From: mary@Cayman.COM (Mary Malmros)
Newsgroups: rec.martial-arts
Subject: Re: Moving during kicking
Date: 3 Sep 92 15:39:26 GMT
	<MARY.92Sep2174033@martinique.Cayman.COM>
	<1992Sep3.040220.16319@hou.amoco.com>
Organization: Cayman Systems Inc., Cambridge, MA
In-reply-to: zwbm07@hou.amoco.com's message of 3 Sep 92 04:02:20 GMT


In article <1992Sep3.040220.16319@hou.amoco.com> zwbm07@hou.amoco.com (Walter Moore) writes:

   In article <MARY.92Sep2174033@martinique.Cayman.COM> mary@Cayman.COM (Mary Malmros) writes:
   >
   >In article <3581@unisql.UUCP> wrat@unisql.UUCP (wharfie) writes:
   >
   >   In article <MARY.92Sep1123818@martinique.Cayman.COM> mary@Cayman.COM (Mary Malmros) writes:
   >   >   >A good martial artist will not be unbalanced when executing a kick.
   >   >	   Yes, but unless she's a *great* martial artist she'll sure as hell
   >   >   be immobile until that foot gets back down to the mat.
   >   >Disagree.  Many times I've seen someone with the front foot up to block
   >   >(or chambered for a kick) scoot forward by pushing off with the standing
   >   >leg.  It's not a hop, it's a sort of slide, and it looks really weird...
   >
   >	   I'm probably demonstrating my ignorance of the finer points of kicking,
   >   but here goes :-) 
   >
   >	   If you move your body in any way but towards the target of your
   >   kick, don't you lose the power of your kick?  
   >
   >This move is used when you're moving toward the target...I've never seen it
   >done moving away.
   >
   Actually, I've seen *VERY* effective front/side kicks used while retreating
   from an oncoming attackers, particularly by TKD artists. 

Absolutely...but that is not the sliding kick that I described.  I've never
seen the sliding kick done while moving AWAY from the target, only while
moving TOWARDS it.  It's easy (or doable, anyway) to slide forward with
only the rear leg on the ground, but it doesn't seem doable to slide backward
with only the rear leg on the ground...it feels to me like it just won't
work unless it's the trailing leg, regardless of the direction you're moving.

   The back kick 
   doesn't seem to be as effective, I guess because it's harder to get your 
   hip/weight into the kick while retreating. 

Some folks do seem to be able to do a retreating JUMP back kick well, though.
Personally I don't think I'd have the nerve to try it.  I'd stick with one
of the variations you describe below.  

   The person retreating will move 
   backwards at a fast shuffle/slow run (depends on attacker's speed) and then 
   do one of three things: lunge forward with a kick, jump UP and kick forward, 
   or STOP moving, set him/herself and kick the attacker. Since the attacker 
   is usually coming in fast, the force of the kick is added to the momentum of 
   the attacker. This type of kick is usually only effective once or twice in 
   a given fight/match, but can be *VERY* effective with practice. I know 
   people who only use it as a last resort and others who like to try to 
   "trap" people into it.

Right, people learn to watch out for it after they get dumped on their 
butt a couple of times.  Unfortunately, it can be hard to get around, if
you're sparring someone who's got much longer legs than you, and who decides
to fight very defensively.  To get to where you can reach them, you have
to get inside their range, and someone who's good with that defensive kick
will just wait...and...whammo.  

I used to spar with this one guy who would leave waffle treads all
over my upper arms and shoulders, no lie.  %-S
--
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