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Wastelander
Wastelander's picture
Foot Trapping in Combat Sports and Classical Fighting Arts

Hello, everyone,

I recently wrote up this article on foot trapping in modern combat sports, as well as classical fighting arts. It doesn't cover any specific kata applications, but it's just a small thing you can use to enhance your techniques a little bit.

http://budonokaizen.blogspot.com/2014/12/stepping-on-toes.html

Spaniard
Spaniard's picture

Thanks for sharing. I love a well placed foot. I did not practice stepping on the foot, but enjoy placing the foot directly behind the opponent's and also in the front to trap and lock the knee. It can be a subtle but effective edition to any technique and especially turn strikes into take-downs. (American Kenpo really integrates this well into their practice.) Regards- Erik P. AKA Spaniard

Wastelander
Wastelander's picture

Thanks, Erik! We also work various ashi-waza (leg techniques) that include trapping the leg by stepping behind or next to the opponent's foot and using your knee to break their structure. A great resource for this type of technique is Paul Enfield Sensei's DVD notes on Taira Masaji Sensei's ashi-waza techniques.

Spaniard
Spaniard's picture

Yes, I have seen videos of Taira Masaji Sensei.  It reminded me of Kenpo.

Best Regards!

Wastelander
Wastelander's picture

That's funny--usually, his material gets a lot of "looks like Wing Chun" comments :P.

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

A Mabuni said, “There are no styles of karate, only varying interpretations of its principles.” I think we can reasonably extrapolate to say that there are ultimately no distinct styles of martial arts, only varying expressions of common principles.

I also really like Gavin Mulholland’s observation that we all ultimately end up fighting in similar ways, and the style is more to do with how we train rather than what we train.

All the best,

Iain