Technique of the Week (June 24th, 2007)
From Kyoshi
David Baker,
Chief Operating Officer
Ueshiro Shorin-Ryu Karate USA
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Basic
description:
Sight first.
Strike with the bottom of the heel and the outer, bottom edge of
the foot (the same striking surface as in nihanchi stomp), while
pressing rearward with the heel.
The kick is delivered with the foot vertical. To ensure that the
foot does not turn horizontal at the end, do not lock out the knee
upon full extension of the kick, but keep it slightly bent. The
lower leg, once it is raised, remains horizontal throughout the
kick.
Make sure that the leg does not lift out to the side because that
will structurally weaken the alignment of the kick and it will turn
the foot horizontal. Instead, keep the leg directly beneath the
height of the hip throughout the kick.
Also, the knee is not raised in front of the body as it is for all
of our forward kicks, but rather 1) the entire leg stays below the
hip, 2) the foot remains behind the hip, as 3) the foot comes up
and outward in that rounded right angle that we use for all our
kicks:
Finally, make
sure you don’t lean forward when you kick, but remain upright.
Conclusion:
As with all techniques, it takes many repetitions to execute effectively.
Don’t be discouraged by your first several attempts.
Domo arigato gozaimasu,
Kyoshi David Baker,
Chief Operating Officer
Ueshiro Shorin-Ryu Karate USA
founded by Grand Master Ansei Ueshiro
under the direction of Hanshi Robert Scaglione
New York, NY • USA
