A conversation the other night got me thinking about different kicks in our kata.

In short there are a number of kicks that we do not practice as a whole in basics in our katas and kick we practice at lot that are hardly if ever in them.

A case in point is Mawashi Geri.

I was taught this kick in Enpi but it does not seem common practise, so I have done some investigation. In a 1970’s kata book by Master Kanazawa he uses Mawashi Geri’s and even backs this up with bunkai examples. A later print book I have got replaces it with a Fumikomi and does not show any detail, making it a movement to the strike only.

It seem to be the case that kicks in kata are close quarter kicks, hence more orientated to self defence.

Originally all kicks in kata where perform very low because kata delt with close quarters attacks. Meaning if you became involved in a altercation (mugging, unannounced attack etc.) it would will happen in arms range. So you have less time to deal with the attack (a mugger wouldn't say from a distance, "wait there i coming to mug you").

The mawashi geri (roundhouse kick) is more of ranged kick, and although is one of most popular kicks in karate, does not appear in kata. The mawashi found its place in sport karate, where you start from a kicking range.

Sport karate was invented when karate moved over to Japan, to fit into Japanese budo (judo and kendo). Both judo and kendo had uniforms, grading systems, a syllabus and competition. So karate followed the same path:

Uniforms: Gi
Competition: Ippon Kumite
Syllabus: Ki and Dan grades

Back to the mawashi geri, Kanazawa felt that the mawashi deserved its place in Kata, so in the 70s Kanazawa placed it into Empi kata on the basis it could fit in. However due to tradition this was quietly dropped.

However I do feel mawashi geri is a great essential tool of martial arts and can be used in self defence. I would like to find out more about the history of the round house kick (cont soon).

The Mawashi Geri does seem to be a relatively new kick, as you said having its origins in the early movement to Japan.

But even then it was still intended for close quarter strike. The original target area in a real fight for this kick is the outside of your opponents knee. The kick should rip his ligaments and tendons and drop him to the floor. For you to finish him or just walk away.

I have found evidence of a round house kick in an old kata of Okinawa origin however.

Mawashi geri origins:

The roundhouse kick appears in ancient muay thai forms. So its origins can be traced back to its ancestor Muay Boran (ancient boxing), Muay Boran pre-dates karate pratice in Okinawa. The practice of Muay Boran was an unarmed combat system used by Siamese soldiers and kept up largely by Buddhist monks who were the keepers and teachers of all arts both practical and spiritual.

But did this also come from china like so many of the martial arts and when was this first practiced in Okinawa?

I need to find some reliable source material. Any help on this would be appreciated

It is true as mentioned the mawashi is effective in self defence (Unfortunate Ive had to use it in a altercation myself and it prove effective) but in JKA karate it is forbidden to kick below the belt in kumite and sport karate is sadly favored above bunkai practice. This isnt always the case and thankfully karate seems to be returning to its roots of self protection above sport.

I would very much like know what Okinawan style used the mawashi, then maybe we can trace its to it kung fu form, so on, and so forth.

Or maybe we can find it in kung fu forms and work forward.

I have found some information in the Bubishi and other books. Be great to find the history of one of our favorite techniques.

This post was last modified: 02-14-2009 01:20 PM by Neilung.

Mawashi Geri appears in Unsu from a lying position, being repeated on both sides. In some text it is referred to as a Kasei Geri. This strict translation means under kick, ie it is kicking from under your opponent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi8rHWmzZ9c

Although it is agreed that Unsu is a very ancient kata its origins are uncertain. The SKI feel that it resembles Niseshi (Nijushiho) possibly belonging to Nigaki style. This may be of some help tracing the origins of Mawashi Geri.

What does not help is that in Master Funakoshi original book Unsu is not mensioned. it is not mensioned until 1922 in his book Ryukyu Kenpo Karate. So may not have entered via the trational route.

Will see if I can find more from my side.

In SKI we were allowed to kick or sweep below the knee but not between the knee and belt. So in competition I have Mawashied at the at the chalf and then normally, as this was blocked, a Keage to the chest.

Unsu is an intresting point, and you are right that it is hard to trance its origins. It is very strange that the only time in Shotokan kata you see mawashi geri it is preformed from on the floor.

I have found some evidence that Unsu has been changed alot to look more spectacular in competition (the 360 degree cresent kick). Again not sourced

I have found it mentioned that it might have come from a dragon form?

I found a link here its not sourced but reads well.

http://www.shotokankaratecsl.com/Unsu.html

I think we are making good progress.

Sweeps are allowed but you could never score with a mawashi to the leg, I suppose its far to dangerous because of knee contact.

Target areas in Shotokan Competition: head, face, neck, chest, abdomen and back.

Kyokushinkai (full contact): head & face (kicks only), neck, chest, abdomen, back and legs

But it is on the whole neglected in self defence practice in Shotokan (SKI/JKA/KUGB etc.) Again this is changing with free thinkers

Your right it does read well and from a site that looks like a lot of effort has gone into it. Quite an offical club site that says "enjoy your visit and feel free to contact us if you have any questions or comments.", something that could be done. stacy.ungar@shotokankaratecsl.com

Get a sister club in Canada.


We are getting somewhere, but going west not east.