The effectiveness of the groin strike

Groin Striking

Never underestimate the importance and effectiveness of a groin strike in the Okinawan martial arts. What many martial artists do not realize is that about every one of the traditional Okinawa Katas incorporates some kind of groin strike. From my early days in Karate and throughout the years, groin strikes were often brushed aside. I heard many say this was not sportsperson-like behavior or “anybody can do that.” I often found this quite confusing because the main reason I trained in martial arts was to be able to protect myself. No matter what training I attended, Classes, Seminars, etc., all the strikes were either middle or high. I understand the need for classroom safety, but at least go through the groin strike motions with safety incorporated. I am fully aware that groin strikes are not the ultimate self-defense move, but it sure does come in handy when in a fight-or-flight situation.


The Physical Aspect of a Groin Strike

It does not require a lot of power in the strike to drop a person to their knees. The target is easily identifiable. It works well both against men and women. If one looks back at most sporting events, when a person gets hit in the groin, the competition is stopped until the person either recovers or is moved out of the playing area. This can be seen in boxing, grappling, soccer, baseball, football, etc. I was always amazed how boxers can beat each other mercilessly about the head and body, but a groin hit stops the match. This alone says something about its effectiveness. From my personal experience, I have found that striking with the fingers, toes, heel, knees, elbow, and fist all work well.

Okinawa Katas that have incorporated groin strikes

Katas such as: Seisan, Naifanchi, Ananku, Wansu, Passai, Passai Qua, Chinto, Kusanku, and Wanchin I know I have interpreted many moves as a groin strike, I know that there are many other katas that can incorporate groin strikes but not well emphasized in the teaching.



Typical Karate Training Observed

I have trained in martial arts for many years, utilizing strikes, kicks, joint locks, throws, grappling, pressure points, etc. This is all great, but this was in a Dojo, which is a controlled environment. Normally I would have a cooperative partner allowing me to develop my skill set, but I never let my training be the reality of a street fight. Since day one of my martial arts career, I always advocated the effectiveness of a groin strike. I was always aware of how much this was a game changer regardless of one’s size and or age. The nice thing about striking the groin is that it is relatively easy to do both with the feet, knees, or hands. The targets sit just below the person’s waistline, which can be difficult for an attacker to defend at times. Even in a grappling situation, elbow strikes work well, along with hand and foot strikes. As I mentioned earlier, there are lots of groin strikes implied in many Okinawa Katas, but from my observations, these are not emphasized enough in the average Dojo training environment.

The street fight

The most obvious aspect of a street fight is that there are no rules, and fairness is not applicable. I have observed many street fights, and it is not over until one is no longer able to protect himself, whether it be that they are unconscious, they prevailed, or they managed to escape from the dire situation. I always keep in the back of my mind that a real altercation was either a fight or flight situation. My training should prepare me for the fight situation, and my conditioning should help me in the flight part. Both training and conditioning become tougher as we all age, so it is imperative that we train more realistically. A well-placed groin strike should give the defender some time to make a sound decision to either continue fighting or run away.


Incorporating the groin strike in typical Dojo training

I do not think I ever trained in a Dojo or martial arts training environment where I did not strike my opponent’s groin. Obviously, safety is always needed, so striking high inside the thigh or a light tap is all that is necessary to stay sharp. If the opponent is wearing a safety cup, then the strike can be increased within reason. I never plan to strike the opponent’s groin, but almost magically, opportunity always comes up. A good example of this is if one is applying a painful joint lock somewhere on my path to the floor, the opportunity to strike is there. The same goes for grappling, throws, etc.