There are times
I wonder if I am cursed to remember almost everything I have seen and read.
About 1976 I purchased a copy of a book by Shigeru Engami, ‘The Way if Karate’ Beyond Technique
about his journey in karate. He had been a student of Funakoshi Ginchin and
experienced the changes of the art through his life experiences, and personal
efforts.
I did not know
at that time there were differences in Okinawan and Japanese Karate.
Interestingly he did research on the most powerful punch on Okinawa as well as
in Japan.
But his
description of the Toe Kick method he was originally taught, I have never seen
described anywhere else. And these photos came from his book.
Engami’s own
words: “The form of the foot in the front kick when I began practice was with
the toes folded down. The part of the foot that struck the opponent was the
first joint of the big toe. Since the toes had to be strong—otherwise they
might be broken—we were made to practice standing, even walking, with our toes
folded, as shown in the figure.
Having mastered
this, we practiced jumping with our toes in this position, and I was eventually
able to perform a double kick (nidan-geri) in this fashion. Although this kick
was performed in demonstrations, because of its interest, it had no relevance
to training, and few practiced it because it was so painful.
The form of the
foot presently used is striking with the ball of the foot. The toes are bent
back as far as possible…”
I have slightly
altered the text because I have not scanned the passage, but it is very close
to the actual text. He goes much further into the front kick and toe kicks. The
book is worth acquiring. He began training in college under Funakoshi Ginchin, when he was 20.
This would
suggest that things then were very different from the karate today.
It does not
explain where this method of striking with the foot originated, but the pain
experienced why this is most likely no longer practiced. Of course the world is
vast, and one cannot say with certainty it is no longer practiced anywhere,
just not so it is discussed.
I feel from
reading the entire book, it is most likely something Egami experienced.
I feel a foot
properly conditioned and trained might be more penetrating using this foot.
Of course with
modern footwear, it is also likely the older Chinese traditions of kicking with
boots or footwear on their feet, likely is more powerful than any empty foot
kicking.
My blog post on
Okinawan Toe Kicking.
2 comments:
Analysis:
There are a number of things that come to mind.
While we know what Funakoshi Ginchin wrote about the karate he shared in Japan, we really don’t know everything he had or used, from time to time.
There is no reason to doubt Engami that he was trained exactly that way while youn. The photographs alone are evocative of real training he received.
What tradition on Okinawa evolved such kicking technique. Unknown, for as far as I know no one else has acknowledged this training. Structurally, when one was properly trainded, it would be a powerful method of kicking. At the same time it appears to be as difficult and painful as Engami suggests.
The reason such training was developed, seems to have passed away. Engami suggests it was just used for demonstrations, not for actual use. By actual use I would believe they were referring to be the karate used in classes, eventually in tournaments.
Certainly its use in practice, could prove hazardous for both parties when training if mistakes occurred. That alone would suggest another reason the method was shelved. For the purpose Funakoshi championed in Japan suggests actual kicking was not very high on his list of priorities for karate.
It is not impossible such was developed in the past, when such knowledge might keep the king safe, or some other purpose. I would also suggest everyone did not do it that way.
All forms of toe kicking in Karate require specific specialist training. Training that must be considered worth the pain involved. There was not one method, but a number of different ways those kicks could be executed.
In today’s world, I would not advocate the resumption of the kick Engami described.
Then again, there are uses for a variety of toe kicks. Into the throat, into the armpit, into the lower ribs from the side, into the groin, into the hip joint, into the thigh, into the calf, into the spine from the rear. Of course there is no end of ways toe kicks could be used.
For myself, the toe kicking in Tam Tuie, wearing shoes, kicking with the toe tip in a thrusting manner, to dislocate ankles, or to break legs, using a variety of different Tam Tire kicking methods makes sense. If I would find a need to kick someone, breaking their leg has a logic to it to me.
But I digress, any style of toe kicking has its own logic. Of course the same can be said about any method of kicking.
egami's foot structure is used in uechi ryu. also english karate legend Steve Morris used to do bunny hops on his toes around the dojo in Okinawa. also there is a method used in the indonesian area of holding a knife in the foot form shown used by people used to going barefoot and using front kicks to disembowel opponents.
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