Kakato / Heel

踵

Anatomical heel bone utilized for downward axe kicks (Kakato-geri) and back kicks.

Quick Facts

CategoryBody Part

Pronunciation/[kah-kah-toh]/

Alternative NamesAnatomical heel, Axe kick impact surface

Definition

Kakato (heel bone) delivers heavy blunt structural damage. In Kakato-geri (Axe Kick), the leg swings high above the opponent's head and chops down vertically, driving the dense calcaneus into face or collarbone.

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.

Ushiro-geri / Back Kick後ろ蹴り

Linear spinning back thrust kick driving the heel into the opponent's liver or solar plexus.

Associated Martial Arts

Shotokan WT Taekwondo ITF Taekwondo Byakuren Kaikan Seidokaikan Karate Kyokushin Budokai Subak