Kicking Tips
Kicking techniques add versatility and range to a karateka’s arsenal.
Firstly, legs are longer than arms giving one greater reach. As students will often be shown, the shortest person in the dojo has greater reach with a kick than the tallest person’s punch.
Secondly, legs are stronger than arms giving one more power.
To master kicks is tricky. The challenges include flexibility, which is why warming-up and stretching are important. Also, balance is important. The secret to success with kicking, as with any karate technique, is practise.
Different areas of the foot for kicking include (see figure below):
- Using the ball of the foot for front and round-house kicks.
- Using the instep for round-house kicks, kicks to an opponent’s legs and low front kicks (e.g. to the groin).
- Using the side edge of the foot for side snap and thrust kicks.
- Using the heel of the foot for back thrust kicks.
- Using the sole of the foot for sweeping techniques.
- Using the knee for knee strikes.
- Guidelines for kicking properly include:
- Being accurate. Kick with the correct part of the foot to an open target – there is no point in kicking knees and elbows!
- Stay relaxed when kicking, paying special attention to relaxing the shoulders and arms.
- Don’t hold your breath when kicking. Proper breathing helps with balance, control and focus of the technique.
- Use the hips to kick. The hips should move in the direction of the kick.
- Keep the supporting leg bent and the foot flat on the floor (for most kicks). The supporting leg is both a shock absorber and your stance. Remember, power and speed start and end with the hips and supporting leg.
- Once the basic technique is understood, practise all kicks as one complete and continuous smooth action.
- Keep the kicking leg soft and relaxed during the kick. This improves the speed and power of the kick.
Karate techniques are similar in most styles. It is the system in which they are taught, that identifies a style. As with all teaching systems, a syllabus is important.
Funakoshi Ryu has a structured, sequential training system. Incorporated into our system is the science of kinetics and biomechanics.
Kinetics is the study of the forces that produce, arrest or modify the motions of the body. Kinetics is the application of Newton’s first and third law of inertia to body dynamics.
In exercise and sport, biomechanics a sub-division of dynamics dealing with the study of the forces causing or tending to cause changes at which reactions proceed.
The stance
The central starting point or foundation of Funakoshi Ryu, is our ‘Kamae’ stance; this stance is more than a fighting position, it contains accurate head, body, arms, hands, leg and foot positioning. This stance is a study in itself. All training techniques start from from this position. This kamae is used in all our training systems: kihon, saiten kentai waza, shiho geri waza, kata and kumite.
Many styles have now copied this kamae and yet it is not in their kihon and kata. This stance is both an aggressive and defensive position. One could say this stance identifies Funakoshi Ryu.
Junior ranking
In 1966 Funakoshi Ryu introduced to the karate world our unique junior karate ranking system. All junior ranks wear a white stripe through their belts, and the awarding of junior black belts, also with a white stripe through the belt.
Funakoshi Ryu has excellent training systems, with great emphasis placed on the detail and perfection, of all kion techniques.
Our unique advanced black belt training syllabus caters for the advancement of karateka through the higher dan rankings.
Ongoing change
Funakoshi Ryu is an on-going style, always looking to improve and advance with new systems and techniques. The method used to train an athlete 50 years ago, cannot be compared to the methods taught today.
Bushido
Funakoshi Kobudo International teaches weapon training to students wishing to practice the disciplines of Bushido weaponry. Edwin Ward Dai Hanshi has studied a variety of weapons and has developed systems of teaching these weapons, unique to Funakoshi Karate International students.
