Let’s use language to give an insight and some depth to our martial arts. There was originally no kicks or punches in either karate or tai chi.

The problem with ‘kicks’ and ‘punches’ is that it limits our understanding of the arts. In traditional karate and tai chi before they were ‘sportified’ they were used for health and self defence, self defence started when we reached grappling distance therefore leg and arm techniques were manipulations of the opponents body and usually all limbs were being employed at the same time.

We had ‘husband and wife hands, one destroying the opponents structure and balance whilst the other stopped blood, neurological, oxygen and lymph flow, shortening tendons, muscles,manipulating and locking joints with grappling, strangling, chocking, poking, chopping, slapping, bumping, butting and striking with different body parts, so ‘punching’ is really a term that covers very little.

At the same time we would be doing the same with the legs against the opponents lower body, trapping, checking, stomping, locking, tripping, sweeping and collapsing. So ‘kicking’ is not really an appropriate term.

Punching and the more flamboyant kicking was mainly introduced from the west, particularly from the French influence when the Asians turned the traditional arts into sport and the merging of theatre, Chinese opera and street gymnastics. Politics also played a major part after the Maoist revolution in China and the American occupation of Japan after WW2.