Inside-Outside vs. Outside-Inside (as Crescent Kicks)

[bushido_man96]

The pre-arranged one-steps Bushido Man referred to have, as the next two for me to learn, to block a lunge punch with the outside-inside kick, and then without letting the foot hit the floor, turn it into a side kick. I think it's a training move, that you can have a two-kick chain, rather than against a punch...

Our one-step does this as well, leads into the continuous side kick. In my form, Yoo Sin hyung, there is a segment where these same moves are done. But, I don't think that they apply the same way.

[threemp3]

My outside-inside cresent kick is definitely more powerful than my inside-outside cresent kick. Especially if your doing the outise-inside from the rear leg, it gives more power because your pivoting your front leg 180 degrees.

[joesteph]

. . . your pivoting your front leg 180 degrees.

I find I have better balance, too, in that the motion is related to the turning of the body like the roundhouse and side kicks that I practice. What breaks from them is that, with me, it's more of a "throw" of the body into the kick from the rear leg; when the assistant instructor was demonstrating how he felt the inside-outside was more powerful for him, he had a wonderful "twist" in his hips to put power into that kick.

I've found it easier for me to throw the outside-inside, then back to inside-outside, rather than start with inside-outside and then do outside-inside.

[bushido_man96]

The inside crescent is very good for sparring when in close. You can sneek it up their side and put it on their shoulder or to their cheek.

[joesteph]

You can sneek it up their side and put it on their shoulder or to their cheek.

I wonder if, because it doesn't cross in front of the body, it isn't as easily seen being executed. I'd say that when I've used it in sparring, it's tended to cause my sparring partner to pause, just not expecting that kick, since it's just not emphasized in the dojang--and yet it can land on someone's collar bone just as easily as its mirror kick. We spar non-contact, and that kick moving past the face of my opponent has registered a hint of surprise.

[bushido_man96]

I think part of it comes from being able to throw the kick high, and in relative close proximity to the opponent. I have seen this kick thrown within punching range.