Haisoku / Instep

背足

Top surface of the foot (instep) used as the primary impact point for roundhouse kicks.

Quick Facts

CategoryBody Part

Pronunciation/[hye-soh-koo]/

Alternative NamesInstep of the foot, Top of foot

Definition

Haisoku (instep) offers extended reach for high kicks. When the ankle is fully extended, the flat instep surface whips around in Mawashi-geri and Kin-geri (groin kick).

Related Terms

Ashi足

Foot or leg in Japanese martial terminology.

Geri / Geri-waza蹴り / 蹴り技

Comprehensive category of all kicking techniques (front, side, roundhouse, spinning) in Karate.

Mawashi-geri / Roundhouse Kick回し蹴り

Circular roundhouse kick striking with the instep (Haisoku) or ball of foot to ribs or head.

Associated Martial Arts

Tomari-te Satojuku Karate ITF Taekwondo Takamura Shindo Yoshin-ryu Shorinji Ryu Renshinkan Enshin Karate Tenjin Shin-ryu Jujutsu WT Taekwondo Subak Shorinji-ryu Kenkokan Seiwakai Goju-ryu Jikishin-ryu Jujutsu Gensei-ryu Chito-ryu Karate Shito-ryu Motobu-ryu Karate Ashihara Karate Byakuren Kaikan Shorei-ryu Uechi-ryu Asayama Ichiden-ryu Tenjin Shin'yo-ryu Jujutsu Shotokan Kyushin-ryu Jujutsu Matsubayashi-ryu Takagi-ryu Jujutsu Shorin-ryu Shidokan Shorin-ryu Seibukan Isshin-ryu Karate Chokushin-ryu Jujutsu Shindo Yoshin-ryu Jujutsu Unkei-ryu Jujutsu Seidokaikan Karate Shorin-ryu Sekiguchi-ryu Jujutsu Hontai Yoshin-ryu Jujutsu Shuri-te Meibukan Goju-ryu Shorin-ryu Kyudokan Jundokan Goju-ryu Shinno Shinto-ryu Jujutsu Kyokushin Budokai Naha-te Shibukawa-ryu Jujutsu Shorin-ryu Shorinkan