Wednesday, November 1, 2017

How May Punches/Kicks Are There? - - Chief Instructor's Blog November 2017


In the beginning, we teach and have students practice one punch, one kick.  We teach students a specific point of impact and have student’s practice over and over again to get the targeting exact every time.  Remember if it is not precise, it is not a martial art.

In the beginning, you are learning body awareness and control.  You are learning to feel exactly where every part of your body is and how it moves.  To support you in that learning we teach you very specific target locations as part of basics in very specific stances assuming the opponent is your same exact height.  We teach you to exhale on each strike/kick because this is, as well, teaching body awareness and control. 

After you become more proficient and more aware, you learn there are many different punches or kicks.  The fundamentals all remain the same though. 

For instance, we always teach to punch with the first two knuckles.  We always teach elbows in and do not allow them to flare out.  However, we start to practice and be aware there are many targets, not just the sternum (nose, chin, cheekbone, temple, ribs, kidneys, groin, etc.)  We also practice and teach to throw punches in other stances: natural stance, closed stance, cat stance, etc.  We also practice and learn we have a range of distances; from close in to elbow bent at the end (as long as shoulders and hips stay square, stance is solid and grounded, etc.). 

Similar concept with kicks.  For example, for front kicks we always teach piston action and use of the ball of the foot.  Once we get the foundation down, we explore and practice various targets: shins, knees, groin, abdomen (sternum and face if you have the flexibility).  We also practice and explore various stances: closed stance, attack stance (as a rear leg kick), cat stance (front and rear leg), etc. 

When we teach hyung, the techniques are specific, including location, where we look, etc.  And again, this is to learn body awareness, targeting location, precision.  When using these techniques in an application, however, the targeting may be different and/or the intention of the technique different, for instance, but again the fundamentals will be the same.

There is also intention – are you trying to stop, damage, destroy?   The reality is there are hundreds of punches or kicks.  There is not just one.  There are different locations, different stances, different ranges, different directions, and different intentions.  The key is always the fundamentals (proper alignment, grounded, focus, intent). 

It is important to learn these fundamentals and practice until they are second nature without being locked into one concept of a punch or kick – this way, when you throw that punch or kick no matter the target or direction it will be effective. 

Regards,
Kelly

"Practicing a kata exactly is one thing, engaging in a real fight is another." ~ Gichin Funakoshi (1868-1957), founder of Shotokan Karate