Powerful Technique

The power of a Karate Technique depends upon:

A very important idea in Karate is the idea of "one chance lose or win" and that's the reason for the emphasize on todome or finishing blow technique, and that's why we emphasize so much kime waza or all the energy that accumulated in the technique must be delivered through the target at the moment of contact.

Kime means that the whole being, mentally and physically, hits the target. The whole body connects for the shortest time in one direction. No energy should bounce back or escape. Kime literally means mental and physical together. The softer and more relaxed we are in movement, relaxed means just the right amount of tension to carry an activity, the greater the potential of tension at the point of contact. The more complete the tension at the point of contact, the more potential energy we will have for the next action.


From this we learn that Karate techniques are always continuous. The end of one technique is the best condition to begin the next movement while in the stillness between the techniques; the momentum of the last movement still exists. The eyes bring and set the body towards the next direction, the image from low stomach and the eyes move together from one direction to another, the breath follows the image (mind), and the body follows the breath. Therefore when talking about continuation in the form of application, we mean both mental and technical continuation of the breath as it connects to the feet to make smooth continuation between techniques.

We cannot talk about being soft if we don't have a root; therefore in Karate techniques we need a strong stance so we can use a base outside of the body (external force). The energy in a Karate technique starts from the feet, through the legs, to the torso, and through the technique itself. The technique, arm or leg, is considered as an extension of the body in making direction and is simply a contact tool.

If the bottom and top of the body don't coordinate properly, not only is the technique weak and top heavy, but it could eventually cause back and hip problems. It's correct to say that the feet are handling the top technique. If we don't use the feet properly then we don't have a root. If we don't use the external force (base) to increase the energy as well, then the only way to create energy is by independent effort of the local area (upper body), which we call a top-heavy technique. This kind of technique is weak and limited to the muscular ability of a person applying the technique. This will cause the person to lose control of his center and to be thrown off balance.

All the joints of the body should be free, as if each bone is separate from the joint near it. Then the movement can be free and energy can transmit smoothly and our body will become very light and sensitive.

The posture is of particular importance, which does not mean that we have to pose ourselves in a rigid position. What we should pay attention to be the relationship between head, neck and spine.

As the feet are rooted in the floor the head should be suspended on top so that the spine is not compressed, only then can breathe and energy flow.

The mind and body have to be coordinated. Every movement starts first with mental direction, the line of energy of each technique must be clear; breathe follows the muscles, then the bones and then the technique (all happening instantaneously). If we don't have a clear understanding of this image than the body can't cooperate as a whole to one direction and the movement will be disordered. This disordered type of movement is not a martial art, but merely an aerobic exercise in the guise of a Karate technique.