If all you do is kick and punch air, you are not learning the basics in any karate style. The fundamentals of Shotokan are not a fixed set of kihon that you do in a line over and over again. They're timing, distance, and the body mechanics needed to develop power. Punching air will not improve your power. The people who developed karate knew that, and so do the better instructors today.
I had the misfortune of starting in a Shotokan club that only punched air. After a couple of years, when I was a brown belt, I moved to a better Shotokan club where basics included actually being able to hit something. Years of punching air taught me nothing and I was in a position of relearning everything.
I think Shotokan is a great art, and there are fantastic instructors out there; however, if you don't think you are learning anything about timing, power and distance, you might want to look around for a new place to train.
I had the misfortune of starting in a Shotokan club that only punched air. After a couple of years, when I was a brown belt, I moved to a better Shotokan club where basics included actually being able to hit something. Years of punching air taught me nothing and I was in a position of relearning everything.
I think Shotokan is a great art, and there are fantastic instructors out there; however, if you don't think you are learning anything about timing, power and distance, you might want to look around for a new place to train.
