Saturday, September 1, 2012

Evolution of the Front Kick - - Chief Instructor's Blog September 2012

In July’s blog, I discussed the evolution of the attack punch and last month, I discussed the evolution of the Cat Stance. This month I will discuss the evolution of the front kick.


Beginner

As with all techniques, the beginning is focused on the mechanics. The key mechanical aspects are:

• Feet start approximately shoulder width apart in a Natural Stance; Legs slightly bent

• Arms bent at approximately a 90 degree angle with closed fists (palms inward) in front of shoulder and stay in this position throughout kick

• Head up/chin level throughout kick

• Eyes/gaze will be forward, to the horizon, throughout kick

• Back stays straight and upright throughout kick

• Kicking knee rises up as far as possible

        o Weight bearing leg should remain bent for stability

• Foot flex; with ball of foot extended and toes pulled back

• Knee drops down and the ball of the foot pushes out towards the intended target

         o Target height for basics is belt height (goal)

• Leg extended and knee locked at impact

• Retract knee up to as high as possible (should be close to initial knee up position)

• Set foot back on ground to initial starting position

For the very beginner, there is not much power, and the focus is to ensure the stance, body alignment, motion and targeting are all correct.

Intermediate

Once the mechanics are fairly solid, speed and power are added to the technique. At this point, Green Belts and Beginning Blue Belts should:

• Focus on form, increasing speed and decreasing reaction time while maintaining mechanics

• Focus on form, adding force while maintaining mechanics

• Throw kick from shin to belt height accurately


More Advanced Blue Belts and Brown Belts should

• Throw kick from shin to chest height accurately

• Shorten the distance to the target working on generating force in a shorter distance

• Be grounded and remain grounded throughout the kick

• Have consistent force throughout technique

• Have minimal upper body motion

• Project proficient force with intent to go through target

• Be able to use the kick in various practical applications

Advanced

Interim Black Belts and Black Belts should be grounded all the time and start projecting more energy and utilizing less mechanical force in their techniques. In particular, advanced students should:

• Have a kick that can be performed inches from target and still cause damage

• Have a stance that is rooted to the ground

• Have energy that flows from ground through legs to center creating strong base

• Be able to penetrate past the and through the physical target

• Have a kick that shatters the target

The modifications and adjustments must be consciously and deliberately applied to hyung, self-defense, and sparring. This takes time and focus. In addition, this is the part of the constant relearning of the art form. This is why it takes time to master a technique – mastering the technique means you can apply it through all the aspects of the art form, not just basics.

Regards,
Kelly

"It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop." – Confucius (551–479 BC) Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher of the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese history.

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