From Kyoshi David Baker, Shihan
Ueshiro Midtown Karate Dojo Hombu

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MAE -GERI (Continued)

Continuing with the theme of tsutamasaki-geri (toe-tip kick) from last week,
this kick is comprised of three basic elements:

1. Lift knee high, foot close to body, under hips
2. Kick outward with toetips piercing through a specific target
3. Return foot faster than it went out, to under hips, using snap

Deliver the kick in one fluid motion, accelerating through the point of
contact until the foot has been returned fully chambered, under the hips.

The stepping down after the kick is not part of the actual kick itself. Step
forward, step backwards, step to the side, it doesn't matter in terms of the
kick. The kick ended with the chambering under the hips. In fact, you could
execute a second kick before returning the foot to the floor.

This is explained fully in Hanshi's green book, "Building Warrior Spirit",
page 49 under the heading "Effective Delivery".

Also, "Shorin-Ryu: Okinawan Question and Answer Book" (red book), page 15,
Question #27:
Q: What technique was Ankichi Arakaki famous for?
A: He introduced to the Shorin-ryu system tsutamasaki-geri (toe-tip kick).

Page 36, Question #25:
Q: How much pressure does a kick deliver?
A: 2100 foot pounds.

As Musashi often said, research this well.

Domo arigato gozaimasu,
Kyoshi David Baker,
Shihan
Ueshiro Midtown Karate Dojo
Hombu,
Shorin-Ryu Karate, USA