REINFORCED KARATE CENTER CHOP

a) fold:

Start in a back stance, left leg forward. With both hands in a knife hand position, extend the right hand behind the head at a 45 degree angle above the shoulder, palm down. The left hand is palm up with the outer blade of the hand protecting the solar plexus (—so if one were to hold a cup of water, it would not tip or spill).

b) chop:

Both arms move simultaneously for support, as if the right hand were pushing the left hand forward and the left hand were pulling the right. The right hand chops to the solar plexus; the left hand chops forward at a 45 degree angle, with fingertips eyebrow level and elbow bent over the left knee. Both hand movements are completed simultaneously.

Whereas most hand moves encompass a negative (counter) motion and a positive motion, here we have two positive motions moving forward together. Higher levels of the system find these double positive moves in intermediate and upper level forms: e.g., double strikes, double blocks, and reinforced chops and blocks.
 

REINFORCED  KARATE LOW CHOP

a) fold:

Start in a back stance, left leg forward. With both hands in the knife hand position, extend the right hand behind the head at a 45 degree angle above the shoulder, palm down. The left hand is palm up with the outer blade of the hand protecting the solar plexus.

b) chop:

Both arms move simultaneously for support, as if the right hand were pushing the left hand forward, and the left hand were pulling the right. The right hand chops to the solar plexus, and the left hand chops over the knee (running parallel to the top of the left thigh). As the fold is at a 45 degree angle, so the chops move in a diagonal 45 degree angle. Both hand movements are completed simultaneously.

On completion of the chops, the wrists turn into position: opposite moves to the fold, the wrists and forearms turn in a snapping motion to support the outer blades of the hands.

HOWTO PRACTICE:

To teach yourself how to move correctly in reinforced center and low chops, practice by holding a belt tightly between the hands; allow no slack to occur in the belt throughout the reinforced chopping moves. When practicing, one should be conditioning and focusing on the solar plexus by making contact with (striking) the solar plexus area.

STEPPING WITH REINFORCED  KARATE CHOPS

Upon completion of the reinforced center chop, both feet and hands pivot simultaneously. (The front foot pivots in preparation for becoming the back foot, and the back foot turns forward). The front hand extends behind the head as the back shoulder moves forward to complete the fold. The back foot steps forward, timing the chop with the foot movement (—the chop and step are completed simultaneously).

Stepping backward uses the same fold as stepping forward. However, as the front foot steps back, the back foot ends in front. Remember: the same foot is forward as hand is forward.