Wanting lightning fast kicks, advice needed.....

[Croy]

i'm not sure how it is in most places, but here in south texas, light contact only scores points for colored belts, in the black belt competitions, if you don't get a clean, solid, not to mention HARD technique, you don't get a point. i've read the rule book and know that it says light contact, but it certainly doesn't hold true anywhere around here, in class we strike at about 80-90%, in the tournaments, not much holding back, except punches to the face must not be excessive, even then, a light tap won't get you a point

[dear john]

when Vito says give up on an effective kick i know exactly what he means. i spar every week and for a while now nobody except for the master instructor has out scored me.

 

i throw no hard kicks except for a back kick. everything else is a simple relax and explode, but keep relaxed.

 

it is like bruce lee's punches. he wants you to keep your hands loose and only make a fist when you make contact. he said this because if you stay solid from swing to hit you will have a slower punch.

 

it is the same thing for kicks, keep it loose and make it stiff and hard when you make contact for maximum speed and power, but if you never become hard the kick will be lightening fast but with no power.

 

or maybe vito thinks kicks above the waist are dumb, but this is how i spar.

[GhostlySykanRyu]

i throw no hard kicks except for a back kick. everything else is a simple relax and explode, but keep relaxed.

 

it is like bruce lee's punches. he wants you to keep your hands loose and only make a fist when you make contact. he said this because if you stay solid from swing to hit you will have a slower punch.

 

quote]

 

Bruce Lee also pintpointed the importance of striking well...hard. Training not to can't be good when the real deal comes.

[Croy]

well, i just found some decent clips of some point sparring matches, so i thought i'd share em with ya, if ya think its still for sissies or what not, fine, its your opinion, but this is some pretty crazy action imho. plz enjoy

 

http://gtf-taekwon-do.no/bilder/nm/2002/bilder/kampindivid.wmv

 

clip is pretty long, so i hope you have a fast connection

[dear john]

 

Bruce Lee also pintpointed the importance of striking well...hard. Training not to can't be good when the real deal comes.>

 

yes i do agree, but.....

 

ARE YOU SERIOUS

 

in my opinion TKD sparring is a horrible way to learn how to fight, i simply know ways to make you gain points fast. i know kicks you can throw that most cant feel at all at the contact point. these type of kicks would probly go to the groin in a real fight.

 

im not an expert on TKD sparing, but the only good things that i see in it are

 

1. reading feet

 

2. finding your confort space

 

3. reaction time

 

although these qualities are needed for a skilled fighter, it is not the only things needed and TKD sparring just doesnt teach it.

 

i have discussed this issue before. if you want to learn how to really fight, there will be a point in your life when you will have to give up TKD sparring.

 

just how i feel.

 

feel free to tell me off if you want.

 

no worries, be happy

[Kicks]

To condition the muscles for speed you should incorporate some plyometrics. See: http://www.livaudaisnet.com/mafit/mafit.htm

 

I do my (and teach) my speed training at the beginning of the workout. Since you are developing muscle memory you want the brain-to-muscle connection to 'remember' a muscle moving as fast as possible. You don't want to train the muscle to move slow or moderate speed. So you need to speed train with 'fresh' muscles. You should have adaquate rest between your speed sets so you that when you are training your muscles are at their peak.

 

Speed also comes from proper technique and timing. There are many different exercises you can do to speed train, such as focus pads, heavy bag, blast masters, shadow boxing, and partner drills.

 

An example set would be to roundhouse kick a heavy bag as fast as you can, alternating legs each kick, for 30 seconds. Rest a minute then repeat. Do several sets. Eventually build up to 60 seconds, and then 90. Do not exceed 90 seconds or your body will turn on it's aerobic mode. You want to stay within anarobic training.

 

Good luck with your training