追い突きOi-zuki — Lunge punch

See the technique型

Toggle between the phases. These are simplified schematics of the shape of the technique — pair them with the step-by-step below and your instructor.

How to perform it

1. From front stance, chamber the punching fist at the hip, palm up; the other arm extended.
2. Step the rear leg forward into a new front stance, keeping the hips driving.
3. As the step lands, thrust the punch straight from the hip along the centre line.
4. Rotate the fist to palm-down just before impact; pull the other hand back to the hip (hikite).
5. Time it so the punch lands exactly as the stance settles — hand and foot arrive together.

Key points

• Punching arm and front leg are the same side.
• The fist travels in a straight line from the hip, rotating late.
• Stance completion and impact happen at the same instant.

Common mistakes

Where you’ll see it

Oi-zuki appears across the Shotokan kata syllabus, including:

Application (bunkai)分解

The lunge punch is a distance-closing committed attack: it covers the gap to the opponent and delivers full bodyweight in one motion — the reason it is the first punch taught and the benchmark for hip drive and timing.

Watch a reference performance演武

To see Oi-zuki performed at full speed, watch instructor demonstrations:

Related techniques

Oi-zuki — frequently asked questions