Karate-Illustrated-March-1985-Vol-16-No-3

47355 MARCH 1985
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MARCH 1985 Vol. 16, No. 3
FEATURES
20
INTERVIEW: JHOON RHEE—The father of American tae kwon do
talks about the past, present and future of the martial arts in the United States.
26
THE LEADER OF SHORIN-RYU—Eizo Shimabuku has had a long
and interesting life, both in and out of the martial arts.
32
THE GLUTE-HAM DEVELOPER FOR THE MARTIAL ARTIST—One of
the best exercise devices for improving your leg strength and flexibility is fully
detailed.
38
HAPKIDO KICKS: THE KNEE IS THE KEY—Proper high knee posi
tioning is essential if you want to acquire power and accuracy with your kicks.
44
EUROPEAN KUNG FU—Choy li fut has become one of the favorite
styles in Spain, thanks to the concentrated effort of a few dedicated and
knowledgeable people.
50
AMAZING ARNIS: KICKING AND THE STICK—In one-on-one situa
tions, low kicks, as taught by amis, can be life-saving techniques against any
foe.
54
LAMA NATIONALS: "NASTY" TAKES OUT SOME FRUSTRATION —
Steve Anderson was fighting mad in Illinois, wanting to gain a measure of
respect.
56
KENWOOD U.S. OPEN: THE COMPETITORS LAST CHANCE—The
final AA-rated event of the year in Florida proved to be important to many
struggling contestants.
66
BODY BY FISHER—Former tournament competitor Steve Fisher tells
martial artists his strength building and stretching secrets.
DEPARTMENTS
6
Letters
58
Full-contact
12
Traditions
60
Ratings News
16
Weapons
62
Regional Ratings
18
Bruce Lee
68
Calendar
Publisher
Assistant Editor
Advertising
Michael James
Gary Dempsey
Barbara Lessard
Assistant Publisher
Geri Simon
Photographer
Customer Service
Joan LaMarr
Editor
Copy Editor
Jack Vaughn
Circulation
Kurt Seemann
Art Director
Typography
Contributors
Bruce Beck
Debbie Brown
Vern Brooks
Mario Prado
Jane Hollander
Dave Lowry
Tom Muzila
Mike Replogle
Gordon Richiusa
Michael Yessis
Mercy Caudillo
About the Cover: Okinawan shorin-ryu leader Eizo Shimabuku attacks Vern Brooks with a hard front
kick. Bruce Beck designed the cover.
page SO
KARATE ILLUSTRATED—ISSN 0022-9016—magazine is published monthly by Rainbow Publications, Inc. Editorial, advertising and circulation offices at
1813 Victory Place, P.O. Box 7728, Burbank, CA 91510-7728. Second-class postage paid Burbank, CA, and additional post offices. Telephone: (818) 8434444 or (213) 849-2181. Consultants: Uyehara Management Inc., 1314 S. King Street, Suite 863, Honolulu, HI 96814. Subscription rates in the United States
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States by World Color Press, Inc., St. Louis. Copyright 1985 by Rainbow Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly
prohibited.
Kicking and the Stick
by Mike Replogie
50
Various related Philippine martial
With the hands involved in blocking or
arts—amis, kali, escrima, silat, and
kuntaw—are now becoming known and
appreciated in the United States.
the only kicks that become usable are
Take the American viewpoint of prac
ticality and application, add stick tech
niques applied to empty hand and foot
fighting, along with the basics com
mon to many martial arts, and combine
them all into a standard training for
mat. The result—amis.
Amis, being a stick-oriented art, developes excellent coordination with
the hands and an understanding of
body positioning difficult to attain
attacks could be crippling. Restraint
parrying the attacker's arms and stick, appropriate to the situation must be
short kicks to the lower body, and trip
ping or throwing actions.
Low Kicking
The low kick can cause serious in
jury, especially to the knees, but it
serves mainly as an auxiliary attack,
knocking off balance the opponent and
causing an opening for a hand attack,
or taking the person to the ground with
applied to attacks against the knee.
The speed of the low kick is of great
importance. Since the distance is too
short to develop the full power of a
complete, long-range kick, speed is es
sential to create the maximum possi
ble effect. Also, since a low kick usual
ly takes place in close-quarters fight
ing, the kick must be done quickly to
avoid a loss of balance or to allow an
opening for the opponent to counter.
Variations of the basic kicks will
without the study of weapons. The
a throw or trip.
The methods of low kicking are sim
ply low and short variations of the
same movements translated to the
standard basic kicks. The martial art
empty hand become a powerful selfdefense system.
Kicking and foot techniques are one
of the least-known aspects of amis.
Often eclipsed by the uniqueness of
ist that has practiced and perfected
long-range kicking techniques should
close-range, low-kicking applications.
be able to easily adapt to their short,
Front Kick
low cousins.
When facing the opponent fully for
ward, the front kick can be very quick
and effective. A powerful front kick to
any part of the leg or groin can disable
an opponent. A short, quick kick to any
Low kicking attacks will generally
the stick, the feet are usually studied
be directed toward the foot, ankle, shin,
for stances and footwork, not so much
thigh, and groin area. Standard foot
as weapons. Yet foot techniques are an
integral part of a complete system of
amis, and the unique aspects of stick
fighting make for a fine kicking art, too.
The basic kicking actions of amis
are much the same as many of the kick
ing arts. Basic front, side, roundhouse,
crescent, back heel, spinning and jump
kicks remain much the same regard
less of the particular style of martial
arts. These kicks are studied and prac
ticed in amis. Since a kick has a greater
reach and more power than a punch, it
is an essential part of any complete
system of hand and foot fighting. Basic
kicking actions develop balance,
speed, power, flexibility, conditioning,
and are effective and versatile fighting
tools. They cannot be neglected and
should be practiced diligently.
The presence of the stick in a selfdefense
situation
alters
the
event
dramatically. Suddenly, the reach of
the hand (with the stick) is equal to that
of a kick. The stick can move as fast or
faster than a kick, and the stick feels no
pain. Long-range front, side, round
house and various other kicks can be
easily blocked with the stick from a
distance, and painfully, since stick
contact to the shin or foot is extremely
painful. This points to the fact that a
traditional, long-range kick is not prac
tical as an opening attack against a
stick-bearing opponent. The stick must
be neutralized before kicking can safe
ly come into play.
The danger of the stick can be less
ened in a variety of ways, mostly involv
ing closing the distance to the attacker
and limiting the stick's motion. At this
close range, full kicks are impractical.
come into play depending on the exact
circumstances of the situation. Each of
the basic kicks should be studied for
of
"The danger of the stick
can be lessened in a
variety of ways, mostly
involving closing the
distance to the attacker
and limiting the stick's
motion."
the
lower vulnerable areas can
cause extreme pain. Try kicking a cof
fee table with your shin sometime!
Side Kick
The side kick can be effective at
close range when the body is angled, or
especially when used in combination
with other kicks. For example, a front
kick delivered with the right foot to the
opponent's right knee, could easily be
followed up by the same foot with a
side kick to the inside of the left knee. A
positioning for kicks is effective
against all of these targets. When
wearing a shoe, the preferred striking
surface would be the point, heel, or
other hard part of the footgear. Since
these kicks are all short and quick, the
hard and sharp parts of the shoe can
help to create greater impact, injury,
and distraction.
The angle of the low kick is also very
important. Changing the angle of the
kick can alter its effect and desired re
sult. For example, a kick directed at the
knee area could come:
1. Directly into the knee, forcing it
straight back.
2. At a downward angle, driving the
knee cap down.
3. At an upward angle, pushing the
knee toward the other leg.
4. At an inward angle, twisting the
knee toward the other leg.
5. At an outward angle, forcing the knee
away from the other leg.
6. From behind (as with a hooking
kick), collapsing the knee forward.
In the case of the knees, all of these
side kick can also be used effectively
as a stomp to the top of the thigh, or in a
downward motion, painfully raking the
front of the shin.
Roundhouse and Back Heel Kicks
Roundhouse and back heel kicks,
being circular in nature ratherthan line
ar, lend themselves to broader motions
of attack and are also very effective for
sweeping, tripping and throwing ac
tions.
It is important to gain experience
and sensitivity to this style of kicking.
This is best accomplished by experi
mentation and exploration in a learning
situation. The following drill is an ex
cellent way to gain the needed familiar
ity.
Low Kicking Drill
This drill is done with a partner, in a
special series of steps designed to im
prove low kicking ability and percep
tion of the opponent's position and
opening.
These steps should be drilled one at
a time, each step taken in sequence to
51
a good level of ability before the next
action is a t t e m p t e d .
1. In the initial p o s i t i o n , the partners
face each other at arms d i s t a n c e apart,
in a natural s t a n d i n g p o s i t i o n , feet
shoulder w i d t h apart. Both partners
place both hands on their partner's opposite shoulders.
2. One partner plays the part of a d u m my, s t a n d i n g naturaily and w i t h o u t
moving.
The attacker executes low kicking
techniques as outiined previousiy, att a c k i n g t o w a r d the d u m m y ' s feet,
ankles, shins, knees, t h i g h s and groin.
The attacker looks d o w n at the targets,
doing the kicks slowly, w i t h a very iight
t o u c h to the target areas. The emphasis is not on force, but rather on the
angles of the a t t a c k s , and the feel of
executing the kicks at close range.
The attacker practices front, side,
roundhouse and back heei and any
other kicks in t h i s manner, w i t h each
foot.
3. When the k i c k i n g a c t i o n s become
c o m f o r t a b l e and well controlled, the attacker lifts his eyes to those of the opponent and locks his gaze there. Concentration should be on feeling the
kicks and target area, using peripheral
vision rather t han looking directly at
the target.
4. When the attacker can see and feel
the targets and kicks well w i t h o u t direct vision, the attacker closes tiis eyes
and executes the kicks. Care must be
taken that the kicks are not t o o fast,
hard, or injurious to the partner.
Again, the e m p h a s i s is on feeling
the opponent's position and executing
the k i c k — n o t on power or force.
5. The partner now assumes different
stances and foot positions, giving the
attacker various positions to experiment w i t h and become a c c u s t o m e d to.
Both partners s h o u l d t a k e t u r n s
equally doing t h i s drill. It is just as important to iearn the feel of receiving the
attack as well as delivering it.
Once a martial artist has mastered
the close-in, low k i c k i n g techniques, he
will have a d i s t i n c t advantage of dealing w i t h stick f i g h t i n g s i t u a t i o n s and in
any close-quarters f i g h t i n g encounter.
About the Author: Mike Repiogie
martiai artist and freeiance writer
Los
Angeles.
52
is a
from
LOW KICK PRACTICE
From a ready position
(1), the rear leg raises
to the front In a ready
stance, with the raised
knee crossing the line
of the base leg (2). The
leg extends out and
on an angle, outside
of where the foe's
knee would be (3). The
leg bends at the knee,
pulling the lower leg
back In an arc to hook
behind and collapse
the opponent's knee
(4).
ATTACK ANGLES
As stated In the story,
there are many angles
that can be used In an
offensive situation.
From the ready position (1), Repiogie attacks the front of his
opponent's knee (2),
the side of the knee
(3), and below the
knee (4). All of these
approaches can be
crippling.
LOW HOOK KICK
Low kicks can be very
effective In self-defense situations.
From the ready position (1), Mike Repiogie
lifts his rear leg Into a
cocked position to the
front (2). His leg extends out and past the
opponent's front knee
(3). He then hooks
back and behind the
knee, collapsing it Inward (4).
COMBINATION
From the ready position (1), Jeff Arnold
steps out and to the
left, parrying and
grabbing the opponent's punching arm
(2). While holding and
controlling the arm,
he delivers a short
and low front kick to
the Inside of the foe's
front knee (3). He follows up with a low side
kick (4).