Doing a side kick the "right" way

[joesteph]

When I perform a side kick, I have a tendency to raise the kicking leg in such a manner that there is a resemblance to the roundhouse kick. I can explain better by dividing the leg into upper and lower. The upper leg is raised to a good height, say waist level, but the lower leg is not hanging straight down; it's at a downward angle (think 45 degrees down to visualize it). When I execute the kick, everything else is as a side kick is expected to be.

My instructor, and I should include her teacher who taught my class last night, refer to what I would call a stricter placement of that lower leg, that it hangs straight down before firing off the side kick. I do not protest, but I believe that both can be correct, so long as the kick itself doesn't turn into a roundhouse.

Here are three videos I've found online that show the side kick as I prefer:

1 minute long, a young black belt:

4 minutes long, an instructor:

5 minutes long, instruction including a split screen for right and wrong, and even exercises:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4j1w--TjqVY&feature=related

How do other forum members prefer to perform the side kick? Instructors, what do you teach? Is the way of my instructor actually the traditional way, while the way I prefer and see on these videos an evolution of some sort in executing this kick?

BTW, my instructor is young, just 25, but often we teach others as we ourselves were taught.

[tenshinka]

Hello Josesteph,

I understand what you are saying. In SBD they place GREAT importance on the exactness of techniques, and the methodology of their execution. Any questions can be promptly resolved by referring to GM Hwang Kee's Soo Bahk Do Tang Soo Do Volume 1.

Now, on the other hand, while I do understand the above mentioned approach, I personally have never favored it. A fight IS NOT static, it is ever changing. Depending on your bodies position, before performing the kick, and where you want to place the chagi, there IS room for alterations to the chamber. The important thing is that if you want the kick to be a side kick, is the final placement, and extension of the kicking leg, and using the correct striking surface (in this case the heel).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/chizikunbo/yupchagi.jpg

Nice Avatar BTW, I have always enjoyed that picture of the Kwang Jang Nims Hwang.

Traing Hard!!

[joesteph]

I understand what you are saying. In SBD they place GREAT importance on the exactness of techniques, and the methodology of their execution. . . .

I was thinking the same thing. Sometimes that means it's great, that you learn precision, but other times it's challenging to your body mechanics. Do you find the same in Tang Soo Do, Josh?

Now, on the other hand . . . A fight IS NOT static, it is ever changing. . . . [T]here IS room for alterations to the chamber. The important thing is that if you want the kick to be a side kick, is the final placement, and extension of the kicking leg, and using the correct striking surface (in this case the heel).

In sparring, I've never been corrected, and I'm sure it's because all action is in flux; we're constantly maneuvering. In performing self-defense techniques, it has come up, likely because action is more static/in place, and more easily observed to be critiqued.

I prefer my less-strict way, especially for speed, but when my instructor performs that kick, don't blink--she'll have shot it out and already rechambered it.

[ninjanurse]

I teach my students to bring the knee up as far as possible (perpindicular to the direction of the kick)with the lower leg in line (such that you could balance a plate between them) and point the heel at the target. The goal is a straight thrusting motion. We do not teach side snap kick in our style which sounds like what you are describing your instructor wants.

[joesteph]

I teach my students to bring the knee up as far as possible . . . with the lower leg in line . . . and point the heel at the target. The goal is a straight thrusting motion. We do not teach side snap kick in our style . . .

Thanks, Heidi. I hadn't thought of it that way. Is the kick that's taught in your style done with greater speed because of this placement? The term "snap" in side snap kick (or front snap kick) makes it sound faster, but is it really? I feel as though the hanging down of the lower leg makes it slower to execute.

[ninjanurse]

The direction of the force of the kick is different with the snap kick as opposed to the thrust kick which creates more force. Snap kicks are generally quicker and targets are lower.

[tallgeese]

I ofen "cheat" my lower leg in the direction that I'm prepping to throw the kick, espically for low line attacks (which is pretty much all I do). So if I cant the lower leg out a bit, it puts my striking surface a tad closer to the target (say a knee) than brining it straight up.

For my part, I'm way more concerned with a proper piviot on the supporting foot than anything else when in comes to sidekick delevery.

[joesteph]

From tallgeese:

So if I cant the lower leg out a bit, it puts my striking surface a tad closer to the target (say a knee) than brining it straight up.

From ninjanurse:

Snap kicks are generally quicker and targets are lower.

I'm picking up some streetfighting techniques here. I only thought of a low front snap kick before; now I'm looking at another weapon in the arsenal.

[tallgeese]

Glad you can use it. The a side kick that stomps to the outside of the knee joint is a favorite of mine. Not only can it inflict some signifigant damage, it will usually turn the attackers weapons away from you as a natural reaction to having one's center affected from the outside of the knee in.

Generally, as the knee is struck from the outside with force, as from this kick, it will bend and rotate into or across the center line of the body to portect itself. This rotation takes everything that was just pointed at you and rotates it away from you as well. This makes it harder to coordinate an effective striking counter.

[tallgeese]

Just as an aside, I don't prefer to use a snapping motion with this particular movement. When I say stomp, I mean it. I want penetration the same as I would if I were targeting the body.

A snap my do damage, but it's less likely to create the motion I talk about above. Penetrate and create that body shift. It's very helpful.