Ken KraislerFebruary 1, 2009ISKF Report for Godan Test.

Mawashi Geri

Overview

Mawashi geri means "round" kick or "roundhouse" kick. The attacker lifts the knee to

the side of the body. The knee travels in a semi-circular direction to the target. The foot

snaps out and back. After the foot snaps back, the knee also moves back towards its

original knee-up starting point. Finally, the kicking foot returns to the floor.

The purpose of mawashi geri is to deliver an attack from the side. An attack coming

from the side can be more difficult to see and defend against. Side facing targets which

are otherwise safe from straight-on techniques, become vulnerable to this kick.

Because the knee lifts to the side, the kick is also useful when the target is otherwise

protected by an object such as a chair or table. For example, if an opponent stands

behind or to the side of a chair, mae geri would be obstructed, but mawashi geri could

clear the chair and strike the target.

Mawashi geri may be used for targets as low as the side of the knee. Typically, the

instep is the contact surface used here. It may be used against the side of the torso or

even come slightly behind the opponent's side and strike the kidney. If the opponent's

body is side facing, mawashi geri may be delivered to the groin or solar plexus. It is

best to use the ball of foot against these targets. If trained properly, the tips of the toes

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may also be used. The kick may also be delivered to the opponent's shoulder area.

This would require a bit more flexibility. Use the chin as the striking surface. Mawashi

geri may be delivered to the neck and face typically with the instep.

As the knee comes to the side of the body and then travels in an arc, it is driven by the

hips. The kicker must maintain a strong connection between the knee and the seika

tanden or body center. Mawashi geri may be delivered from different stances, and is

most often executed using zenkutsu dachi or kokutsu dachi. The front or rear leg may

be used to deliver mawashi geri.

Master Nakayama explains, for mawashi geri "to be effective, the hips must be rotated

strongly and swiftly. Against a target in front or slightly to the side, kick with either the

front or back leg. Swing the leg in an arc from the outside inwards, using the snap of

the foot. The path of the leg should be nearly parallel to the floor. the ball of the foot or

instep is used against the face, neck, chest or side of the body."1 Master Nakayma

played a central role in introducing mawashi geri to Shotokan Karate.

Target

As mentioned in the overview, this kick comes from the side of the body and is useful for

attacking any side-facing target. Such targets include the side of thee knee, side of the

stomach, solar plexus, shoulder, neck and temple. Mawashi geri may come around the

target enough to strike the side of the back such as the kidney or back of the neck.

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1 Best Karate #1, page 88 by Master Nakayama.

Great care must be taken when practicing this kick during sparring. Always aim for sun

dome or about one centimeter from the target during practice time.

Distance

Traditionally this kick was developed for a relatively close in target. The target may

have been just outside of arm's length with chudan exposed. However, this kick may be

used in combination with other techniques to strike out at longer distances. For

retreating opponents or opponents more than one step away, mawashi geri can cover

this distance by sliding in with the front leg then kicking with the rear leg. Similarly, to

cover a longer distance, the student can also slide in and kick w/ the front leg.

Mawashi Geri and Stances

Mawashi geri may may be delivered with the front or rear leg from zenkutsu dachi.

Likewise, mae mawashi geri is easily delivered from kokutsu dachi.

Mae mawashi geri can be very effective from han-getsu dachi, especially when

preceded with an uki. Mae mawashi geri may be delivered quickly from kiba dachi,

however, with the hip already side facing, this stance will not emphasize rotation of the

hip. Therefore, mawashi geri from kiba dachi tends to have less power and less benefit

for hip rotation practice.

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Examples of Mawashi Geri Applications

Sen Sen No Sen

The rear foot is sometimes difficult to see. Likewise, mawashi geri can be hard to see as

it comes from the side. Use kizami tsuki as a fake, then deliver a rear leg mawashi geri

before the opponent moves.

Sen No Sen

Mae mawashi geri from kokutsu dachi can be fast to deliver and hard to see. As the

opponent starts their movement use this variation of mawashi geri to deliver a low

chudan attack. Follow up with a gyaku tsuki.

Go No Sen

As an opponent steps in with an oi tsuki jodan or chudan, use soto uki to block from

zenkutsu dachi. Keep the momentum going with a mae mawashi geri chudan level.

Follow up with a gyaku tsuki.

Mawashi Geri Dissected

Lifting of the Knee

The initial motion in mawashi geri requires the kicking knee to lift to the side. The knee

may be lifted to knee height, hip height, or even above hip height. The height of the

knee depends upon the flexibility and conditioning of the karateka. The hip joint must

open up to the side as the oblique muscles are used to lift the knee. Stability and

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balance are maintained by using the stomach muscles to

connect the lifted knee to the body center. Therefore, hip joint

flexibility, oblique and center stomach muscles play a crucial

role in this initial phase of mawashi geri.

A common problem during this phase is to lift the knee and arch the back thereby

leaving the buttocks curved outward and not tucked under. This can lead to lower back

strain. In preparing for this kick, students should thoroughly stretch the groin area, side

obliques and lower back. Stretch the groin by keeping the feet one to two shoulder

widths apart and coming into a squatting position. Stretch the obliques by standing in

shizen dachi and reaching towards the side. Stretch the lower back by laying on the

back and bringing the knees to the chest. Stretch the obliques by laying on the back

and bringing one knee across the chest while both hands are out stretched. Stretch the

front of the hip by coming into a deep lunge on the ball of the rear foot while tucking the

hips under. Prepare for this kick by slowly bringing the knee up and to the side, then

hold it there by grabbing the foot with the hand. Hold each stretch for 30 seconds.

To develop muscle for this initial phase, place the left shoulder against a wall and make

zenkutsu. The forward foot should be about hips distance from the wall. Slowly lift the

knee to the side to a comfortable height. Instructors should explain and demonstrate to

students that it is important to life the knee as high as one can. Instructors should

emphasize that height depends on one's own body type. And besides height, students

should strive to understand and execute the proper course of this kick.

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Another common problem during this phase is not lifting the knee to the side. Rather,

some students will lift the knee towards the front without ever passing through the side.

This may be caused by trying to execute this kick too fast. Or, by a desire for height

rather than good form and proper power. Alternatively, this problem may be caused by

flexibility problems with the front portion of the hip (tensor fasciae latae or Iliopsoas).

This particular problem leads to a lack of power in the kick as well as a kick that is more

easily detected (as it does not travel from the side of the body). Students should

practice slow lifts to the side to increase strength and flexibility.

Rotating the Hip and Knee

The second phase of mawashi geri requires the lifted knee to travel in a semi-circular

direction. The knee travels parallel to the ground. For highly practiced karateka, the

lifted knee may travel in a slightly parabolic course such that when it reaches its target

the striking point is actually driving both from the side and downwards.

This downwards motion enhances the force of impact.

For the lifted knee to traverse this course the pivot ankle, pivot knee and

hip joints must all work in unison. These three joints all pivot in the same

direction as the kicking foot. By allowing the ankle to pivot, the pivot knee

is relieved of any undue strain and the hip joint is more free to rotate.

The pivot knee should be strongly bent to the same degree of depth as in

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zenkutsu. This degree of bending depends upon the flexibility and conditioning of the

student and should match the student's front stance. A common problem is to

straighten the pivot knee during the lifting of the kicking foot. This leads to a weaker

kick, less body connection, imbalance and a vulnerability to sweep. Students may be

unaware they are straightening this leg or attempting to gain a higher kick. Students

should emphasize the support knee during this kick by concentrating on contracting the

body during the initial phase of this kick.

To prepare for this phase of mawashi geri, students should thoroughly stretch and warm

up their ankle, knee and hip joints. Warm up may include jumping jacks or simply

shifting back and forth. Follow this with a thorough stretching of the muscles along the

chin and calf. Ankle injuries, Achilles tendon injuries may be prevented by thoroughly

stretching these two groups of muscles. Likewise the knee joint may be warmed up by

stretching the ham-strings, quads and thigh muscles. Practitioners should follow up

with ankle, knee and hip rotations.

The rotating hip drives the lifted knee along its semi-circular path. The target is tracked

by aiming the lifted knee towards it. For example, if the karateka aims the lifted knee

towards the opponent's solar plexus, then this becomes the target. If the karateka aims

the knee towards the opponent's groin, then this becomes the target. So, the hip drives

the knee and the knee dictates the target.

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Another common problem during this phase is to drop and re-lift the knee as the hip

rotates. The student is not maintaining proper body connection throughout the kick

when this happens. The kicker may be straining to lift the knee too high or not have

sufficient conditioning of the obliques. Place the shoulder against a wall. Stand about

hips width from that wall and make zenkutsu. Slowly lift the knee and rotate the hip.

Hold the foot up against the wall for a count of 10. Squeeze the foot back and place it

on the floor. Repeat about ten times then do the other side. You can practice this

same exercise with a partner as well.

Another common problem is to over rotate the hip. If, for example, the karateka kicks

with the right foot, this foot should not travel past the left side of the body. Therefore,

the right hip also should not over rotate past the left hip. Ideally, the kick is executed

against one's own mirror image with the ideal target as gedan, chudan or jodan.

Therefore, the target is along the vertical center of one's mirror image. The hip and

knee should only rotate enough to strike this point and then return. This problem may

be caused by not snapping back, not having a good sense of the target, or over use of

power. Students may practice kicking a bag. They may also practice with an opponent,

striking the gi or padded hand.

Disconnect the Upper Body From the Hip Rotation

Yet another problem involves swinging the torso and or the elbows while rotating the

hips. Students may over rotate the chest along with the hips. This throws off balance

during the snap back phase and telegraphs the technique. Similarly, students may

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rotate the arms with the hips or pull the arms downward while lifting the knee. These

motions cause balance problems and create openings for the opponent. Students

should keep the elbows relatively close to the seika tanden and fists aimed toward the

target throughout the kick. Students should disconnect the upper and lower body as

well. Let the hips rotate while keeping the upper body primarily aimed frontwards.

Students can practice the Tekki kata's to develop this upper and lower body

disconnection.

Snap Back

The third phase requires the foot to snap out and back much like mae geri. The key

difference with mae geri at this stage is that the chin and foot are traveling roughly

parallel to the ground rather than perpendicular. The snap back action is driven by the

snap back of the hip and the squeezing of the ham string muscles.

Snapping the hip back for mawashi geri is similar to the hip vibration used in

choku tsuki. Students can practice snapping the hip in

isolation from shizen dachi.

Students must develop the ham string muscles so that they move

smoothly and sharply and have a good range of motion. Proper

stretching includes keeping the leg straight, but not locked, and leaning the chest over

the knee. The back of the legs may be developed with muscle isolation exercises. One

example includes laying on the back with knee up towards the chest and aimed

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outwards 45 degrees then snapping out and back. Try to gently strike the back of the

leg with the heel. Keep the knee fixed. Do not bob it up or down or side to side. Repeat

this quick snapping motion anywhere from 10 to 30 times then switch legs.

A common problem with the snap back phase is dropping the knee either before or after

the snapping motion. Students should pay close attention to keeping the knee at a

uniform height above the floor througout this kick. Another problem involves trying to

kick too high. This occurs when the foot travels upwards towards the target. Students

wanting to increase height should focus on opening the hip area more and lifting the

knee higher. Otherwise, keep the height of the kick in balance one's body type,

flexibility and conditioning.

After the snap back, the knee travels back towards it's initial knee-up start location. At

this point, the karateka may step forward with the kicking foot or step back.

Snap Versus Thrust

Mawashi geri is a snap back type of kick unlike yoko geri kekomi. The purpose of

snapping motions is to deliver a vibration through the target, whereas a thrusting motion

is designed to drive through and break apart the target.

Conclusion

Mawashi-geri was introduced to Shotokan Karate by Master Nakayama. Execution of

this technique requires lifting of the knee to the side of the body. Next, the hip and knee

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rotate towards the target. Then the foot is released and snaps back. Finally, the hip

and knee rotate back towards the original knee up location.

Mawashi-geri enables students to develop both core body flexibilty and core body

strength as the hips must rotate while the upper torso remains steady.

The kick may be directed towards jodan, chudan or gedan depending upon the

application required and the student's body conditioning and type.

Practicing mawashi-geri enables karate-ka to develop a strong understanding of body

connection between the knee and body center while rotating the hip.

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