Putting the Spring in your Step

One of the most important elements of karate is sourcing power from the ground, bringing energy up through the feet and into the body. The foot should ‘grip’ the ground with the weight distributed over the entire sole of the foot. If the weight is over the arch or heel of the foot, for example, poor balance and poor body mechanics will result.

Energy naturally ‘bubbles’ up through K1 (1st point on the kidney meridian and the only meridian to originate on the bottom of the foot) – just behind the ‘ball’ of the foot. The energy wells up from the ground into the body, one might say like a natural spring... i.e., putting the spring in your step... Exercising and stretching out this meridian will energise the body and is good as part of a warm up exercise.