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03/05/11 - Machida's kick 'most difficult to land', says karate expert
Lyoto Machida’s fight-winning front kick on Randy Couture has been compared to the one Daniel Larusso won the All-Valley Karate Tournament with in the iconic Karate Kid movie.
To explain how difficult is to land that attack, UOL Esportes asked Geraldo de Paula, former Brazilian Karate team coach, for some details.
“The most commom kick is mae geri, when one of the feet doesn’t leave the floor, as Anderson Silva did versus Vitor Belfort [at UFC 126]. Lyoto made a more complex kick, mae tabi geri, taking both feet from the floor with a mid-jump,” he explained.
“That was a perfect move. Fot those who know karate well, it is the most difficult attack to land. For those who know less, it’s fatal. Nobody is expecting a front kick like that, a front punch is more common.”
In karate competitions, the coach stated that kick is often used but not having the face as the aim, “As we don’t look for the knockout in tournaments, but points for landing hits on the rivals, it is more used to hit the abdomen. For karate practitioners the most common head attack is circular kicks.”
The mae tobi geri eternalized in “Karate Kid” is used in all styles but is emphasized in Shotokan, the style adopted by Machida. The movie inspired many people to get into academies trying to find their own Master Miyagi. Lyoto did not have to look far - he is taught by his father Yoshizo Machida.
Steven Seagal was on had at the weekend to walk out with Machida. he took some credit for the kick afterwards but Machida's father told Tatame that the kick was one he learned at home and nothing to do with Seagal.
Back to News Index
03/05/11 - Machida's kick 'most difficult to land', says karate expert
Lyoto Machida’s fight-winning front kick on Randy Couture has been compared to the one Daniel Larusso won the All-Valley Karate Tournament with in the iconic Karate Kid movie.
To explain how difficult is to land that attack, UOL Esportes asked Geraldo de Paula, former Brazilian Karate team coach, for some details.
“The most commom kick is mae geri, when one of the feet doesn’t leave the floor, as Anderson Silva did versus Vitor Belfort [at UFC 126]. Lyoto made a more complex kick, mae tabi geri, taking both feet from the floor with a mid-jump,” he explained.
“That was a perfect move. Fot those who know karate well, it is the most difficult attack to land. For those who know less, it’s fatal. Nobody is expecting a front kick like that, a front punch is more common.”
In karate competitions, the coach stated that kick is often used but not having the face as the aim, “As we don’t look for the knockout in tournaments, but points for landing hits on the rivals, it is more used to hit the abdomen. For karate practitioners the most common head attack is circular kicks.”
The mae tobi geri eternalized in “Karate Kid” is used in all styles but is emphasized in Shotokan, the style adopted by Machida. The movie inspired many people to get into academies trying to find their own Master Miyagi. Lyoto did not have to look far - he is taught by his father Yoshizo Machida.
Steven Seagal was on had at the weekend to walk out with Machida. he took some credit for the kick afterwards but Machida's father told Tatame that the kick was one he learned at home and nothing to do with Seagal.
