Ryukyu Kenpo Kobujutsu
Striking Methods
Legs
Describing the striking methods of the legs is greatly complicated by the fact
that we do not always face the opponent in a Fighting or a Natural
stance. Different possibilities exist for each stance; yet all are based on one
movement. The Front Snap Kick is executed in the same manner with either
leg; regardless of the position of the opponent, be he standing directly in
front of us, or, on either side creating a front and back leg situation.
The 45° kick, on the other hand, is executed differently, depending on
his position in relation to our legs.
Feet
These are the basic kicks. Many of these kicks are combined to
create, the misnomer, ‘new kicks’; The Front and Rear kick
combination being one such, the Front Snap Roundhouse being another. In
all these cases they are not new kicks, they are, simply, combinations of
existing kicks.
Front Snap:
Delivered in a four count
movement, this kick travels along the centerline; lift the leg pointing the knee
at the target, kick the target with the tip of the shoe, retract the foot to the
support knee, plant forward, toward the opponent, and set it down. When barefoot
use ball of the foot for waist height and above. To execute the Front Push
kick, use the ball of the foot to strike; then, continue the motion to ‘push’ on
the target, and don’t retract the foot all the way to the support knee. The
Front Thrust kick is delivered with the heel. The knee does not point at the
target as it is elevated too high. The knee is lowered as the leg straightens in
a thrusting motion.
Rear:
Delivered in a four count
movement, this kick travels along the centerline; lift the foot 45° upward to
the rear by bending the knee, bend forward at the waist and deliver the strike,
brushing the support leg, retract the foot to the support knee, brushing the
support leg, set it down. The Spinning Rear kick is executed by pivoting
on the support foot so the heel is pointing at the opponent. The back leg slides
on the ground to the support foot; and the rest of the kick is as above. Shift
the weight forward to the kicking leg and plant forward, toward the opponent.
Roundhouse:
Delivered in a four count
movement, this kick travels in a circular inward motion to the centerline
entering at a 90° angle. Executed the same as the Front Snap kick except;
the foot lifts on the outside of the knee.
From the back leg, the front foot does not pivot until the point and kick stage
(the lift stage is separated from pointing in this iteration of the kick). The
Flip Roundhouse is executed like the Front Snap kick along the
centerline; except, the leg extends to the side of the target and, at the last,
the support leg pivots so the foot of the kicking leg ‘flips’ over into the
target. The 45° kick is executed from the fighting position, front leg.
It is used to strike the groin with the toes or instep. Since the front leg is
already slightly bent, you lift the leg straight up not changing anything. Once
the foot clears the knee, snap the leg straight to effect the strike. The
Reverse Roundhouse is performed by lifting and rotating the leg, swinging
the foot across the centerline, then kicking in an upward outward motion to the
centerline target. Requires leaning backwards slightly to gain height.
Side:
Delivered in a four count
movement, this kick travels along the centerline; lift the leg pointing the knee
at the target, kick the target twisting the support foot at the last; so, the
heel points towards the target and the heel of the kicking foot makes the
contact, retract the foot to the support knee, pivoting the support foot to a
Crane stance, plant forward, toward the opponent, and set it down. The
Thrust Side kick is delivered with the leg in the same manner as the
Front Thrust kick except; the foot and leg are horizontal and the support
leg heel is pointing towards the opponent. Usually used with crossing movements.
The Spinning Side kick rotates to the rear and delivers the kick along
the centerline in a thrusting manner. The Hop Side kick is delivered in a
thrusting manner. The back foot, in a powerful movement, is brought forward and
replaces, by striking, the front foot. The rear foot should land one to one and
a half feet in front of where the front foot was. While airborne the kick is
delivered.
Naihanchi:
The foot is rotated laterally, the knee bent, as the leg is lifted. The kick
travels straight to the target along the centerline.
The sole of the foot strikes and
the knee straightens; causing force to applied downwards against the target.
Usually used against the knee joint.
Back:
Like the Thrust Side
kick except; the leg circles to the outside; then, travels in a circular outward
motion to the centerline, entering at a 45° angle. The Spinning Back kick
is the same as the Spinning Side kick, except for the 45° angle of entry.
Heel (Hook):
The reverse of the
Roundhouse kick, this kick travels in a circular outward motion to the
centerline entering at a 90° angle. The leg is lifted while straight then the
heel is pulled into the target by the hamstrings. The Spinning Heel and
Heel Hook kick is the same except; with the former, the leg is kept straight
throughout the movement, with the later, the leg pulls the heel towards the
buttocks to effect the strike. While the Spinning Heel kick enters at
90°, the Spinning Heel Hook can enter at more extreme angles. The 45°
kicks are so named because they enter while they are rising or descending at
45°. Vertical kicks are executed with the leg held straight; either
Rising or Descending along the centerline. The descending kick is
called an ‘Axe’ kick in many systems
Crescent:
All the joints in the leg are
bent during the execution of the kick. The foot moves about 360° in an inward
circular motion, through the centerline, striking with the bottom of the foot or
heel. The right foot moves counter clockwise; the left clockwise. The Reverse
strikes with the outer edge of the foot. The right foot moving clockwise; the
left counter clockwise. The Spinning Crescent kick is only used with the
Reverse kick motion.
Aerial:
Specialty kicks, these are too
numerous to list. Most are combinations of kicks already listed. Some notable
exceptions are: the simultaneous Front and Rear kick, a
simultaneous Front and Heel kick called a ‘Scissors’ kick.
Shins
Crane:
Used to block incoming kicks.
Usually, just lifted to passively get in the way. As experience is gained it is
used in a more active way.
Thai:
Like the Roundhouse
kick from the back leg except; the support foot doesn’t pivot past straight, the
leg rises 45° with a slight bend of the leg, the hips do not shift much past
straight, the guards do not change, and you strike with the shin and not the
foot. Target areas are the ribs and the Trochanter of the Femur.
Leg
Similar to a low Roundhouse
kick except; the knee rotates downward, striking with the shin into his
leg.
Knee
Rising:
Knee lifts along the
centerline, striking with the head of the Femur. The Roundhouse is
delivered identically to the kick of that name.