This short yet very effective exercise was taught to me when I started training in 1974. My first teacher, Jon Alexander, created it. However, the original version was taught in a basic Karate setting and so did not embody the Shinseido principle of keeping the hands in front of the body. I modified the exercise so that it conformed to Shinseido principles. The exercise teaches the three major thrusting variants of lunge thrust (oi tsuki), reversed thrust (gyaku tsuki) and double thrust (ren tsuki). The exercise comprises eight step and thrust sequences. The exercise can be performed with open hands using the heel of the palm or closed fists using the regular knuckle punch (seiken). The punch is one of the most difficult techniques to perform correctly without injury to oneself and traditionally the Okinawans trained intensively to develop very strong fists. In Shinseido the hand is the primary tool used and the fist secondary. That is not to say that the fist is not regarded as important, rather that it requires long practice to perfect. This exercise introduces kiai for the first time.
Outline of Exercise