The Back Swing Kick

This will be my last blog and my lat video until January 11, 2014.

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http://youtu.be/6KIgtGuLyaI
The Back Swing Kick

Today I am using the Back Swing Kick as a Counterattack.

The attacker advances and attempts an offset kick to my abdomen.

I block.

As he withdraws, I follow with a Swinging Back Kick.

Without Prejudice

The Back Thrust Kick

http://youtu.be/w9UN5DkGjXQ
Today I am kicking with runners again. 

Today I use the bottom of my heel as I thrust out behind me.

I just step in, lift the leg and drive the kick as shown.

It is the foot formation that protects the foot from injury. The runner helps but without the proper formation, it does not help much.

Without prejudice

The Side Kick

http://youtu.be/-91W5eIRwts

Today I am kicking with runners again. This is fine as I am using the outside edge of my heel, I need only flex my ankle.

I just step in, left the leg and drive the kick as shown.

Again, he foot is formed inside the runner and it is both the runner and the foot formation which save me from injury.

Without prejudice

The Roundhouse Kick with the Toe of the Boot

http://youtu.be/NG2-hT8fEJU
Today I am kicking with work boots. They have no flex in their sole or in the ankle. The sole grips the ground solidly and they are heavy too.

I use only the toe of my boot to strike with. The foot is formed inside the boot so that I am kicking only with the toe when performing this kick.

I prefer to use the ball of the foot but that is not possible when wearing work boots.

Again, regardless of kick, the foot must be formed correctly (even inside the boot) or I will injure myself when I kick.

Even so, after several kicks I can feel the impact of my toes on the inside of the boot. If I had to kick a lot of things in a short amount of time with this kick, I would not enjoy it (and my feet are conditioned).

Without prejudice

The Offset Snap Kick with the Ball of the Foot

http://youtu.be/Z0UkcioL3t8
Today I am kicking with dress shoes. They have almost no flex to their sole.

I can use either the toe of my shoe or the ball of the foot the strike with.

Striking with either looks the same and the only difference is how the kick feels to me.

I prefer to use the ball of the foot. This means I am actually striking with the bottom of my shoe when I make contact.

Regardless of kick, the foot must be formed correctly or I will injure myself when I kick.

Without prejudice

The Front Snap Kick with the Ball of the Foot

http://youtu.be/UZPOVHHo49Y
Whether I am kicking with a bare foot or with my runners, when I use the ball of the foot the strike with my foot is pulled back like I am standing on my heel. The runner make it look like I am kicking with the point of the toe but I am actually using the ball of the foot.

It is different if I practice with boots on. The foot formation is exactly the same but the inflexibility of the boot means I have to aim with the point of the toe.

Never the less, the foot is pulled up and then toes are pulled up whether a am kicking with a bare foot or a shod one. The foot must be formed correctly or I will injure myself when I kick.

There are two other things here. I keep my head up (and my chin down) as I look at the target out of the corner of my eye. Whenever I practice kicking, I keep at least one hand head height and ready to defend with.

Without prejudice

The Forward Spin Half Kick

http://youtu.be/No6OnXq3hLA
The last two days have shown me practicing what amount to back kicks that are half the distance of regular back kicks.

These two short back kicks have a couple of similarities. One is they happen at the same distance while the other is that they start from the same position.

Both happen at the same distance. With my feet together and turned away, I can turn my body sideways to the target and touch it with my extended elbow.

I start at attention with my arm sideways to my body and my elbow touching. I step back to a Leading Horse Stance.

It is at this point that the similarities end.

Rather than explain it, watch the video. There are major similarities with all four kicks demonstrated this week.

There are also major differences.

As I said before:

 “A picture is worth a thousand words.”

I did a lot of slow, careful, regular practices until it is an easy movement.

And I had to modify it to suit my own nature.

And I had to keep practicing it in order to keep the skill.

Without prejudice

The Hooking Back Kick

Today I am covering two different ways to deliver the Hooking Back Kick.

In some ways this is a lot like the Swing Back Kick. My back is to my opponent. I am hitting with the back of the heel. The delivery is in an upward direction as well.

However, the Hooking Back Kick is also a much closer kick. As I demonstrate, I am much closer (elbow range when I turn and measure). This close in kick is very powerful but it carries greater risk as my attacker has more he can do to me. Not only can he strike, he can also grab, throw and otherwise wrestle with me.

Again, like the Rising Back Kick, the Hooking Back Kick must me timed perfectly too.

This is another tool in my tool box (so to speak) for use at close range.

The slide in version:
http://youtu.be/FeMBLVIE3dQ
The video shows best how to do this. I go slow and concentrate on balance, focus, distance and timing. It works well as a follow-up at just outside elbow distance.

The shift away spin version:
http://youtu.be/ax0DocApLY0
Again, the video shows best how to do this. It works best as a follow-up at shoulder distance. This means I have elbowed or struck an oncoming attacker into temporary immobility before I kick.

Without prejudice

The Rising Back Kick

Today I am covering two different ways to deliver the Rising Back Kick.

In some ways this is a lot like the Back Thrust kick. My back is to my opponent. I am hitting with the bottom of the heel. The delivery is the same as well.

However, the Rising Back Kick is a much closer kick. As I demonstrate, I am much closer (elbow range when I turn and measure). This close in kick is very powerful but it carries greater risk as my attacker has more he can do to me. Not only can he strike, he can also grab, throw and otherwise wrestle with me.

So the Rising Back Kick must me timed perfectly.

In essence, it is another tool in my tool box (so to speak).

The slide in version:
 http://youtu.be/U2I19gmH6OY
The video shows best how to do this. I go slow and concentrate on balance, focus, distance and timing. It works well as a follow-up at just outside elbow distance.

The shift away spin version:
http://youtu.be/4_4hOlYJXxs
Again, the video shows best how to do this. It works best as a follow-up at shoulder distance. Which means I have elbowed or struck an oncoming attacker into temporary immobility before I kick..

Without prejudice

The Forward Spin Kick

(*Be Advised* The first forty seconds of the video show me spinning this kick a bunch of times.)

http://youtu.be/kn5TzMlCGNI

The last two days have shown me practicing back kicks of a thrusting or swinging nature.

There are two similarities to the delivery of these back kicks. One is they happen at the same distance while the other is that they start from the same position.

Both happen at the same distance. With my feet together and turned away, I can turn my body sideways to the target and touch it with my extended fingertips.

I start at attention with my arm sideways to my body and my fingertips touching. I step back to a Leading Horse Stance.

It is at this point that the similarities end.

Rather than explain it, watch the video.

 It is said, “A picture is worth a thousand words.”

I believe this video is worth several thousand words.

Remember, I did a lot of slow, careful, regular practices until it is an easy movement.

And once I had it down, I had to modify it to suit my own nature.

And once that was done I had to keep practicing it in order to keep the skill.

Without prejudice

The Back Swing Kick

Again I am delivering this Back Swing Kick in Two Different ways.

The slide in version:
http://youtu.be/jrRbDa9er5s

The video shows best how to do this.

The real trick is to have proper distance and placement at the right time.

The shift away spin version:
http://youtu.be/_7Zfw2ZQSpY

Again, the video shows best how to do this. It works best as a follow-up at punching distance.

When I kick I make iot a point to deliver the kick to the open side of the attacker.

Without prejudice

The Back Thrust Kick

Today I am covering two different ways to deliver this Back Heel Thrust Kick.

The slide in version:
http://youtu.be/JCMd0iXWNcM

The video shows best how to do this. I go slow and concentrate on balance, focus, distance and timing. It works well as a follow-up at kicking distance.

The shift away spin version:
http://youtu.be/CmJwbu-qF9c

Again, the video shows best how to do this. It works best as a follow-up at punching distance.

Without prejudice

Slide in Grab and Rear Arm Punch Follow-up

http://youtu.be/QVEUJlOLRkQ

I step forward from a Left Forward Bow to neutral as I grab my opponent’s lead arm.

Then I step forward to another Left Forward Bow as I strike with my right Punch.

How my attacker responds to my grab shows me where to punch.

If he freezes up or pulls down to get away, I punch to his head.

If he pulls his hand up I punch him in the body.

Without prejudice

Slide in Wrist Grab with Follow-up Roundhouse Kick

http://youtu.be/BhPsPbsuRDU
I start in Left Leading Horse stance.

I slide in to side leading Attention stance and grab my attacker’s extended wrist with my left hand.

I immediately snap a Roundhouse Kick with my left leg.

As before, it is possible to follow-up with front kick off the opposite leg before withdrawing.

Without prejudice

Slide in Wrist Grab with Follow-up Front Kick

http://youtu.be/4genFzMhlxs
I start in Left Forward Bow stance.

I slide in to Neutral and grab my attacker’s extended wrist with my left hand.

I immediately snap a Front Kick with my left leg.

In the video; I follow-up with another front kick and a punch before withdrawing.

Without prejudice

The Roundhouse Kick with Follow-ups

http://youtu.be/FmWpAoUbheQ
I start from far back in a Left Forward Bow.

I execute a full stepthrough to a deep Open-X and drive my (now) rear left leg out in a Roundhouse Kick to my opponent’s torso.

I drop my leg straight down to a left leading Neutral Stance and execute a left Backfist to his face.

Now only if I have landed both the kick and the backfist do I perform the third strike.

If I have landed both previous shots, I turn and look over my right shoulder before I drive out a spinning back kick.

Without prejudice

The Front Kick with Follow-ups

http://youtu.be/LRha4frMgPQ
I step forward with my rear leg and execute a Front Snap Kick with my lead leg.

Dropping the kicking leg down (but not forward, I execute an Offset Kick with my other leg.

I drop it down, and spin before lashing out with a Back Thrust kick.

This combination is done today against a stationary target.

In order for it to work, the first two kicks would have to land and cause enough damage to allow me time to spin and kick for a third (and final) time.

Without prejudice

Side Kick with Follow-ups

http://youtu.be/C8Vlt3hXyuQ
A simple sparring combination today.

I slide in a side kick, drop the kick and backfist before spinning a backfist. I usually use this against a retreating sparring partner.

Without prejudice