Crescent Kick

In regular old-style Jujitsu, high kick moves were rarely used. In particular, kicking moves that come under the classification of roundhouse kicks were never used. This is because it is easy to lose one's balance when executing high kicks while dressed in a Japanese kimono. The characteristic feature of the Crescent Kick is that it is unleashed like an upward sword-stroke aimed at the opponent's head. Although this move wasn't used extensively because it was originally a move of last resort, Ryo favors it because of its effectiveness in street fights.

Abridged move description/video courtesy of Suka Pass.

The Crescent Kick is a roundhouse kick thrown at head level. The move is a staple in virtually every martial art that involves kicking. However, despite its ubiquity in martial arts today, high kicks were very rarely used in traditional Japanese martial arts. So how did high kicks become so common today?

Japanese high kick origins

High kicks were rare in Okinawan karate styles due to their self-defense focus. Any kick above the waist was considered risky not only due to the ease of losing one's balance (alluded to in the move description), but also because it exposed one's groin to strikes. High kicks were integrated into the art after karate had spread to Japan, but there is a surprising amount on competing theories on how this development occurred.

One popular theory is that they were developed by Gigō Funakoshi, son of Gichin Funakoshi (the founder of Shotokan karate). Gichin, considered the father of modern karate for popularizing it in Japan, initially studied Okinawan styles of karate and taught Shotokan with the same self-defense philosophy in mind. Gigō however took a heavier fighting-focused approach compared to his father's approach of predominantly kata and exercise. High roundhouse kicks were said to be one of the many techniques developed by Gigō through many sparring sessions and incorporated into the art. Some other speculation is that they The popularity of Shotokan spread these techniques to other karate styles and to Korean styles like Tae Kwon Do.

Chuck Norris demonstrating the high roundhouse kick

Another theory is that high kicks were imported from the French martial art of Savate. Many western advisors were brought in during Japan's Meiji era rush to modernization, including French military experts. Savate, used by the French soldiers for exercise and self defense, was said to have influenced local martial arts. The art of Savate does feature things like high kicks and synchronized drilling, features that are commonly associated with karate today.

Chasseurs Alpin practicing savate drills in 1898

Some other hypotheses include influence from Muay Thai/Muay Boran as there was historical trade between the Ryukyu Kingdom (Okinawa) and Siam (Thailand). It may also have come from Northern Chinese kung fu styles which feature more above-the-waist kicks compared to Southern Chinese kung fu styles (which were a primary influence on the development of Okinawan karate). Regardless of the origin, it remains a simple but devastating technique.

Mirko Cro Cop destroys Wanderlei Silva in their rematch with his signature high left roundhouse kick