Uechi ryu is distinguished by two very nasty - and very difficult to perform - techniques: the shoken and the sokusen. They are, in a way, parallel techniques. Both concentrate the power of their respective limbs. Both involve striking with an unusual part of the anatomy of the extremities. Both are difficult to develop. Both have practical applications when considering other props (shoes with the sokusen, sai with the shoken).
I've noted a few variations on the sokusen (toe kick) and thought I'd bring them out and take a tally of "favorites".
* The classic - and easiest - way to kick a front kick is with the ball of the foot. Actually what you are doing is hitting with the distal (far) end of the first metatarsal of the foot. Barefoot and in the classroom, it's easy and can take a lot of force. It has some disadvantages. Put a normal shoe on and suddenly you cannot do the extensor motion with the toes necessary to expose that first metatarsal. The best most could do is hit with a very flat part of the sole of a shoe. Maybe cletes, but otherwise not very practical. Often people choose instead to flex the ankle and kick with the heel. That works. Women may lose a heel if you've got the classic pumps on, but then bees leave body parts behind when they sting the &*%$ out of you.
* The sokusen that appears classically in Uechi Kanei's Kihon is quite difficult for many to do at first. The tip of the big toe is the striking surface. That isn't such a big deal except that most lack the strength to support that much force. But it's the unsual positioning of the toes that drives beginners batty. The more proximal phalages of all the toes are fully extended (point to heaven when the leg is straight out and the ankle is straight). The distal phalanges are then flexed such that the tips of all the toes are facing in the same direction as the rest of the foot. The big toe is the only striking surface, with the rest of the toes going along for the ride. Master Uechi's book has a beautiful picture of it from several angles. I believe Allan Dollar has the same set of photographs in his book.
* If you were ever a little girl in ballet, you know what I call the Yonamine variation. Ballerinas toe with a straght big toe. But then they have little booties on that keep them from skinning the tips of the toes of those waife-like bodies. In 1984 I worked a bit with Yonamine at one of the Thompson Island camps. For those who don't know, he is famous for his toughness. He does demonstrations where people break baseball bats over his shins. I believe George is in possession of one...er...two of those Louisville Sluggers post-demo. Anyhow, he was the first Uechika I observed doing the ballerina toe while demonstrating some rather intense ashikitae. Recently I was working with George and observed him proudly advocating the same way.
Regardless of which way you choose to do the sokusen, it is the technique of choice with a shoe on. Even a relatively weak sokusen is strong when braced by a little leather and backed with a good sole. And those pointy women's dress shoes? Ouch!!! But that's the only time these crazy products of vanity are practical.
* I've observed a few anomalous foot positions over the year that frankly work. Basically not everyone is built the same way. The first unusual variation I observed was from a fellow who was studying with me way back in 1972. He was a tall, athletic fellow who could not pull his toes back to do the classic ball-of-foot front kick. Instead, this monkey-like gentleman could ball his toes up in a fist and hit with the same first metatarsal from that direction. Go figure. The second variation was from another freak of nature ;-) who had an unusually long second toe. Oh well....kick with the first two toes. It worked for him. The lesson here is that a good teacher should take individual abilities into consideration.
So, how do you like to front kick? Do you have favorites? Do you strongly advocate any one way for your students or peers? IF so, why? Do you have special frustrations, training methods, etc to share? I'm all toes...er...ears.
- Bill