The Choong Moo Flying Side Kick Breakdown Class

[bushido_man96]

Several years ago, I wrote an article that focused on a class full of front kicking, with lots of component breakdown and variations on the basic front kick.  I shamelessly plug that article here:

 

 

Just the other day in class I found myself breaking down the flying side kick we do in our version of Choong Moo hyung, and it's enough material to be considered a class all on it's own as well.  So I thought I'd share an article in the same vein here.  I referenced the process I used in that class in a post in The Martial Artists' Training Log, but I've refined it much more here.  Enjoy, and I look forward to KF feedback!

The Choong Moo Flying Side Kick Breakdown Class

Here is a step-by-step breakdown to help students better understand the nuances of the flying side kick in our version of Choong Moo hyung.  Where noted, a Wavemaster standing bag will be used to give the student feedback on the alignment and power direction of the kick.  The student starts in a left foot forward back stance, double knife hand block, just like in the hyung.  The only difference is I'll have them switch and do both sides.  The kick is only done with the right leg in the hyung.  This teaching progression is also good for the 3rd dan and higher ranks that have to the flying side kick over obstacles for their testing.

The flying side kick is done after taking two steps, then jumping by throwing the back leg up and using it as the momentum to get up, turn sideways, and kick.  It's not done like the traditional ITF version of Choong Moo; this version is easier.  This version is basically a back leg side kick just done in the air, and I like to break things down all the way to the most basic movement.  The big focus in a good back leg side kick is getting the knee chambered up tight and around so the body is side-on to the target and then finishing by pivoting the base leg foot and turning the hips to get power.

The two steps done prior to the flying side kick shouldn’t be great big, bounding steps.  Instead, they should be more controlled steps that help build a little bit of momentum and then allow the student to spring up as high as possible to kick.  The goal of this kick is not to travel a huge amount of distance, but to jump high while advancing about another stance length while kicking and then recovering with a controlled landing and double knife hand blocks in back stance.

Constantly remind the students that they have to keep the knee tight and get it around so they don’t end up kicking with the toes or the ball of the foot.  If the pivot isn’t tight, the toes or ball of the foot tend to lead the kick instead of the heel.  The pivot is just as important when done in the air as it is when done on the ground.

1. Back leg (#2) side kick.  Floor drill, no bag or shield.

2. Back Leg (#2) side kick, this time on Wavemaster bag, both sides.  Many reps.  Partners could also hold kicking shields for each other, backing up for each new rep.

3. Add the two steps for the flying side kick, done at my count; 1st step, then 2nd step, then chamber position, focusing on getting the chamber around and tight by pivoting the base foot.  Three counts, no kick, no bag, no jump.  Do as floor drill, starting and finishing with double knife hand blocks (remember hand/foot timing!).

4. Same as step 3, at my count, but adding a fourth count, which is to back leg (#2) side kick.  So four counts at this point in the progression.  Floor drill, no bag or shield, no jump.  Finish with the double knife hand blocks in back stance.

5. Same as step 4, but now done with a partner holding a kicking shield, backing up for each rep.  Partners then switch roles once they get to the end of the floor.  Or use Wavemaster.

6. Same drill as step 5, but now the student has to put it all together and at his own pace and count.  Here is where you start to see them cheating on the chamber and have to correct it.  Slow and smooth, smooth is faster.

7. From the back stance and double knife hand blocks, bring the back leg up to that chamber position, getting the chamber around while jumping into the air (not taking the two steps, and not kicking).  The goal is to "throw" the back leg up while "pivoting" in the air to get the body turned side-on, keeping the knee tight.  The knee is thrown up to gain momentum in the jump, much the way we do with our jump front snap kicks in basics; we just add the turn here.  The student finishes by landing and setting down into the double knife hand block in back stance with the other leg forward.  Floor drill advancing about one stance length with each jump, no kick. 

8. The next progression is adding the "cannonball" aspect (that's how Master Biskie referred to it).  When running and jumping, you want to pull the knees up as high as possible.  The student takes two quick steps, bursts off the ground by throwing that back knee up high and turning, “pivoting” while in the air, and pulling up and tucking the knees as high and tight as they can (the “cannonball”).  I shall affectionately refer to this drill as “The Cannonball Run.”

9. Now the students do the flying side kick, all together at their own count.  Start in the back stance/double knife hand blocks and finish in the back stance/double knife hand blocks.  The trick here is to land on the base leg foot with the kicking foot rechambered, then reach back and set down into the blocks.  Again, hand/foot timing!

10. For the students preparing for flying side kicks over obstacles (which is usually two or three people) for testing, the next progression is to set up some kicking shields or other obstacles on the ground in front of the Wavemaster.  I set the shields on their sides and about 6 inches apart from each other to represent the obstacles.  This version of the kick is usually done with more distance and taking more steps and has more of a forward trajectory than the kick in Choon Moo hyung.