Okinawan karate low kicks

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQi3zbefLnc

Okinawan Karate kata feature mostly low level kicks,

 in addition to implied kicks with stepping.

 

The kicks work in conjunction with the hand movements to form the 'technique.'

Kicks may be delivered before the hands or after the hands, either way they are complicit in bringing the opponent into the strike, lock, or throw through 'kuzushi' (unbalancing/destabalizing).

These are dangerous techniques to practice with a partner and should only be attempted under the supervision of a knowledgable instructor.

Giles Hopkins

 

Another grand video experiment: This is a short clip of the first bunkai sequence from Seisan kata of Goju-ryu, showing the kata side and the non-kata side. This sequence of moves occurs after the first turn around to the south. Interestingly, the opening moves or entry techniques may be used against a single left punch from an attack from the west—in which case, you are stepping off line to “block” the attack with the right arm and attacking with a left palm strike. Or, these same moves may be used against a clinch, two-handed grab, or two punches. In this case, the defender’s right arm “blocks” from the outside and the defender’s left arm comes up on the inside of the attacker’s right arm. What is interesting is that the rest of the bunkai—whether you are stepping off line or moving to the inside—is substantially the same. Since the kata only shows one side, it is a good idea to practice this sequence on both sides, hence the video.