How to Attack the Kyūsho, 強経 Kyokei

踩上一脚 photo by 大杨

Last night in class the kata I was teaching required you to stomp down on the kyūsho 強経 kyokei. This is supposed to move your opponent and open him up for the rest of the kata. The way most people teach this is to stomp the ground like a Maori tribesman.

Stomping like a polynesian warrior or bratty child is the omote way of doing this technique. This means it is obvious and easily seen or countered. And if this is all you put behind this strike, many opponents will not be moved.

What I have learned from Hatsumi Sensei is to accomplish more with less. Exist inside of nothingness, he says. Be able to move from there.

The Japanese text of the kata we were studying says 強経を強く踏み付けると. This suggests breaking through the strength of the opponent by stomping this 急所 kyuusho, kyokei. First, let's see where this kyūsho is located.

強経 kyokei is above the five toes of the foot. A strike here attacks the strong tendons on top of the foot. This creates an ataxia which will "open up" or cut through your opponent's defenses.

Here is some 要 kaname

This same point is considered 要衝 youshou for acupuncture. 要衝 youshou can also be read as piercing through kaname. It is interesting that the kanji in 経穴 keiketsu, or acupuncture point, may also be read as passing through an opening.

and now some 口伝 kuden

The way I have learned to open up and cut through is not by stomping and relying on ataxia. That is part of it, sure. But a better way is to use the connection through what Hatsumi Sensei calls 玉の緒 Tamanoo.

Soke tells us that this is the lifeline or thread of life and also the same connection that is used when giving the Godan test. This is what moves the person out of the way of the sword. So that is the way I would attack kyokei.

Do you think that would be enough to move your opponent?


PS. this is the type of information I share in my exclusive Keiko Kiroku training notes. To get in on this, sign up here: Keiko Kiroku