Chusoku
(Ball of Foot)
For kick techniques, what part of your foot/leg you strike with is very important. There is Haisoku (top of the foot), Chusoku (ball of the foot), Kakato (heel), Sune (shin), Hiza (knee), Sokuto (outside edge of heel). In this installment, I'm going to talk about Chusoku (ball of foot).
A kick executed with the Chusoku is extremely powerful. For example, the difference in power between kicking with the Chusoku in a mawashi geri (roundhouse kick) compared with the Haisoku is similar to the difference between hitting with an open palm or the knuckles of a closed fist. Of course, hitting the face/jaw with the Haisoku is still effective, hitting with the Chusoku is much more powerful.
However, forming Chusoku and using it effectively is difficult and requires a lot of practice. Many students jam their toes or kick an opponent's elbow or arm when trying to use Chusoku, at which point they shy away from using it again. That is not good. You need to challenge yourself and be patient. I always tell students that there are plenty of opportunities to practice making Chusoku (or other techniques) outside of the dojo. You can practice while watching TV, in the car, at the office, etc. It's not necessary to work up a sweat, but rather to teach your body how to do it over time. After you are comfortable making Chusoku, you then need to practice with making contact. At first, you should do it nice and easy. The receiving partner should hold pads in place, but not put a lot of power behind them. As you get more comfortable, you can begin increasing power and speed... but it takes time. Remember that Rome wasn't built in a day!
The following are some ways of incorporating Chusoku when kicking the face/jaw, temple, liver/ribs and leg.
技術編 総論
蹴り技の中でも中足は非常に大切な技である。必ず身に付けなければいけない技と言っても言い。中足は道場だけでの稽古では身に付かないことが多い。普段からコツコツと稽古を積んで身に付けること。家でTVを見ながら、ベットで寝る前にとか、いつでもどこでも簡単に中足の稽古は出来る。中足と背足では、平手と正拳の違いと言ってもいい位そのインパクトが異なる。今回は中足で顔面、テンプル、脇腹、レバー、腿・・・等へ蹴り込む稽古である。
Main Targets for Chusoku
｛注意｝中足の稽古はミットやチェスプロテクターに蹴り込むとき相手との間合、角度を正確にとって蹴り込まないと、足の指を痛める。稽古の初めは受ける相手に動かずその場で受けてもらう。中足の技が慣れてきたら受ける相手に動いてもらうとよい。
Left foot CHUSOKU to the temple. Again, receiving line shouldn't push back with the pad, but hold it tight enough not to hit themselves in the face. 相手の上段テンプルに左の上段回し蹴りで蹴り込む。
Right foot Chusoku to the temple. 右の上段まし蹴り相手の顎を狙って蹴り込む。
Left Chusoku to the liver. This is a very powerful technique. Again, start nice and easy. After you're comfortable, start adding in stepwork with the technique. 相手の肝臓｛レバー｝を中足で狙う。力強い技である。
Left foot CHUSOKU to the temple. Again, receiving line shouldn't push back with the pad, but hold it tight enough not to hit themselves in the face. 相手の上段テンプルに左の上段回し蹴りで蹴り込む。
Variations for Chusoku
相手の気を上段誘って下段腿、膝の上を中足で蹴り込む。
目線と蹴り足の膝で相手の気を上段に誘う。
Execute Chusoku to the inside of the front thigh. 構えた相手の前足の腿を内側から中足で蹴り込む。
Execute a right Chusoku to the opponent's back knee. 力強く右の下段前蹴りを中足を使って蹴り込む。
目線と蹴り足の膝で相手の気を上段に誘う。
Using Chusoku in Jissen Kumite
実戦組手
Relax your upper body with weight 50/50. Open your body slightly to invite opponent's right hand reverse punch. 構えた右肩をいくらか開いて相手の右の逆突きを誘う。
Block with Soto Uke. Try to move with your opponent, not against. A small, short block is better. If it's too big, the next movement will be late. 相手の右逆突きを送り足で下がりながら左の外受け。左の外受けは軽く受けて相手の順突きを誘う。
Kick with the Chusoku to the opponent's back ribs. If you use the top of the foot, the impact noise may be loud, but they can quickly recover. With the Chusoku, though, 99% of the time you will bust the ribs. 相手の左脇腹を右の三角蹴り中足で蹴り込む。
Relax your upper body with weight 50/50. Open your body slightly to invite opponent's right hand reverse punch. 構えた右肩をいくらか開いて相手の右の逆突きを誘う。
KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER:
Make sure to maintain proper distance and angle when practicing Chusoku with a partner. Be patient. Start nice and easy and gradually build up speed and power.
中足の蹴り技は、力強い技である。コツコツと身に付けることが大切である。