Junro Shodan

順路 初段

The designation of Junro (or 順路 in Japanese) literally translates as ‘ordinary path’. This is the first level ( 初段 ; shodan) training kata of a series of five developed by Tetsuhiko Asai (1935 – 2006) to ensure that the students would also develop lesser used striking techniques, stances, and spinning techniques. This first kata in the Junro training series trains push and pull, which is the variation of distance via hip and leg control. This training kata concentrates on the Gyaku-Tsuki punch. The core of this training kata is the control of the support leg. In the video embedded below (recorded on 10 June 2024), budoka Johan Oldenkamp, a former national runner-up from the Netherlands, performs this First Level Ordinary Path Training Kata of Shotokan ( 松濤館 ) Karatedo ( 空手道 ).

Description of the Techniques of this Kata

Series 1 (both to the left and to the right):
Gedan-Barai (Kiba-Dachi) + Yoko-Uchi-Uke Jodan (Heiko-Dachi) + Kizamae-Tsuki (Zenkutsu-Dachi) +
(Ushiro-Kai-Ashi) Gedan-Barai (Zenkutsu-Dachi) + Gyaku Tuski

Series 2 (to the front):
Gedan-Barai (Zenkutsu-Dachi) + Uchi-Uke (Neko-Ashi-Dachi) + Gyaku-Tuski (Zenkutsu-Dachi) [each side once] +
(Kai-Ashi) Gyaku-Tsuki (Zenkutsu-Dachi) [Kiai]

Series 3 (both to the left and to the right):
Jodan-Barai (Kokutsu-Dachi) + Soto-Uke (Neko-Ashi-Dachi) + Gyaku-Tuski (Zenkutsu-Dachi) +
(Kai-Ashi) Gyaku-Tsuki (Zenkutsu-Dachi)

Series 4 (to the back):
Gedan-Barai (Zenkutsu-Dachi) + Age-Uke (Neko-Ashi-Dachi) + Kizamae-Geri + Gyaku-Tuski (Zenkutsu-Dachi) [each side once] +
(Kai-Ashi) Gyaku-Tsuki (Zenkutsu-Dachi) [Kiai]

Series 5 (both to the left and to the right):
Uchi-Uke (Kokutsu-Dachi) + Kizamae-Nukite (Zenkutsu-Dachi) +
(Kai-Ashi) Oi-Tsuki (Zenkutsu-Dachi)

© Shotokan-Karatedo.org : This page was last updated on 2024/07/16.