jump kicks

[DD]

does it really matter how high you jump on the jump side kick? because I can jump pretty high but I'm still having trouble with the jump side kick. I can do it fine on a target of heavy bag but I have trouble doing it in the air not striking anything. Could you give me some tips on doing the jump side kick and what are the very best exercises to increase jumping ability?

[iolair]

Really depends on your objective...

 

traditionally, they were (I'm told) used to unseat a horse rider ... that needs to be pretty high. And in kickboxing a jumping kick to the head earns the most points of any move.

 

Personally, I don't like jumping kicks at all - too impractical; too few opportunities to use them effectively for the amount of effort put into perfecting them. I'd rather spend more time drilling my basics

 

As for exercises ... lots of jumping, also look into plyometric exercises of your leg muscles. (depth jumps etc.)

[Shane]

I dont like Jump kicks either, when you leave the ground I feel you put yourself at some what of a disadvantage.

 

But there is one that I dont mind and that is the jumping blade kick, we do it while keeping the non kicking leg straight and only about 1-2 inches off of the ground while thrusting towards your opp. I dont think I would use it in a real street situation (you never know) but when were sparring(kickboxing) its a pretty good one if you can get the distance to get it in.

[schanne]

I wouldn't be concerned how high you can jump, the most important aspect of the kick is your power and technique. You should be more interested in creating good basics and stop worring how many points a certain kick can deliver. Points are usless in the bigger picture of MA. Of course the kicks are harder without a physical target.

[Master Jules]

As Iolair said, the jumping side kick was originally performed to unseat a horseman. They arent really too practical in "real life" street scenarios, in fact, unless you have REALLY fast legs, street kicking shouldnt be done much above waist level anyway.

 

To improve jumping ability, you should implement the use of "plymetrics" in your training....it will cultivate the fast twitch muscle fibers, and produce the explosive power needed to gain height. Plyometrics, however, can be very taxing on the ligaments and tendons, so be sure to practice with proper form under the guidance of a certified trainer.

[Drunken Monkey]

.....that's something else i don't buy; the whole unseating horseman thing.

 

a horseman is pretty secure when he's sat on top of that steed of his

 

and

 

if he is a charging type rider then he's gonna be pretty well armoured.

 

i can't see anything happening except the jumping kicker bounce off....

 

i also can't see the war scenario where an unarmed foot soldier would face off against a guy on a horse;

 

i mean, it doesn't 'fit' into the style of warfare back then.

 

besides, they had nice big knives/spears for attacking high targets or the equally nice big chopping knives for taking out horses' legs.

[battousai16]

um...

 

if you can do it fine with a target...

 

can't you just picture a target in front of you? that should do the trick, shouldn't it?

[SevenStar]

nah, it's not always that easy. There are a few people in my thai class that I am trying to work with, because they have similar issues. One of them has a great roundhouse, but he can only use it in sparring. during padwork, his kick is crap. on the heavy bag, his kick is crap. I don't understand it. Another student is the exact opposite. she's awesome on the pads, but can't do it in sparring. Different people's minds function in different ways...

[SevenStar]

.....that's something else i don't buy; the whole unseating horseman thing.

 

a horseman is pretty secure when he's sat on top of that steed of his

 

and

 

if he is a charging type rider then he's gonna be pretty well armoured.

 

i can't see anything happening except the jumping kicker bounce off....

 

i also can't see the war scenario where an unarmed foot soldier would face off against a guy on a horse;

 

i mean, it doesn't 'fit' into the style of warfare back then.

 

besides, they had nice big knives/spears for attacking high targets or the equally nice big chopping knives for taking out horses' legs.

 

I can see how it would work in theory - it would have a clothesline type effect. But realistically, I agree - he's on a horse and armored....I would think it would take more than a kick to unbalance him. In jousts, both guys are on horses and armored, and THEY weren't able to knock one another off on every attempt...

[MenteReligieuse]

The armours back then in the east (chinese or huns) was pretty light.