Kihon Gumite

"Posture, on the other hand, goes further than this in that it includes the 'mind body & spirit' as a whole, placed in a particular manner for a purpose and 'continues' throughout the movement. Wado is not about standing in a stance but about elegant movement and retaining one's posture while moving."

Hideo Muramatsu

Kihon (基本:きほん, Kihon?) is a Japanese term meaning "basics" or "fundamentals." The term is used to refer to the basic techniques that are taught and practiced as the foundation of most Japanese martial arts. The practice and mastery of kihon is essential to all advanced training. At the simple level this would include stances, punches, kicks and blocks, cuts and thrusts but also includes basic representative kata.

Kihon techniques tend to be practised often, in many cases during each practice session. They are considered the road to improvement of all movements of greater complexity

An alternative description (with photos) for each Kihon can be found here.

A = Attack
D = Defence
R = Right Stance
L = Left Stance

'Fundamental sparring'. The prearranged fighting sequences within Japanese and Okinawan Karate that reflect the fundamental concepts of the individual style. Prior to the attack/defence, the tactic of nijiri-ashi (creeping-foot) is performed by both the attacker and defender. The attacker 'creeps' forward (mae-nijiri-ashi/ma-o-nusumu) to take advantage, and the defender 'creeps' back (ushiro-suri-ashi) to retain the ma-ai.

1. Ipponme: A - R: Tobikomizuki-jodan, gyakuzuki-chudan. D - R: Nagashi-soto-uke-jodan in migi-tate-seishan-dachi, left foot slides forward and outward and twisting into migi-tate-seishan-dachi, whilst turning the body to avoid punch, right nagashi-gedan-barai (noru) with left nakadaka-ippon-ken-chudan.
2. Nihonme: A - R: Tobikomizuki-jodan, surikomi-sokuto-chudan. D - R: Nagashi-soto-uke-jodan in migi-tate-seishan-dachi, hidari-gyaku-neko-ashi-dachi with right gedan-barai, right foot slides in behind A's right leg, twist 180 into gyakuzuki-tsukkomi-dachi while striking with right soto-haito-uchi (upper right ribs, between spine & left shoulder blade) and left shotei-uchi (right kidney) chudan.
   
3. Sanbonme: A - R: Tobikomizuki-jodan, right foot draws back for ma-ai to deliver left maegeri-chudan. D - R: Nagashi-soto-uke-jodan in migi-tate-seishan-dachi, slide forward into right tate-seishan-dachi with right tate-chudan-tsuki/nakadaka-ippon-ken (solar-plexus), while using left fist to 'protect' the body from A's kicking leg.
4. Yonhonme: A - L: Tobikomizuki-jodan, gyakuzuki-jodan. D - R: Nagashi-soto-uke-jodan in migi-tate-seishan-dachi, draw back into mashomen-no-neko-ashi-dachi while blocking with left te-nagashi-uke-jodan, slide towards the opponent into migi-tate-seishan-dachi with left palm osae-uke on A's right punching arm, while striking nakadaka-ippon-ken-chudan to the middle/upper ribs under A's arm.
5. Gohonme: A - L: Tobikomizuki-jodan, gyakuzuki-chudan. D - R: Nagashi-soto-uke-jodan in migi-tate-seishan-dachi, draw back into mashomen-no-neko-ashi-dachi while blocking with atoshi-uraken-uke, left hand grabs A's right fist while sliding into migi-tate-seishan-dachi striking right ippon-ken-chin-chu (under the nose), slide into right shiko-ashi-dachi while delivering right chudan-empi-uchi (sternum), right hand assists left with fist grab applying grab/lock, using circular motion on takedown technique while moving into right mashomen-no-neko-ashi-dachi, right kosa-dachi, right mashomen-no-neko-ashi-dachi, as A falls ensure right foot is placed under A's right shoulder-blade, apply arm-locking technique (while A is on the ground control must be kept with both hands), place right knee above A's elbow joint, release your right hand to reinforce control on the forearm (thumb turned in), take arm to the ground pressing both knee and hand against A's arm while moving and resting into left kata-hiza-dachi, right shuto-uchi-jodan (to the side of the head/temple), place hand back on A's arm with thumb pointing outwards this time, release knee pressure while still controlling A with the hands, left kata-hiza-dachi, release.
6. Ropponme: A - L: Tobikomizuki-jodan, surikomi-sokuto-chudan, gyakuzuki-jodan. D - R: Nagashi-soto-uke-jodan in migi-tate-seishan-dachi, twist to the left with hidari-gyaku-neko-ashi-dachi and using right gedan-barai, twist back 180° to the right in migi-tate-seishan-dachi while using right haishu-uke-jodan and left nakadaka-ippon-ken-chudan.
7. Nanahonme: A - L: Tobikomizuki-jodan, left foot draws back for ma-ai to deliver right maegeri-chudan. D - R: Nagashi-soto-uke-jodan in migi-tate-seishan-dachi, slide into migi-nagashi-tsuki-dachi while delivering right tate-shuto-uchi to the neck, under A's jaw.
8. Napponme: A - R: Tobikomizuki-chudan, gyakuzuki-jodan. D - R: Chudan-uchi-uke in migi-tate-seishan-dachi, while twisting the body further back (while still retaining migi-tate-seishan-dachi) block age-empi-uke, slide forward into shiko-ashi-dachi while striking right hitosashi-ippon-ken to A's groin, slide in reinforcing right yoko-empi-uchi in shiko-ashi-dachi, twist body to face A, press A's wrist and forearm with both hands (left tate-shuto position on arm while right haishu 'rests and presses' against the back of A's wrist) while right knee presses against the inside of A's leading leg, release when A becomes unbalanced.
9. Kyuhonme: A - R: Tobikomizuki-chudan, gyakuzuki-chudan. D - R: Chudan-uchi-uke in migi-tate-seishan-dachi, left foot slides forward and outward into migi-tate-seishan-dachi while delivering left nakadaka-ippon-ken to A's throat/neck whilst deflecting with right haishu-uke.
10. Jupponme: A - R: Tobikomizuki-jodan, gyakuzuki-jodan. D - R: Uchi-shuto-uke-jodan in migi-tate-seishan-dachi, right soto-haishu-uke while striking the vulnerable point just above the left chest (and below the collar bone) with migi-tate-empi-uchi in migi-tate-seishan-dachi - the left hand presses with osae-uke to A's right wrist at the same time, draw left arm back while grabbing A's sleeve, at the shoulder/arm area, with right hand - between shoulder and elbow, strike left haito-uchi to A's groin in gyakuzuki-dachi, step under your own right arm with left leg moving into gyaku-neko-ashi-dachi while grabbing A's left leg, throw A over right shoulder while using a lifting manoeuvre with the left hip - dropping down and releasing grasp on A's leg as his weight shifts forwards, pull down with right hand to create throw whilst drawing back and down into left kata-hiza-dachi.