Japanese in Karate 22 “Idou-geiko”

In all the dojos I trained in Japan (5 dojos in 3 different styles), “idou” training always followed after “kihon” training.

“idou” means ‘to move from one place to another’. “geiko” is same as ‘keiko’, which means ‘training’

“idou geiko” is the training you step forward usually by 3 or 5 steps and then either you turn around (“mawatte”) and do another 3 steps or step backwards without turning (“sagatte” or “sagari”).

“Mawatte” means ‘Turn around!’.  “Sagatte” means ‘Step back!’

 This training is the combination of “kihon” techniques mainly with the following stances.

“Zenkutsu-dachi” : “zen” is the same kanji(Chinese character) as “mae” and it means ‘front’. And    
                              “kutsu” means ‘to bend’. “Zenkutsu-dachi” is the wide stance that your
                               front leg is deeply bent and back leg is straight. It is a front leaning stance.

“Koukutsu-dachi” : “kou” is the same kanji as “ushiro” and it means ‘back/behind’. Therefore,                                                 your back leg is bent in this stance. It is a back leaning stance.

koukutsu-dachi

The idou training I was used to starts with “zenkutsu-dachi, gedan-barai”

“Sensei” says, “Zenkutsu-dachi gedan-barai  Youi!”  (prepare for the stance) and then “kamaete!” (do the stance).
 Now the teacher would say “Chudan oi-zuki” or “Chudan gyaku-zuki”

“Oi-zuki” : “oi” means ‘chase/follow’.  You punch with the same side hand as the front leg.

“Gyaku-zuki” : “gyaku” means ‘reverse/opposite’. You punch with the opposite side hand from the
                        front leg.

zenkutsu-dachi, oi-zuki