tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post631898121801200496..comments2010-05-19T23:27:52.771-05:00John Vesiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434740196022601040noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-18210567373393657402010-05-19T23:27:38.569-05:002010-05-19T23:27:38.569-05:00Budd:<br /><br /><i>Depending on flexibility, high kicks shouldn&#39;t be any harder to control than low.</i><br /><br />What I was referring to was <i>balance</i>. The higher you kick, the more of a liability balance becomes; ergo less control in its execution. This is true regardless of the skill of the practitioner.John Vesiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434740196022601040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-68877094590137688972010-05-19T14:22:50.857-05:002010-05-19T14:22:50.857-05:00First time I have ever heard someone say that they were lucky for having scolliosis. <br /><br />Depending on flexibility, high kicks shouldn&#39;t be any harder to control than low. But, I could see not being able to control the gravity assisted kicks, such as the axe kick and crecent kick, with nearly as much control. If you are at the edge of your flexibility you are going to find control hard though. It might be that coming from TKD, I am used to throwing a majority of my kicks over the waist and about a quarter of those at the head. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.practicalblackbelt.com" rel="nofollow">Practical Black Belt</a>Buddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17142269413009487783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-69137205701262320282009-12-21T11:22:28.056-05:002009-12-21T11:22:28.056-05:00Sensei John,<br /><br />hope you are doing allright.<br /><br />Happy holidays and enjoy what life gives you.<br /><br />MathieuMathieuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06914289317924626891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-27414969029474789452009-12-17T07:22:11.686-05:002009-12-17T07:22:11.686-05:00I have found body type to be a great determining factor in peoples&#39; choice of what tools they keep in their kicking toolbox. But, practicallity has to be considered as well. The high flashy kicks in movies can get you hurt badly in a fight. The tendency toward the lower, better balanced kicks in Okinawan styles I think comes from simple pragmatism over asthetics. They were designed solely for fighting.Marc G.http://actionkaratearts.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-73173773140761422622009-12-15T15:56:58.490-05:002009-12-15T15:56:58.490-05:00Totally agree. My own views on kicks seem so polarized. For practical purposes like self defense, I like some basic low kicks as well. But since I&#39;m also a fan of open forms, I love watching high fancy kicks too, but recognize that their purpose in my book is for forms, and open forms for that matter. So I love both as different types of kicks have a place in different aspects of martial arts.Clint Corahttp://www.martialartsarticlesonline.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-53804863167551484472009-11-15T10:28:22.338-05:002009-11-15T10:28:22.338-05:00&quot;Are you familiar with the theory behind knockdown power in thrust or push kicks?&quot;<br /><br />Well, unfortunately until now, I was not.<br /><br />Strangely, we were doing the thrust version of kicks until... 2 years ago, we changed to snap kick because there were some knee injuries. I&#39;ve seen snap kicks in actions in my short time. They are more like jabs than what feels like a kick effect.<br /><br />I wish I have more time in the near-future to test these things more. :-) Right now, training is done when babies stop crying. 10pm+. ugh. <br /><br />I&#39;ll look into it some more. thanksMathieuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06914289317924626891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-63258182909823151012009-11-10T21:07:57.659-05:002009-11-10T21:07:57.659-05:00Great post.<br />During my Shotokan years we used a lot of mae geri and mawashi geri.<br />With Muay Thai I learned real fast how effective the thigh kick can be. First, ouch. Then, alright.<br />I even posted recently about it. Thanks again for the great post.TheMartialArtsReporterhttp://www.themartialartsreporter.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-58436800133006578542009-10-29T10:26:01.260-05:002009-10-29T10:26:01.260-05:00Marks:<br /><br /><i>I have always seen the value of a low roundhouse with the shin</i><br /><br />The shin-strikes are effective, but the exact form of those things I find to be a bit elusive. I could never figure out if one is supposed to strike with the shin (bone) or the adjoining muscle (tibialis anterior). I guess the shin could become denser and calcified in time, but striking with the muscular part of the shin (or maybe a combination of both?) seems better. Or at least safer. For the latter, it would require more of a rotation of the striking leg (toes angled down) that could compromise the effectiveness of the kick.<br />----------<br /><br />Jeroen:<br /><br />There&#39;s a good <a href="http://www.24fightingchickens.com/2006/09/06/train-in-your-shoes" rel="nofollow">article at 24FC</a> about training with shoes that you might like. It brings to light some of my points in greater detail. Thanks for stopping by.<br />----------<br /><br />Thanks, Mat.<br /><br />That&#39;s one habit you might want to keep. :)<br /><br />About making one fall from a kick. Are you familiar with the theory behind knockdown power in thrust or push kicks? (As opposed to snap kicks, which supposedly cause more internal damage. Not that a snap kick couldn&#39;t knock someone down.) For this reason the Japanese have been known to teach the thrust/push kick variety almost exclusively to their military and law enforcement personnel. (source: Draeger, <i>Modern Bujutsu &amp; Budo</i>)John Vesiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434740196022601040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-54862961473310506492009-10-28T23:25:29.123-05:002009-10-28T23:25:29.123-05:00keep writing, Sensei, I&#39;ll keep reading.<br /><br />Speaking of kicks, I just discovered how to use them to make one fall.<br /><br />recently, it has become a habit of mine. :) very useful!Mathieuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06914289317924626891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-28716231177398329492009-10-28T03:39:24.149-05:002009-10-28T03:39:24.149-05:00I prefer to curl the toes back with a front kick to protect my toes - I&#39;ve seen a couple of broken/dislocated ones Ouch! Your right about the shoes and using the nose (boots are good alternative to ankle weights btw!). With a round-house, my club practices both ways, depending on the target. Also with some shoes, they will stop the angle from flattening out to strike with the instep. Reminds me of the Movie &#39;Dragon&#39; when Bruce removes his shoes :)Jeroenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16927488405110507462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-55506740292505834832009-10-27T11:46:08.527-05:002009-10-27T11:46:08.527-05:00For me, competition speaking I have always seen the value of a low roundhouse with the shin. (I have never endorsed point competitions but do see some value in them). Self defence purposes, a front kick to the groin and a kick to the shin/knee if wearing shoes are all the kicks one needs to think ofmarkstraining.comhttp://markstraining.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-85556621854276870282009-10-26T22:49:23.682-05:002009-10-26T22:49:23.682-05:00BSM:<br /><br /><i>I can pull the spin hook off but I need to be warmed up with about three practice kicks--not realistic in a fight!</i><br /><br />Agreed, big time. As far as high target kicks go, I like the spin hook and crescent.<br /><br />I&#39;ve noticed that some if not most Chinese stylists wear shoes of some sort when they train. Maybe this explains the flat-of-foot method to kicking. Seems like a more realistic training approach.<br />----------<br /><br />Thanks, Charles!John Vesiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434740196022601040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-43836007651434718662009-10-26T09:48:41.948-05:002009-10-26T09:48:41.948-05:00Nice Post John!Charles Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13812618556413423872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14230162.post-53123541827670557792009-10-26T04:40:01.177-05:002009-10-26T04:40:01.177-05:00Interesting post. In tae kwon do we were taught both versions: ball of foot and flat of foot. In praying mantis it&#39;s all flat of foot and generally waist or lower. <br /><br />My favorites:<br /><br />- Front snap (aka toe kick in mantis)<br />- Reverse side aka spinning side kick (TKD)<br />- Inside crescent (mantis and tkd)<br />- round kick (mantis and tkd)<br />- Forward leg side kick aka pivot side kick (tkd)<br />- Shuffle side kick<br />- Step behind side kick<br />- Push kick, stop kick, and stomp kick (all from mantis)<br /><br />The only ones I&#39;ll try high are these: crescent, round, &amp; front snap. <br /><br />I can pull the spin hook off but I need to be warmed up with about three practice kicks--not realistic in a fight!<br /><br />As for leg conditioning, we did a lot more of it in TKD (from all the sparring you just get used to having your legs all banged up). We do zero in praying mantis. However, we do an awful lot of Kyokushin-style arm conditioning. <br /><br />My sifu actually takes a hammer to his forearms. I kid you not. He lets it drop with gravity. I think that&#39;s nuts! I told him that&#39;s a good way to keep sales people from bothering you. Sit on your porch cracking your arms with a hammer!BSMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13599662252662686373noreply@blogger.com