Kihon (basic training) consists of those techniques and stances that occur most frequently in the kata. At Kansas City Shotokan Karate Club, these are the kihon we usually practice:
| Kihon | English | Stance |
| BLOCKING | ||
| Gedan Barai | down block | Zenkutsu-dachi (front stance) |
| Age-uke | rising head block | Zenkutsu-dachi (front stance) |
| Ude-uke | middle inside block | Zenkutsu-dachi (front stance) |
| Tettsui-uke | hammer fist block | Zenkutsu-dachi (front stance) |
| Shuto-uke | knife hand block | Kokusu-dachi (back stance) |
| STRIKING | ||
| Oi-zuki | lunge punch | Zenkutsu-dachi (front stance) |
| Gyaku-zuki | reverse punch | Zenkutsu-dachi (front stance) |
| Mae-te | jab | Zenkutsu-dachi (front stance) |
| Uraken | back fist strike | Kiba-dachi (horse riding stance) |
| KICKING | ||
| Mae-geri | front kick | Zenkutsu-dachi (front stance) |
| Mawashi-geri | roundhouse kick | Zenkutsu-dachi (front stance) |
| Yoko-geri Kekomi | side thrust kick | Kiba-dachi (horse riding stance) |
| Yoko-geri Keage | side up kick | Kiba-dachi (horse riding stance) |
| Mikazuki-geri | crescent kick | Kiba-dachi (horse riding stance) |
| Fumikomi | Stamping kick | Zenkutsu-dachi (front stance) |
| Ushiro-geri | back kick | Hachiji-dachi (natural stance) |
