Karate: Using The Legs Part 3

Chudan Mavashi Geri

There are important points to remember about this technique. First of all, if your opponent is so close, you will not be able to employ the hip motion. Also, in close encounters, you will not be able to use your foot (chesoku or haisoku). Use the sune instead. It works extremely well.

The opponent's elbows pose a danger when using this technique. If instead of the ribs or hip, you hit you opponent's elbow, you may get a trauma. This is a mistake most beginners make. The solution is simple DO NOT move your foot 45 degrees up. Make sure it goes up first and then move it HORIZONTALLY. By the way, the 45 degrees ''from the floor up'' kick is much less efficient, as it only ''scratches'' the opponent's skin, instead of getting ''in''.

Jodan Mavashi Geri

In the classical version, the back foot moves on a straight line, connecting the place where it originally was on the floor and the target (the side of the opponent's head). There are several steps to learn hoe to do this technique; such as ringing the knee up, then turning the hips, and at the same time sending the foot to the target. But after learning all these, the steps should become fluid movement . The foot should accelerate all the way to the target from the moment it leaves the ground.

The body should be straight, as bending forward will take additional effort while bending backward will compromise your balance. The supporting foot may turn outwards, up to 90 degrees. But it should never go up on the toes. Meanwhile, the supporting knee must be slightly bent.

Gedan Mavashi Geri

You can perform it on any part of your opponent's leg, from the hip to the ankle. The knee of your leg should not (in the classical version) go up as the target is low.

The kick must go 90 degrees to the bone you are attacking, and the target you have in mind should not be on the other side, as if you are sure that you are going to break it. As it is a close distance kick, it is often used with the hand techniques. Also, if your opponent's leg is properly conditioned, a single kick might not penetrate his muscle. So during competitions, you will see multiple kicks launched in the same area within half a minute.

Note that when done with proper power, this kick will move the opponent's leg. It can forced him to change his position, making him vulnerable for an attack. Or he may even fall down, in which case the technique works like tip.