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The Dragon: www.urbanthreads.com The side kick: www.joongdokwan.com |
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of the most easily recognizable kicks in the martial arts is the side kick.
Because
of its sometimes dramatic angle and reach, photos and other graphics of the
side kick have often become a trademark feature of martial arts posters,
magazine and book covers.
There is definitely a wow factor involved in
witnessing competitors in modern tournaments perform a series of almost perpendicular
side kicks, as though they were machine-gunning the ceiling. Since very few
people are able to perform such a feat at the start of their training, such a
display can be a measure of how far
they have improved both in the level of their fitness and in their kicking
skills.
No
doubt, the side kick is one of the more beautiful movements in the martial
arts.
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Source: vimeo.com |
I
was told to bend my supporting leg at the knee while raising my kicking leg
straight up from the floor at a 90 degree angle. In this chambered position,
the knee should be at least as high as the hip. There are several reasons for
this, both physical and tactical.
1. The
higher the knee, the more wind up behind the thrusting motion resulting in more
power behind the kick.
2. The
higher the knee, the more you’re able to cover your supporting leg and your rib cage
against an attack in case the attacker reaches you before you can deliver the
kick.
3. The
higher the knee, the more access you have to the opponent’s entire body, from
head to toe. If your knee is chambered too low, your opponent will
automatically sense that you won’t be able to reach her or his chest or head.
You’re restricted in your range of targets.
Some
systems of Kung Fu, particularly those who favour medium to close range combat,
prefer not to raise their knees too high, if at all. The main targets for their
kicks lie below the waist, from the groin all the way down to the toes. They
also rely a lot on multiple and very fast hand techniques and they feel they
may actually prevent full use of those techniques by using a high chambered
position.
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Source: littledragon.builtfree.org |
A
crucial aspect of any side kick is the position of the kicking foot. The foot
should be pointed in the same direction as the knee. Typical of Karate, the
toes should be curled up as much as possible and the heel slightly extended in
the direction of the kick ahead of the toes. You should kick with the side of
the heel and the side blade of the foot instead of the toes, especially when barefoot.
After
completion of the kick, the kicking leg should return to its chambered
position. Why?...to prepare for another kick without placing your foot back on
the floor; to act as a shield against a counter-attack; and so on.
If
you like those high side kicks that can knock an apple off the top of a Dojo
mate’s head, you do need to practise – often and hard, along with lots of
stretching.
The
following are some examples of leg stretches that can help –
1. Stretches, such as sitting on the floor, legs spread apart in a V position as
far as possible
2. Using
the same V posture, have a partner push down gradually and carefully against
your back as your head moves toward the floor
3. Standing
V stretch (like the standing splits)
4. Standing
with your one side against a wall while a partner lifts your outside leg
sideways in toward your head
5. Away
from the wall, place your leg in a side kick position so it rests on your partner’s
shoulder. Lean your head toward the same leg.
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Source: www.martialartsmart.com |
6. Using
a stretch machine ((as shown in the photo)
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Source: en.allexperts.com
Using
a pulley device attached to the ceiling where one end of a rope has a loop or
harness attached for your ankle. (I once had one of these. You have to remember
to let go of the rope if you feel that you’re losing your balance otherwise you’ll
find yourself dangling from the ceiling. Hard won advice, dear readers!)
A
reminder: all stretches should be held for at least 20 seconds to have any deep
effect. Another reminder: my Kung Fu teacher, Chau Sifu, (a truly flexible man)
warns about overstretching. Muscles and joints must be balanced between
flexibility and strength. Too much stretching may actually weaken joint
structure.
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Source: www.starsystemkickboxing.net |
Those
experienced in side kick training will probably have their own famous icons,
either from their own Dojo or organization to the tournament scene and
obviously on to the movies. One of the classical side kickers to my mind was
the great American competitor, Joe Lewis. Lewis was known for his aggressive
side kicking. His kicks were so powerful they would break through most
defenses. Lewis’ era was the 60s and 70s, a time when tournament point fighters
moved on to full contact kickboxing. Some of his contemporaries were – Chuck
Norris, Jeff Smith, Bill Wallace and Mike Stone. Sadly, Lewis passed away in
2012.
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