Foot And Leg Techniques

Kicking is as important in Karate as hand techniques: In fact, a kick has more power than does the fist. Good balance is all-important, not only because all of the body weight is supported by one leg but because of the counter-shock on impact. Having the sole of the supporting foot wholly and firmly planted and tensing the ankle sufficiently are absolutely essential to maintaining balance.

When kicking one should have the position for the next technique otherwise the opponent may succeed in scooping or catching the leg. The length of the arc the foot travels; the speed and the snapping power of the knee determine the force of the kick. Of particular importance is the muscular power employed in straightening the knee.

The master kicking, one must understand the primary factors and continue to practice systematically.

1.            Bending the Knee: Raise the kicking leg straight up, bringing the knee, fully bent high and shifting the weight of the leg toward the hips. Mastering this movement, which should be done quickly but lightly is useful in producing a strong sharp kick.

2.            Snap Bending and straightening of the knee: There are two ways of kicking

                (i) Using the spring like power of the knee by snapping it fully and

                (ii) Strongly straightening the knee.

In the snap kick, after the knee is raised the knee cap becomes the center of a semicircular movement. Speed is of the essence, without it the kick cannot be sharp and balance will be destroyed.

In the thrust kick (kekomi) the knee in the raised position is forcefully straightened, kicking to the front diagonally to the front and downward to the side or diagonally to the side and downward.

3.            Spring of the hips and ankle: In either type, the power of the leg by itself is not sufficient. To this must be added the spring of the hips and knee. For this purpose, the ankles must of course, be made strong through extended training.