Chart 1: upper body basics
The fifteen upper-body techniques every Isshinryu student in our dojo practises, with the Japanese name and the English meaning side by side.
| # | Japanese | English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seiken Oi Tsuki | Straight punch |
| 2 | Jodan Oi Tsuki | Upper cut |
| 3 | Seiken Gyaku Tsuki | Reverse punch |
| 4 | Jodan Gyaku Tsuki | Reverse upper cut |
| 5 | Gedan Barai / Seiken Gyaku Tsuki | Low block / straight punch |
| 6 | Chudan Uke / Seiken Gyaku Tsuki | Middle block / straight punch |
| 7 | Tegata Barai / Nukite | Open hand block / finger tip strike |
| 8 | Jodan Tegata Uke / Jodan Gyaku Tsuki | Open hand upper block / upper cut |
| 9 | Jodan Uke / Seiken Gyaku Tsuki | High block / straight punch |
| 10 | Jodan Uke / Ura Uchi / Seiken Gyaku Tsuki | High block / back fist / straight punch |
| 11 | Gedan Uke / Go Denjoku Tsuki | Low block / five straight punches |
| 12 | Chudan Uke / Go Denjoku Tsuki | Middle block / five straight punches |
| 13 | Gedan Shuto Uchi / Jodan Shuto Uchi | Low knife hand strike / high knife hand strike |
| 14 | Shoti Barai / O-uchi | Palm heel parry / two round knuckle punches |
| 15 | Hije No Ato Tsuki | Step back elbow strike |
Chart 1 is referenced throughout the four-year curriculum: every quarter lists “upper body chart” and “lower body chart” under traditional basics, and both charts are expected to be known by heart before black belt.
Practise them slowly and in order. Speed comes later; correctness comes first.