Asai's Junro kata each emphasize a specific concept for study. Junro Nidan is primarily
a study in using both hands at the same time: blocking with a punch, and double punches are
repeated throughout.
Yoi (Ready Position)
Stand ready with your feet about shoulder width apart, hands closed in front of the hips, and eyes focused forward.
Hidari Gedan Barai, Neko Ashi Dachi (Left hand downward block, cat stance)
Slide right foot back, and slightly off the embusen (towards the 2:00 position),
pulling the left foot with it and into a cat stance, facing the 9:00 position.
At the same time, perform a left-handed downward block.
Hidari Uchi Uke/Migi Gyaku Zuki, Zenkutsu Dachi (Left hand inside block/right hand reverse punch, front stance)
Step forward into a front stance, simultaneously executing an inside block
with the left arm and a reverse punch with the right hand.
Chudan Tetsui Uchi, Kiba Dachi (Mid-level hammer strike, straddle stance)
Turn clockwise 360° into a straddle stance, pivoting on the left foot,
and release a mid-level hammer strike with the right hand.
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Hidari Gedan Barai, Zenkutsu Dachi (Left hand downward block, front stance)
Turn counter-clockwise 360° into a front stance, again pivoting on the left foot,
and execute a left hand downward block.
All techniques in numbers 2-5 above are performed facing the 9:00 position.
Migi Gedan Barai, Neko Ashi Dachi (Right hand downward block, cat stance)
Step slightly offline with the left foot (towards the 10:00 position),
pulling the right foot with it and into a cat stance, facing the 3:00 position.
At the same time, perform a right-handed downward block.
Migi Uchi Uke/Hidari Gyaku Zuki, Zenkutsu Dachi (Right hand inside block/left hand reverse punch, front stance)
Step forward into a front stance, simultaneously executing an inside block
with the right arm and a reverse punch with the left hand.
Chudan Tetsui Uchi, Kiba Dachi (Mid-level hammer strike, straddle stance)
Turn counter clockwise 360° into a straddle stance, pivoting on the right foot,
and release a mid-level hammer strike with the left hand.
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Migi Gedan Barai, Zenkutsu Dachi (Right hand downward block, front stance)
Turn clockwise 360° into a front stance, again pivoting on the right foot,
and execute a right hand downward block.
All techniques in numbers 6-9 above are performed facing the 3:00 position.
Hidari Gedan Barai/Migi Gyaku Zuki, Zenkutsu Dachi (Left hand downward block/right hand reverse punch, front stance)
Pivoting on the right foot, step 90° to the left with your left foot into a front stance
(facing the 12:00 position). At the same time, simultaneously perform a downward block
with the left arm and a reverse punch with the right hand.
Migi Gedan Barai/Hidari Gyaku Zuki, Zenkutsu Dachi (Right hand downward block/left hand reverse punch, front stance)
Step forward into a right-side front stance and simultaneously perform a
downward block with the right arm and a reverse punch with the left hand.
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Chudan Morote Heiko Zuki, Zenkutsu Dachi, Kiai (Parallel double punch, front stance, kiai)
Step forward into a left-side front stance and execute a mid-level parallel punch using both arms. Kiai.
To perform the parallel punch; bring both fists back to the chest palms down, thumbs touching the chest,
elbows and fists at the same height. Release the punch without rotating the fists.
All techniques in numbers 10-12 above are performed facing the 12:00 position.
Chudan Morote Uke, Kokutsu Dachi (Mid-level augmented block, back stance)
Turn clockwise 270°, pivoting on the left foot, landing in a right-side back stance
(facing the 9:00 position). As you do this, execute a mid-level augmented forearm block with the right arm forward.
Chudan Gyaku Zuki, Zenkutsu Dachi (Mid-level reverse punch, front stance)
Shift the right foot over into a front stance and perform a left-handed reverse punch.
Gedan Juji Uke, Zenkutsu Dachi (Low-level X-block, front stance)
Step forward into a left-side front stance and perform a low X-block.
The X-block is done differently in Junro Nidan than in Heian Godan.
When stepping, pull both hands to each side of the torso, and at completion,
the fists should be facing palm downward instead of palm outward.
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Jodan Shuto Juji Uchi, Zenkutsu Dachi/Yori Ashi (Upper-level sword-hand cross strike, front stance/sliding)
Slide both feet forward while remaining in the left-side front stance (yori-ashi),
and execute a throat-high crossed sword-hand strike (open hand, palms downward).
All techniques in numbers 13-16 above are performed facing the 9:00 position.
Chudan Morote Uke, Kokutsu Dachi (Mid-level augmented block, back stance)
Turn counter clockwise 180°, pivoting on the right foot, landing in a left-side back stance
(facing the 3:00 position). As you do this, execute a mid-level augmented forearm block with the left arm forward.
Chudan Gyaku Zuki, Zenkutsu Dachi (Mid-level reverse punch, front stance)
Shift the left foot over into a front stance and perform a right-handed reverse punch.
Gedan Juji Uke, Zenkutsu Dachi (Low-level X-block, front stance)
Step forward into a right-side front stance and perform a low X-block. The X-block is done as in move number 15.
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Jodan Shuto Juji Uchi, Zenkutsu Dachi/Yori Ashi (Upper-level sword-hand cross strike, front stance/sliding)
Slide both feet forward while remaining in the right-side front stance (yori-ashi),
and execute a throat-high crossed sword-hand strike (open hand, palms downward).
All techniques in numbers 17-20 above are performed facing the 3:00 position.
Migi Age Uke/Hidari Gyaku Zuki, Zenkutsu Dachi (Right hand rising block/left hand reverse punch, front stance)
Pivoting on the left foot, step 90° to the right with your right foot into a front stance
(facing the 6:00 position). At the same time, simultaneously perform a rising block with the
right arm and a reverse punch with the left hand.
Hidari Age Uke/Migi Gyaku Zuki, Zenkutsu Dachi (Left hand rising block/right hand reverse punch, front stance)
Step forward into a left-side front stance and simultaneously perform
a rising block with the left arm and a reverse punch with the right hand.
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Chudan Morote Heiko Zuki, Zenkutsu Dachi, Kiai (Parallel double punch, front stance, kiai)
Step forward into a right-side front stance and execute a mid-level parallel punch using both arms. Kiai
All techniques in numbers 21-23 above are performed facing the 6:00 position.
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Migi Gedan Barai, Neko Ashi Dachi (Right hand downward block, cat stance)
Turn 270° into a right-side cat stance (facing the 3:00 position) and perform a right-handed downward block.
The footwork for the turn is as follows:
From the right-side front stance (move 23) step forward with the left foot until it's even with the right foot
(roughly straddle stance), then, pivoting on the left foot, step with the right foot into the cat stance.
Migi Mae Geri Keage, Neko Ashi Dachi (Right front snap kick, cat stance)
From the right-side cat stance, execute a front (right) leg front snap kick,
and then place foot back down into cat stance. The arms remain in downward block position throughout the kick.
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Jodan Mae Geri Keage/Hidari Gyaku Zuki, Zenkutsu Dachi (Upper-level front snap kick/reverse punch, front stance)
From the right-side cat stance (move 25), step forward with the left foot in a crossed-leg position (kosa dachi),
and then execute an upper-level front snap kick with the right leg. After recoil, step forward with the right foot
into a right-side front stance while delivering a mid-level reverse punch with the left hand.
All techniques in numbers 24-26 above are performed facing the 3:00 position.
Hidari Gedan Barai, Neko Ashi Dachi (Left hand down block, cat stance)
Take a half step backwards with the lead foot, then, pivoting on the right foot,
turn 180° into a left-side cat stance (facing the 9:00 position).
As you do this, execute a left-handed downward block.
Hidari Mae Geri Keage, Neko Ashi Dachi (Left front snap kick, cat stance)
From the left-side cat stance, execute a front (left) leg front snap kick, and then place foot back down into cat stance.
The arms remain in downward block position throughout the kick.
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Jodan Mae Geri Keage/Migi Gyaku Zuki, Zenkutsu Dachi (Upper-level front snap kick/reverse punch, front stance)
From the left-side cat stance (move 28), step forward with the right foot in a crossed-leg position (kosa dachi),
and then execute an upper-level front snap kick with the left leg. After recoil, step forward with the left foot
into a left-side front stance while delivering a mid-level reverse punch with the right hand.
All techniques in numbers 27-29 above are performed facing the 9:00 position.
Migi Uchi Uke, Zenkutsu Dachi (Right hand inside block, front stance)
Move 90° to the right (to the 12:00 position) by moving the back (right) foot into a right-side front stance.
As you do this, perform a mid-level inside block with the right arm.
Chudan Morote Heiko Zuki, Zenkutsu Dachi/Yori Ashi (Parallel double punch, front stance/sliding)
Remaining in a right-side front stance slide both feet forward and execute a mid-level parallel punch.
Naore (Recover)
Keeping eyes forward, bring right foot back to ready position.
