Basic Kicks

**Orientation Basics
**Basic Kicks
**Basic Attacks

Front Rising Kick

This kick is used primarily to dynamically stretch the hamstring muscles of the kicking leg,and should be done when muscles are warm and with gradually increasing height.

1.      Begin in Pal chaggi (kicking stance) with you right leg back.

2.      While keeping your balance forward over teh left leg, execute a front rising kick by swinging the right leg straight forward and upward.

3.      The kicking leg should remain straight during the entire length of the kick (both up and down)

4.      The foot of the kicking leg should be flexed (toes pulled upward)

5.      Finish the kick by returning the kicking leg to the original position in a right leg back kicking stance

6.      The supporting leg (left for right leg kick) remains in position, toes pointing forward

7.      The knee of the supporting leg should not bend.

8.      The height of the kick should reach the limit of your flexibility at least by the tenth kick.

9.      While remaining in kicking stance, switch feet and execute left leg front rising kick as you did for the right leg

Crescent kick: inside to out stretching kick

Like front rising kick, this is a dynamic stretch but this time of the thigh, hip, and lower back muscles. Muscles should be warm before beginning and the height of each kick should increase gradually.

1.      Begin in kicking stance with your right leg back.

2.      This kick is like front rising kick. You will raise the kicking leg forward and upward. The kicking leg remains straight and the kicking foot position is a natural one (not flexed or toes pointed, almost relaxed).

3.      With the leg straight, and with your balance forward, swing the right leg forward and upward, but this time attempt to make a large circle (crescent) by swinging the kicking leg to the inside then to the outside (left to right if kicking with the right leg).

4.      Finish the kick by returning the right leg back to the original kicking stance.

5.      Switch feet to accomplish left leg crescent kicks. By the tenth kick, you should reach the limit of your flexibility.

Ap chaggi (Front Snap Kick)

The front snap kick is the first and most basic attacking kick.

1.      Begin with the right leg back in kicking stance (as illustrated below).

2.      While keeping your balance forward, raise the right foot to the level of the left knee. This will bring the right knee up and pointing forward.

3.      Extend your leg and then return your foot to the level of the left knee. Return the kicking foot to the level of the supporting knee faster than you extended the kick. This creates a snapping motion.

4.      Return the right foot to the starting position - right leg back kicking stance.

You should practice kicking with the ball of the foot by first extending the foot and pointing the toes upward thus exposing the ball of the foot.

How to practice Ap chaggi

1. Begin by doing the kick in three counts. Do the above #2,3,4 one at a time. When you feel more comfortable...
2. Kick in two counts by doing #2&3 as one, then #4.
3. Finally, in one continuous motion, do all together.

Important points about Ap chaggi

• Remember to keep the supporting knee straight and keep your balance forward to make sure all your kicking energy moves forward to the target.
• As you kick, it is natural to turn your upper body slightly with the kicking motion. As you kick with the right leg, your right shoulder moves forward slightly.
• The kicking motion involves your entire leg from the top of your hip to the tip of your toes. When kicking, allow the hip of your kicking leg to move forward, much like your shoulder does. This also allows your hips to play a role in the kick, and additional power can be generated by proper use of your hip motion.

Greyhound Bus story

The greyhound bus story is one of GrandMaster Lee's stories to illustrate important concepts. Elements of this story form the basis of all our kicks. This story is best illustrated by performing our front kick at the same time.

"Imagine that you want to go on a bus trip between Colorado Springs and Denver. Since the bus does not pick you up at home, the first thing that you have to do is go to the bus station. (From fighting stance, the rear or kicking foot on the ground is considered at "home". To go to the bus station means to bring the kicking leg to the knee.) From the bus station, you can then go to Denver. (Extend kicking leg so it reaches the target.) From Denver, you want to return home to Colorado Springs. Since the bus does not take you straight home, you have to go back to the bus station first. (Kicking foot does not go directly back to the ground, but instead returns to the knee.) From the bus station, you can then go home. (Foot goes from knee back to ground.)

The bus driver goes from Colorado Springs to Denver at 65 miles per hour, but he is anxious to return home, so he drives from Denver to Colorado Springs at 85 miles per hour. (The kick, or punch, goes out at 65 mph, but snaps back faster at 85 mph. Returning quickly means that you are able to set up fast for the next movement: kick, attack, etc. This also greatly improves the speed of the kick, protects the kicking leg from injury, and creates a snapping motion which increases the impact of the kick)"

This story became well known throughout the world after GrandMaster Sang Lee became the U.S. National coach in 1979. Since then most national champions and all members of the USTC have learned this story and have applied it to their training.

Round-house kick: Ap Dolyo chaggi

In many ways, this kick is similar to Ap chaggi, and is easily illustrated by the Greyhound Bus story.

1. Start by bringing the kicking foot to the knee of supporting leg, as illustrated below. (from Home to Bus terminal in Colorado Springs).
2. With your balance forward and your supporting leg straight, rotate on your supporting leg to turn it at least 90 degrees (if the supporting leg is left, turn to left; if right, turn to right). As you turn the supporting leg and foot, only allow the knee of the kicking leg to turn 45 degrees. At the same time, bring the kicking foot to the same height as the knee of the kicking leg. You should keep the kicking knee pointed at the target, or slightly past the target. While the height of the kicking knee will depend on the height of the target (the higher the target, the higher the knee must be), for practice, it should be as high as your solar plexus during the kick. Your back should be arched slightly forward (the round-house forward crunch), and your arms and shoulders should move naturally forward together.
3. From this position, without any additional body movement, extend the kicking leg straight to the target, using either the ball or the top of the foot as the striking surface.  As a basic use the top of your foot. (Bus goes to Denver at 65 mph).
4. Return the kicking leg to position #2. (Bus returns to Colorado Springs at 85 mph).
5. Return to position #1 (Bus returns to terminal in Colo Spgs).
6. Return to Kicking Stance. (Return home from bus terminal).

How to practice Ap Dolyo chaggi

1. To begin practicing, perform the kick in six counts, completing all steps 1-6 one at a time.
2. Once your six count is good, especially #2, reduce the six count to five doing #1, then #2, combining #3 & 4, then #5 followed by #6. This will develop balance during the kicking phase.
3. Reduce the five count to three doing #1&2 together, then #3&4, then #5&6.
4. After the three count, do in two steps combining #1,2,3,&4, followed by #5&6.
5. Finally, perform all six motions with one continuous motion.

Important points about Ap Dolyo chaggi

• Remember to keep your balance forward, without leaning back
• Keep supporting leg straight
• Don't drop the hand on the same side as the kicking leg behind you. This counter-rotation deprives you of power in the kick.
• Follow the Greyhound Bus story

Jumping front kick: Deo Ap chaggi

This is the first jumping kick you will learn. You have already learned Ap chaggi which is a good technique if your opponent is at a reachable distance. However, if your opponent is beyond the reach of a simple Ap chaggi, you can use a jumping kick to close the distance. Another use of jumping kicks is not for distance but to kick to a high target. Begin with right leg back Kicking Stance.

1. Raise your rear foot (right foot) to your knee (bus terminal).
2. Now that you have your foot up, execute Ap chaggi with the supporting leg without placing the right leg down first. To do this you must start by quickly raising  the right knee to start a jumping motion, this will free the supporting leg so that it can kick. The rear leg provides the momentum to get you up into the air long enough to execute the kick. As you finish the Ap chaggi  with the left leg you will land on the right foot stepping forward into a Kicking Stance with the right leg back.

Back kick: Te chaggi

When learned as a basic, this kick mimics the kicking of a horse or mule. It is not necessary to look at your opponent, or in the direction of the kick to perform this kick properly. Begin with right leg back Kicking Stance, as illustrated below.

1. While rotating 180 degrees, raise your rear foot (right foot) to your knee (bus terminal).
2. Extend leg straight backwards, keeping toes pointed downward, strike with the heel. Shoulders should remain perpendicular to the direction of the kick, and as a basic, you should look directly away from the target.You can bend over slightly to get height with your kick, but not excessively or you will be off balance when you complete the kick.
3. Return the foot to the knee
4. Rotate and either land forward, or continue rotation and return foot behind you to the original position.

Stepping Side kick: Jumping Yup chaggi

To practice Stepping Yup chaggi you must concentrate on how the hip must be positioned to execute this kick.

1. Starting from kicking stance (left foot back since you are kicking with the right leg), bring the left foot behind and forward, thus turning the right hip to face directly forward
2. Bring the kicking foot to the left knee (bus terminal).
3. Extend your leg using the large muscles of the hip and strike the target with the heel of the foot. The foot should be flexed at the ankle (tighten achilles tendon) to make ankle and foot solid, with the little toes curled downward and the big toe curled upward. The toes should be pointed slightly downward so that the heel is higher than the toes and the sole of the foot rotated downward presenting an "edge" of your foot to the target.
4. Return to position #2, without rotating your upper body.
5. Step forward with the right leg into left leg back kicking stance