Kicking Key Points

A karate man’s most devastating attacks come from his feet. The power of kicks is usually much greater than that of punches. Sensei Oyama claims that they pack “about five times as much destructive force”. The point can be easily proved if you test it for yourself with a friend. Ask someone to hold a thick book in front of him with both hands. Try a Chudan-oi-zuki in zenkutsu dachi and then try a chudan Mae geri (middle level front kick) as described in this section. You will find that whilst the punch makes your friend move back a little off balance, the kick should move him bodily backwards, if correctly applied.

This serves to underline the importance of extreme caution in the use of kicking methods. Not only is a kick so much stronger than punch, but the legs of most people are under much less control than their arms. You can Wald, stand up, ride a bicycle, swim and so on, but beyond that your legs and feet have received little training. Once they are launched at a target, you have a much smaller chance of controlling them that your hands.

A third important point about kicking is the position of the trunk. It should be as upright as possible, in the techniques where it is possible to upright at all. Not all styles of karate tech this principle, but it is a good one, and advisable to follow it. If your lean to the front as you kick, you are closer to receiving a kick or punch to face. If you lean to the side you are less well balance, and if you lean backwards the same applies. Upright, you can continue to attack and defend, with your hands, much more readily. Try to keep to this maxim when trying the kicks and when you have more experience, you will come to your own conclusion. 

A fourth point is to keep the leg on which you are standing slightly bent. This also involves a question of balance. Stand on one leg, and keep the leg perfectly straight. Swing your free leg back and forth (forward) you will notice a natural inclination to bend the supporting leg to maintain balance. Use this natural reaction of the body when kicking. It will save you from being knocked over by a block, and will enable you to draw back your attacking leg rapidly once it has struck. This is essential to prevent it from being grabbed by your opponent, and the remaining leg swept from under you.