Shadowless kick

The shadowless kick (Chinese: 無影腳; pinyin: wúyǐngjiǎo), also known as the no-shadow kick or ghost-shadow kick is a martial arts kicking technique in the Hung Gar repertoire.[1][2] It was made famous by Chinese folk hero Wong Fei-hung, who is reputed to have used it to great effect.[3]

In fiction

The shadowless kick or no shadow kick has often been depicted in fiction. Frequently it is presented as a simple but blindingly fast kick, in which the upper body, head and arms remain stationary whilst the kick is performed leaving the opponent unaware of the incoming strike until after it has been performed.

Other fictional depictions of the shadowless kick show it as a chain of kicks where the attacker strikes his target many times before landing.

In modern practice

The shadowless kick is somewhat more mundane in modern practice.[4] In practice it consists of a simultaneous grapple or distraction with the hands and a low kick. The upper body movement caused by the hands draws the attention of the target up and away from the feet which lash out at a target between the stomach and the knee.[5] The combination of the low target area of the kick, the close range of the strike (which should be conducted from within hand strike / grapple range) and the use of diversionary technique lends it the appearance of supreme speed which the technique has become famous for.[6] It is also the key component to learning how to perform a double or even triple strike consistently, surprising your opponent with its power and effect.

In Wing Chun (Yong Chun)

The shadowless kick is derived by the martial artist kicking without the opponent being aware of it.[7] The kick used is predominantly the front kick. This is done using three elements:

  1. The martial artist does not change elevation while the kick is executed.
  2. The kick is not telegraphed before and during its execution, by the martial artist masking their intent. This can be accomplished by distractions such as a simultaneous attack, or by using advanced techniques to make the target believe a different attack is being used or by tempo and attitude changes.
  3. Extreme speed is used by the martial artist – by perfecting their relaxation skills thereby allowing the kick to be sent unhindered by muscle – until the moment of contact, where the Wing Chun base posture, provides target → ground → target energy.

References
  1. Qie Er (2020). Urban Tales of Demons and Spirits. Chaleuria.
  2. Bill Bradley; David Duvhovny (2011). Coach : 25 Writers Reflect on People Who Made a Difference. State University of New York Press. p. 159. ISBN 9781438437347.
  3. Robert Hill (2010). World of Martial Arts !. Lulu Enterprises Incorporated. ISBN 9780557016631.
  4. "Black Belt". Active Interest Media, Inc. 8 August 2003. p. 24. Retrieved 8 March 2022 – via Google Books.
  5. "Black Belt". Active Interest Media, Inc. 8 September 1997. p. 20. Retrieved 8 March 2022 – via Google Books.
  6. Thomas A. Green, ed. (2001). Martial Arts of the World. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 222. ISBN 9781576071502.
  7. Mark Beardsell (2019). Wu Shi Dao. Lulu.com. p. 35. ISBN 9780244163402.
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