From: Alan Lim Wui Tze (The Night Owl) Date: Tue, 18 Oct 1994 22:54:13 +0100 (BST) Subject: the_dojang: Lessons learned in Step-in Step-out Side Kick About two months ago, the training at "the_dojang" concentrated on the step-in step-out side kick. And there were many feedbacks. I was not the one who posted the question, but what I have done is to gather all that I have learned here (i.e the replies), and by picking out the vital points and abstracts from these articles, I have managed to compile a useful reference. Unfortunately, I didn't manage to keep the names of all the people who contributed (but I am sure you know who contributed what), so thanks should be directed to them not me..... as all I did was some "gluing" and "brushing-up". I must say it's a bit lengthy so forgive me if I am wastng bandwidth. (Tell me so if I am). ===================================================================== Step-over Step-behind Side Kicks - ------------------------------------ In Tae Kwon Do class, we learn both ways to throw 'stepping' side kick. I believe that you are right when you say that stepping in front forces you to use your hips to generate power for the kick [1,2]. However, stepping side kick is a pursuit kick, and stepping behind gives the kick a longer range. [1] Because this cocked your hip so that the kick went with your hip slightly behind and followed through to the completion of the kick. [2] Hwang Kee's book stated that the "traditional" apparaoch is the step behind approach. In addition, stepping behind makes the kick more 'direct': the foot moves in more of a straight line from the floor to the target. When step in front, the twisting of the hips makes the foot come more 'around', by which means the foot is moving 'across' the front of my body, as well as away from the body. While rotating the hips generates extra power, some of which may be wasted by this motion. Because of this, the step-behind kick gets more power from the supporting leg than the step-in-front kick. Feinting - ------------ However you could use this hip action for the purpose of deception in fighting etc...you would have to have a good side kick in order to generate sufficient power. There is a famous saying in China from x-chairman Mao: "White cat, black cat, the one catches the mouse is a good cat." The technique is not so important as in defeating the posture and spirit of the opponent. Ocassionally, it has been used in sparring without actually executing a technique. In addition, one may just throw a side kick and then slide in, thereby squeezing down the gap between you and your opponent. The slide is also more difficult to see if you don't shift your weight or allow your body to lift as you throw it. The step before the side kick is for faking and inducing your opponent to do a step backward. When he does this, you deliver your side kick, follow him and push him to the ground. Work rather often in sparring, when you have an opponent who often tries to get out of your range by stepping a little backward. You have to do the step a rocking motion. The idea behind this is that one can move faster forward than backward. Sprinters use this. But be weary of the opponent closing up or dodging to the side. ================================================================= Stepping and Dashing Side Kick - ------------------------------ In some (TKD) school, a stepping side kick is described primarily as a "distance closing" technique. The reason for this is that, if you're trying to "cover the distance" between you and an opponent, this one gives you more "distance". The "dashing" side kick, it is presented a different way. In dashing side kick, both feets are in motion momentarily (as the "dashing" leg is coming down, the "kicking" leg begins it's motion), and the forward momentum and thrust from the dashing leg pushing "down into the floor" provide the power for the side kick (in addition to the other body mechanics going on). This kick is often described as "closing the distance" between you and an opponent. But for a shorter distance, and against an opponent who may be moving away at an angle. One then decide on "dash in front" vs. "dash behind" vs. "dash in line", depending on the direction of movement of the opponent. If you're standing in a fighting stance with your right leg forward, and your opponent is moving forward (toward you) from your left, or is moving sideway to your left (possibly avoiding your right leg, who knows), then you would use a "dash in front" sidekick to cover the distance, and begin your motion toward them. If they were moving toward your right, you'd use the "dash behind" variation. And if they were just moving straight back, then you'd use the "dash in line" approach. The "stepping" sidekick as covering a fairly large gap, (not as large as the infamous "flying" sidekick though) :-) and the "dashing" a smaller gap. The length of time required to do a stepping sidekick is longer unless there is a long distance to cover. Variation - ----------- When practicing, one can do step in front, step in back, no step, slide step, hop step, jump step, forward step, backward step, half steps, fake step, and any linear combinations there of. In stepping with the back foot in front of the kicking leg, your hips rotate outward and give more of a circular motion. One generally use this for a sliding or stepping roundhouse kick. By stepping with the foot behind the kicking leg, you allow the hip to remain straight and add a more linear direction to the kick, which the only real way to separate the side from the roundhouse kick. On the otherhand, practicing with a step forward followed by a combination of kicks. Such as front kick, place kicking leg forward, then side kick. This allows for one to execute many kicks in a row and push your opponent back. Defending Against a Side Kick - -------------------------------- Because the chambering of the leg is obvious, therefore, upon seeing this, one may defend by kicking th opponent's chambered leg and knock them off balance, or sweep their other foot from under them, or close in and execute a strong hand technique, etc. Chambering is like loading up the big gun you should make sure your opponent is going to stay where he is when you are attacking, else you are setting yourself up for the let down. In general try kicking without chamber (if it is not too weak) for advance people and to concentration on break thru, break open the defence without giving away too much away. On the otherhand, as a defensive technique, fight with the weight in such a way that when someone attacks, right away , you can stick a side kick in his/her ribs. If they attack fast, then jump backwards and throw the kick as you move away; or alternatively, simply execute a jumping side kick. ===================== ================================================================= Alan W.T. LIM Tapi2@solx1.sussex.ac.uk