for karate practice?

The Dancing Kata People!

Several years ago one of the black belts at our Dojo decided he was going to enter a competition.

We all knew what was going to happen, he would lose in the first round.

He was a great Karateka! his techniques were focused, strong and fast. Every time he executed a technique it was like it was his last.

The great Karateka Terry O'neill, always says, you must be able to switch on and off at will.

Well, this black belt could certainly switch on and off at will, he would die rather than lose, a very hard man to stop.

The day of the competition loomed ever closer, as an extra to normal dojo training we were running early in the morning for several weeks before the big day, we all prepared ourselves as best we could.

We arrived at the venue and warmed up.

Our black belt friend was the first one up, the first event was kata and the heian katas were the chosen katas.

The chief referee called Heian Nidan.

We sat and watched as our friend bowed, announced the Kata, flicked the switch on and performed a very strong Heian Nidan, that looked AWFUL!

His opponent strutted onto the mat like a proud peacock, as soon as his eyes met with chief referees eyes there was an overwhelming look of love. The chief referee announced Heian Nidan and our friends opponent replied OSSU with a look at the referee that translated as, 'I love you, please vote for me to win'.

Our friends opponent bowed, screamed the kata, didn't switch on, well that's not exactly true, he had already switched on, he was in Hollywood performance mode before he even walked on the mat. When he came to the first kiai I thought someone had been kicked in the nuts while trying to announce something on the tanoy system, also when he performed a kiai his head shot forward as if someone had hit him around the back of the head with a sledge hammer while his body was held completely still.

Saying that, he performed a very fast Kata that was text book technique and looked GREAT! I think.

Needless to say our friends opponent won.

Many years ago I watched Yahara Sensei perform Unsu, it was amazing but at the same time it was almost frightening, it was alive. I can always remember thinking, Yahara Sensei is actually fighting, really fighting.

That one performance from Yahara Sensei had a strong impact on me. I thought to myself, am I going to dance, or am I going to fight.

I believe competitions are good, great training arenas, places where you can test yourself with people you don't know, but I believe the emphasis should be on training, not winning a trophy, don't get me wrong, I would rather die than lose and it's a great feeling to win, but if I lose, I lose graciously.

If you are a Hollywood film star Karateka, I have a question, do you wear underpants that match the colour of your karate suit label? If you don't, then you should, If you do then you really should give the chief referee a quick flash as you strut on the mat, it can only help!

Ahhh.... That's made me feel better.

Linden

What Karate Dan Grade Are You?

When people ask me what karate Dan grade I am, I always respond with the same answer, DESPERATE DAN!

Many years ago, in ancient China, oh! Sorry, I’m getting carried away here. I'll start that again, several years ago I attended a seminar in London, England, there was a selection of Japanese Karate masters, all were brilliant.

There were hundreds of Karate practitioners, all ages and all grades. The Dojo captain shouted, 'Line up' and we all moved to where we thought our Karate Dan grade equivalents would be standing.

I remember looking towards the top of the line and there were some awesome Karate legends in the line, Terry O'neill, Bob Poynton and several others. There was also a group of very senior looking Karateka, their black belts were extremely worn, they had a certain look of authority about them, but they also looked worried and were standing down near the 1st and 2nd Dans.

The training began, warm up and stretch lasted maybe 20 minutes, then onto Kihon (basics), the theme of the seminar was to be a particular Kata (form). I will refrain from mentioning the Kata being taught, because a lot of karate seniors will know what seminar I am referring to, because they were probably on it, not that I’m saying they were the group I am going to talk about, because there were some hot Karateka on the course. I later realized that these paper martial artists were only on the course because it was a Kata seminar, if it had been Kumite (fighting), they would definitely have stayed at home.

I was near this group of what I thought were senior karate instructors, I was still wondering why they were down my end of the Black belt lines when I suddenly noticed one of them execute a sort of, reverse punch, it was weak, slow and with about as much focus as my 1 year old son has, when he’s watching the CNN news channel.

I know what you’re thinking, why wasn’t I concentrating on my Karate, all I can say is SHOCK!

There was 5 or 6 senior karate instructors in the group and in my opinion, they were awful, nice guys, but their karate was of a very poor standard. I later found out that the lowest grade in the group was Godan (5th Dan). Now I’m not the best in the world but when my instructor packed his bags and moved away, he said to me, ‘Linden, always train with the best, because there’s a lot of s**t out there’. I now know what my instructor was talking about.

Now there is a point to this story, thank god I here you all say. Because of this event happening all those years ago when I was still a teenager, I decided wasn’t going to test ever again, what a PRATT I was, I stayed Nidan(2nd Dan) for 15 years because in my mind I thought the Karate ranking system was a joke.

A great karate man changed my mind, he said, ‘ It’s all about you! Do not worry what everyone else is doing, it’s what it means to you that’s important, now go and grade.

I now realize more than ever that Karate is a one man/woman journey, it’s your journey and I wish you the best of luck.

Ossu,

Linden Huckle
karate for beginners