Shotokan Karate

For maximum effect, Karate strikes should have; - Correct Tension in the striking surface - Thrust kime to strike deep and decisively, or - Use of a fast snappy whip-like action to shock - Use of the other arm as a counter action - Straight wrist (usually) Targets for Karate Strikes Of the basic Karate moves Karate strikes are the most versatile and the list of targets is endless. Students of all types of Karate train to maximize destructive power by targeting vulnerable parts of the body. Exposed areas of soft tissue ie the neck, throat, solar plexus and groin are primary targets. Karate Kicks Keri Waza Somehow Karate is not best known for its kicks which is crazy because good Karate kicks are extraordinarily powerful. For optimum effect a Karate kick relies on flexibility, a stable stance and good balance. The ball and the edge of the foot, the heel and the instep are all used as striking surfaces or ‘weapons of the body’ in kicking. Karate kicks are delivered with one foot on the floor or both feet in the air. They can come from any direction; front, side or back as a snap, a thrust, a turn, jump or a spin. Some creative ‘kickers’ have devised clever variations to standard Karate kicks. Key Features - Control of the knee - Target and Speed (of course) - Position of hips and direction of the standing leg - Total stability and balance before, during and after the kick More important than the actual kick ...is the return path and ‘landing’. Even if a Karate kick reaches its target, it will lack destructive power if it is not withdrawn sharply. This ‘pull back’ hiki ashi in Japanese creates power in the same way as a whip does. It also gets the leg back under the kickers control and safely out of the opponents range. Famous Karate Kickers Masahiko Tanaka, Seiji Nishimura, Bill ‘superfoot’ Wallace, Masao Kagawa (pictured), Frank Brennan, Hirokazu Kanazawa