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MARCH 1985 Vol. 16, No. 3

FEATURES

20 INTERVIEW: JHOON RHEE—The father of American tae kwon dotalks 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 longand interesting life, both in and out of the martial arts.

32 THE GLUTE-HAM DEVELOPER FOR THE MARTIAL ARTIST—One ofthe best exercise devices for improving your leg strength and flexibility is fullydetailed.

38 HAPKIDO KICKS: THE KNEE IS THE KEY—Proper high knee positioning is essential if you want to acquire power and accuracy with your kicks.

44 EUROPEAN KUNG FU—Choy li fut has become oneof the favoritestyles in Spain, thanks to the concentrated effort of a few dedicated andknowledgeable people.

50 AMAZING ARNIS: KICKING AND THE STICK—In one-on-one situations, low kicks, as taught by amis, can be life-saving techniques against anyfoe.

54 LAMA NATIONALS: "NASTY" TAKES OUT SOME FRUSTRATION —Steve Anderson was fighting mad in Illinois, wanting to gain a measure ofrespect.

56 KENWOOD U.S. OPEN: THE COMPETITORS LASTCHANCE—Thefinal AA-rated event of the year in Florida proved to be important to manystruggling contestants.

66 BODY BY FISHER—Former tournament competitor Steve Fisher tellsmartial artists his strength building and stretching secrets.

DEPARTMENTS6 Letters

12 Traditions

16 Weapons18 Bruce Lee

58 Full-contact

60 Ratings News62 Regional Ratings68 Calendar

Publisher

Michael James

Assistant Publisher

Geri Simon

Editor

Kurt Seemann

Art Director

Bruce Beck

Assistant EditorGary Dempsey

PhotographerMario Prado

Copy EditorJack Vaughn

TypographyDebbie Brown

AdvertisingBarbara Lessard

Customer Service

Joan LaMarr

Circulation

Mercy Caudillo

Contributors

Vern Brooks

Jane Hollander

Dave LowryTom Muzila

Mike ReplogleGordon Richiusa

Michael Yessis

About the Cover: Okinawan shorin-ryu leader Eizo Shimabuku attacks Vern Brooks with a hard frontkick. 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 at1813 Victory Place, P.O. Box 7728, Burbank, CA 91510-7728. Second-class postage paid Burbank, CA, and additional post offices. Telephone: (818) 843-4444 or (213) 849-2181. Consultants: Uyehara Management Inc., 1314 S. King Street, Suite 863, Honolulu, HI 96814. Subscription rates in the United Statesare one year (12 issues plus yearbook), S19.50; two years, S39.00. (Foreign countries add S2.50 per year for postage.) The publisher and editors will not beresponsible for unsolicited material. Manuscripts and photographs must be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Printed in the UnitedStates by World Color Press, Inc., St. Louis. Copyright 1985 by Rainbow Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictlyprohibited.

Kicking and the Stick

by Mike Replogie

50

Various related Philippine martialarts—amis, kali, escrima, silat, andkuntaw—are now becoming known andappreciated in the United States.

Take the American viewpoint of practicality and application, add stick techniques applied to empty hand and footfighting, along with the basics common to many martial arts, and combinethem all into a standard training format. The result—amis.

Amis, being a stick-oriented art, de-velopes excellent coordination withthe hands and an understanding ofbody positioning difficult to attainwithout the study of weapons. Thesame movements translated to the

empty hand become a powerful self-defense system.

Kicking and foot techniques are oneof the least-known aspects of amis.Often eclipsed by the uniqueness ofthe stick, the feet are usually studiedfor stances and footwork, not so much

as weapons. Yet foot techniques are anintegral part of a complete system ofamis, and the unique aspects of stickfighting make for a fine kicking art, too.

The basic kicking actions of amisare much the same as many of the kicking arts. Basic front, side, roundhouse,crescent, back heel, spinning and jumpkicks remain much the same regardless of the particular style of martialarts. These kicks are studied and practiced in amis. Since a kick has a greaterreach and more power than a punch, itis an essential part of any completesystem of hand and foot fighting. Basickicking actions develop balance,speed, power, flexibility, conditioning,and are effective and versatile fightingtools. They cannot be neglected andshould be practiced diligently.

The presence of the stick in a self-defense situation alters the event

dramatically. Suddenly, the reach ofthe hand (with the stick) is equal to thatof a kick. The stick can move as fast or

faster than a kick, and the stick feels nopain. Long-range front, side, roundhouse and various other kicks can be

easily blocked with the stick from adistance, and painfully, since stickcontact to the shin or foot is extremelypainful. This points to the fact that atraditional, long-range kick is not practical as an opening attack against astick-bearing opponent. The stick mustbe neutralized before kicking can safely come into play.

The danger of the stick can be lessened in a variety of ways, mostly involving closing the distance to the attackerand limiting the stick's motion. At thisclose range, full kicks are impractical.

With the hands involved in blocking orparrying the attacker's arms and stick,the only kicks that become usable areshort kicks to the lower body, and tripping or throwing actions.

Low KickingThe low kick can cause serious in

jury, especially to the knees, but itserves mainly as an auxiliary attack,knocking off balance the opponent andcausing an opening for a hand attack,or taking the person to the ground witha throw or trip.

The methods of low kicking are simply low and short variations of thestandard basic kicks. The martial art

ist that has practiced and perfectedlong-range kicking techniques shouldbe able to easily adapt to their short,low cousins.

Low kicking attacks will generallybe directed toward the foot, ankle, shin,thigh, and groin area. Standard foot

"The danger of the stickcan be lessened in a

variety of ways, mostlyinvolving closing the

distance to the attackerand limiting the stick's

motion."

positioning for kicks is effectiveagainst all of these targets. Whenwearing a shoe, the preferred strikingsurface would be the point, heel, orother hard part of the footgear. Sincethese kicks are all short and quick, thehard and sharp parts of the shoe canhelp to create greater impact, injury,and distraction.

The angle of the low kick is also veryimportant. Changing the angle of thekick can alter its effect and desired re

sult. For example, a kick directed at theknee area could come:

1. Directly into the knee, forcing itstraight back.

2. At a downward angle, driving theknee cap down.

3. At an upward angle, pushing theknee toward the other leg.

4. At an inward angle, twisting theknee toward the other leg.

5. At an outward angle, forcing the kneeaway from the other leg.

6. From behind (as with a hookingkick), collapsing the knee forward.In the case of the knees, all of these

attacks could be crippling. Restraintappropriate to the situation must beapplied to attacks against the knee.

The speed of the low kick is of greatimportance. Since the distance is tooshort to develop the full power of acomplete, long-range kick, speed is essential to create the maximum possible effect. Also, since a low kick usually takes place in close-quarters fighting, the kick must be done quickly toavoid a loss of balance or to allow an

opening for the opponent to counter.Variations of the basic kicks will

come into play depending on the exactcircumstances of the situation. Each of

the basic kicks should be studied for

close-range, low-kicking applications.

Front KickWhen facing the opponent fully for

ward, the front kick can be very quickand effective. A powerful front kick toany part of the leg or groin can disablean opponent. A short, quick kick to anyof the lower vulnerable areas can

cause extreme pain. Try kicking a coffee table with your shin sometime!

Side KickThe side kick can be effective at

close range when the body is angled, orespecially when used in combinationwith other kicks. For example, a frontkick delivered with the right foot to theopponent's right knee, could easily befollowed up by the same foot with aside kick to the inside of the left knee. A

side kick can also be used effectivelyas a stomp to the top of the thigh, or in adownward motion, painfully raking thefront of the shin.

Roundhouse and Back Heel Kicks

Roundhouse and back heel kicks,being circular in nature ratherthan linear, lend themselves to broader motionsof attack and are also very effective forsweeping, tripping and throwing actions.

It is important to gain experienceand sensitivity to this style of kicking.This is best accomplished by experimentation and exploration in a learningsituation. The following drill is an excellent way to gain the needed familiarity.

Low Kicking DrillThis drill is done with a partner, in a

special series of steps designed to improve low kicking ability and perception of the opponent's position andopening.

These steps should be drilled one ata time, each step taken in sequence to

51

a good level of abil i ty before the next act ion is at tempted. 1. In the init ial posi t ion, the partners face each other at arms distance apart, in a natural standing posi t ion, feet shoulder w idth apart. Both partners place both hands on their partner's op­posite shoulders. 2. One partner plays the part of a dum­my, standing naturaily and without moving.

The attacker executes low kicking techniques as out i ined previousiy, at­tacking toward the dummy's feet, ankles, shins, knees, thighs and groin. The attacker looks down at the targets, doing the kicks slowly, wi th a very iight touch to the target areas. The empha­sis is not on force, but rather on the angles of the attacks, and the feel of executing the kicks at close range.

The attacker practices front, side, roundhouse and back heei and any other kicks in th is manner, wi th each foot . 3. When the kicking act ions become comfortable and well control led, the at­tacker l i fts his eyes to those of the op­ponent and locks his gaze there. Con­centrat ion should be on feeling the kicks and target area, using peripheral vision rather than looking directly at the target. 4. When the attacker can see and feel the targets and kicks well wi thout di ­rect vision, the attacker closes tiis eyes and executes the kicks. Care must be taken that the kicks are not too fast, hard, or injurious to the partner.

Again, the emphasis is on feeling the opponent's posit ion and executing the k i c k — n o t on power or force. 5. The partner now assumes different stances and foot posit ions, giving the attacker various posit ions to experi­ment wi th and become accustomed to.

Both partners should take turns equally doing this dr i l l . It is just as im­portant to iearn the feel of receiving the attack as wel l as delivering it.

Once a mart ial artist has mastered the close- in, low kicking techniques, he wi l l have a d ist inct advantage of deal­ing wi th st ick f ight ing s i tuat ions and in any close-quarters f ight ing encounter.

About the Author: Mike Repiogie is a martiai artist and freeiance writer from Los Angeles.

52

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 s i tuat ions . 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).