Foot finger independence?

[MikeV]

Hi,

I'm just starting with Karate and I'm having difficult with a few things - one of them being foot finger independence.

You're supposed to bend the fingers in various ways for different kicks, so I really need to be able to move the thumb and the other fingers independently.

Does anyone know any good drills to help me develop this?

Thanks!

 

[Tez3]

Now it may be just me but I have never heard of moving your fingers for kicks. It's an intriguing idea but beyond my imagining I must admit!

 

[bluekey88]

Yeah, what do the fingers have to do with kicking? I can see learning how to bend your toes back, I just don't gte the finger thing.

Peace,
Erik

 

[elder999]

Hi,

I'm just starting with Karate and I'm having difficult with a few things - one of them being foot finger independence.
!

I think that maybe English is a second language here, and the man means "toes."

 

[theletch1]

I think that maybe English is a second language here, and the man means "toes."

Agreed. I've always understood that all toes are either pulled back for a thrusting kick which impacts with the ball of the foot or extended together for a kick which impacts with the shin. I've never heard of moving individual toes differently for various kicks, though.

 

[elder999]

French, Spanish and Japanese all lack words for "toes," and call them, prettty much, "foot-finger."

Mike says he's a goju stylist-if it's Okinawan goju, then there are a variety of ways of separately controlling the toes for toe kicks. For example, for a front kick, one might move the second toe down, move the third toe toward the big toe and form a triangle-though one might as easily kick with just the big toe.

 

[theletch1]

My wife's toes are almost prehensile in their ability to move independently but mine have been broken so often that I'm doing good to still have toes. Interesting info on the kicks. I learned something new today.

 

[MikeV]

Sorry for the misunderstanding, yeah I did mean toes!

I'm doing this small drill: while standing up, I press with the toes on the floor and raise the other fingers up, and after a few seconds I press with the other fingers down and raise the toes.

The problem for me was to press down with the 4 fingers without having to press the toe downard as well... but I'm getting a bit better at it now

 

[theletch1]

That type of dexterity doesn't feel natural at all. I just tried it. The best advice I can offer at this time is simply to keep on trying. I'm sure that there are a few goju practitioners who'll be able to help more. Good luck.

 

[hpulley]

I do gojuryu but I haven't run into this yet, just all toes one way or the other.