Complete Kicking (28 page)

2. Jump, twist your hips, and kick with the instep or toes in one smooth motion. As with other jumping kicks, keep your upper body and head upright and move your arms in sync with your body rotation.

3. For power, rotate your hip beyond the target. Land in fighting stance.

JUMPING SPLIT KICK

how to

1. From a natural stance, jump straight upward, bringing your knees close to your chest. At the peak of your jump, split your legs to the sides and pull your toes back, kicking in an upward direction. Extend your hands at shoulder height as targets.

2. VARIATION: You may also drop both hands between your legs to gain additional height in your kick.

Keep your head up and look forward, rather than at the ground, throughout the jumping split kick. This will help you keep your torso upright and jump higher.

JUMP SPINNING & TURNING KICKS

Jump spinning and jump turning kicks are combinations of three elements: jump, spin or turn, and then kick. As complicated as it sounds, the principles are the same. Practice each segment separately at first and then practice how to transition between them seamlessly. When you use a jump spinning kick, don’t procrastinate. Think and visualize before kicking. While you’re kicking, only kick. When attacking with a jump spinning kick, you must surprise the opponent. When counterattacking, your goal is to make the opponent feel helpless by penetrating his defense either before, during and after his attack. Let him commit to his attack, and then strike. Be quick and agile.

JUMP SPINNING & TURNING KICKS

purpose

The main goal of jump spinning and turning kicks is to strike and penetrate deeply into the target. They are used for counterattacking, however, they may be used for attacking with a high success rate due to the novelty of their application. The target for circular kicks like jump turn kick and jump spinning whip kick is the head. For linear kicks like jump back kick, the target is the torso. Due to their riskiness, jump spinning kicks and jump turning kicks are reserved for advanced practitioners.

key points

Accurately anticipate the height and distance of the final target. Fully commit to your technique and then follow through.

striking area

Ball, heel, blade, toes, bottom of the foot

targets

1. solar plexus

2. rib cage

3. chest

4. neck

5. face

6. jaw

7. temple

JUMP BACK KICK

how to

1. From fighting stance, shift your weight to neutral position.

2. Jump, rotate your hips 180° to the rear, spot the target over your shoulder and chamber your legs by bending your knees and pulling your feet up toward your hips. Keep your torso upright.

3. Release your rear foot toward the target while keeping your torso upright and your other knee bent. Land in fighting stance.

PRACTICE TIP: Keep your kicking side shoulder, knee and foot aligned on one plane so your body travels directly to the target and doesn’t swing around on a circular path.

JUMP TURN KICK

how to

1. From fighting stance, shift your weight to the front leg and bend your knees slightly.

2. Rotate your body 180° to the rear and lift your rear foot, crossing your front leg as you begin to jump.

3. Continuing to turn and elevate, keep your torso upright and your knees bent.