KARATE FOOT-SWEEPING

Foot-sweeping is the art of using your front or rear foot or lower leg to strike an opponent’s lower leg to essentially force him off balance. It is used to:

1) distract an opponent, to keep him off guard, or;

2) to actually sweep him to the ground.

Rear Leg Sweeps

(—the Karate defender’s rear leg, not the opponent’s) are the strongest and most effective of the sweeps because of the body dynamics used (weight shifts, leverage). Use of the rear leg in sweeping is considered dangerous and is often illegal in Karate tournament competition; however, because of its power it’s especially useful in a self-defense situation.

Front Leg Sweeps

are the quickest sweeps. (Again, this refers to the defender’s front leg). Because one’s foot is closer to the target, the move can be easily disguised.

In Karate tournament competition, sweeps to the front of an opponent’s leg are usually illegal. Sweeps are generally delivered below the knee to the back of the leg (at the calf and achilles tendon area). the lower the sweep, the more effective it is. Also, sweeping from behind should be in the direction to which the opponent’s toes are pointing!

Although sweeps look very impressive to an onlooker, one must remember to follow-up the sweep with effective strikes. Following are sweep techniques which should be practiced for sparring in Karate class.

 In basic Karate, a sweep to an opponent’s front or rear leg is determined by where he has shifted his weight. Thus, if an opponent’s weight is shifted foward, sweep his front leg. The most effective time to sweep is when an opponent is moving either forw:rd or backward, or when one foot is in the air (kicking) and balance

FOLLOW-UP TECHNIQUES

Follow-up techniques should be immediate when an opponent faNs to the ground. Most effective in this regard are:

1) stomps to the groin, solar plexus, neck, face, head, and spine. (A stomp is a forcible downward kick with weight shifted forward, striking with the heel of the foot).

2) Follow-up punches are also very effective. However, not lean over the victim: caution should be exercised lest one is grabbed or kicked by the opponent.

3) A knee drop to the groin, solar plexus, neck, face, or spine is another effective Karate follow-up technique.

In sparring, these techniques should be used with control;

in self-defense they should be used with precision.

 

It is important to be able to defend yourself from the ground if you become the unfortunate victim of a Karate sweep!