Kihon (basic training) consists of those techniques and stances that occur most frequently in the kata.
At Kansas City Shotokan Karate Club, kihon generally consists of the following techniques:
| Kihon | English | Stance |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 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 | Stamp-in kick | Zenkutsu-dachi (front stance) |
| Ushiro-geri | back kick | Hachiji-dachi (natural stance) |
Funakoshi, Gigo uraken
Master Funakoshi’s son, Gigo Funakoshi, tirelessly demonstrates uraken (back fist strike).
