The basics of Karakido break down into four groups of seven. The seven stances are prepared, formal, straddle, back, cat, crane and crouch. The seven blocks are double forearm, high-low, raking, scooping, inverted forearm, lower & rising-X and knee blocks. The seven punches are jab, back fist, reverse punch, ridge hand, palm heel, chicken neck and elbow strikes. The seven kicks are front, roundhouse, stomping heel, side, back, crescent (inside and outside), and hook kicks. All of the techniques are functional and natural to the fighter. Each of these areas are broken down by chapter with photos showing the correct approach to their use. Karakido comes from three base words. Kara meaning open, Ki for inner power, and Do, the way of. Karakido means "Open yourself to the way of inner power."