Leg speed training?

[zerosl]

I have tried running, but is there a specific exercise i can do that can help my oblique kick? i want to be able to step sidekick offensively, or as a counterattack. most often however, they move back fast enough to totally dodge my kick. because of this, i want to know if i can speed up this kick?

[Aodhan]

I have tried running, but is there a specific exercise i can do that can help my oblique kick? i want to be able to step sidekick offensively, or as a counterattack. most often however, they move back fast enough to totally dodge my kick. because of this, i want to know if i can speed up this kick?

Work on your chamber, and work on disguising the kick.

Other than that, things you can do are speed/fartlek type workouts, resistance band training with speed techniques, and plyometric type drils.

Here's a couple exercises for speed (Terrible for form, but good for speed)

Stand in front of a heavy bag. Kick it with whatever kick you want to practice as many times as you can in 45 seconds. Rest 30 seconds, repeat. Keep trying to better your score. Do 4-5 rounds.

Get a resistance band that you can anchor to something as well as strap around your ankle. Work on shadow sparring with it, and every time you go to kick, make it as hard and as explosive as you can.

Plyometrics will increase the strength. Minimal effect on speed, but a really good supplement to speed training.

Aodhan

[zerosl]

thanks, i will start training now

[TigerDude]

This is from Living the Martial Way by Marshall.

"The Taekwondoist must try to bring each effort to the point at which the kick is so fast it cannot be followed by the human eye. After several years of 50 to 100 kicks a day with each foot, the taekwondoist will be surprised to find that his kicks are indeed becoming very fast. He will get there only by relentless practice. It will be worth it."

Chung Do Kwan Master Son Duk Sung, 1983

[zerosl]

thanks!

i suppose after my formal training ended, i just dropped most of my simple training!

i realize now that was a terrible move because i lost most of the strength in my body as i grew

[Sohan]

thanks!

i suppose after my formal training ended, i just dropped most of my simple training!

i realize now that was a terrible move because i lost most of the strength in my body as i grew

Always work the basics. They form the basis for all of the more complex technique. Also, nothing beats good old conditioning. Train, train, train.

Respectfully,

Sohan

[parkerlineage]

"Speed is the illusion of proper motion." - Master Richard Planas

Granted, your kicks will become faster through the excercises above, most of which I do. But Aodhan hit the nail on the head when he said work on disguising the kick and chambering. If they can't see it, they can't dodge it. If they can't read it, they can't block it. Try not to lean, or shift your weight before you kick, or telegraph in any way. Watch yourself in a mirror and do it over and over.

In addition (and this is the Kenpo speaking), the move you describe, while effective if landed, is terribly inefficient. Any kick people throw with more than one move is waaay too slow to hit a person who's ready for it - especially another martial artist.