Karateka/Gameplay

Controlling your fighter depends on which version you are playing. In all versions you have two stances: running and fighting. Being hit in the running stance is lethal, whether or not you are stationary. Once you enter fighting stance in a combat situation, you may not enter running stance again until your enemy is gone. In all versions, you have three punches or kicks, depending on if the joystick or D-pad is in an up, down, or neutral position.

Press the "punch" button while standing in the running stance and you will honorably bow to your opponent; if your opponent is also in this stance, he will bow back. This gesture serves no function other than your amusement.

Kicks have a longer range than punches, but punches are quicker. Kicks can be rapid-fired at most four times, after which your fighter must pause, but rapid one-two punches can continue indefinitely.

While in fighting stance, you have two kinds of movement: walking, and a slight, quick shuffle forward, which the game distinguishes by holding the joystick and tapping it.

Apple II controls

 * Button 1: kick
 * Button 2: punch
 * Up: assume running stance; let go to assume fighting stance
 * Up+Right: run; let go to assume fighting stance

Famicom controls
In the Famicom version, your stance will be held after releasing the corresponding button.
 * : kick
 * : punch
 * : assume running stance
 * : assume fighting stance