Low spinning kick tips

[JSun]

What do you consider the proper technique for performing a low spinning kick? Where do you put your hands on the ground and do you use a knee? I'm trying to get more torque in my kick because it hasn't worked that well when I'm breaking. Also, what's the best way to hold the board for someone who's performing the kick?

[Wolf]

Well there are some different schools of thought. My KJN has his students work up to the point where you don't even use your hands. It's quick down and up. I've seen this elsewhere too.

Personally I drop and do a 180 at the same time while putting my hands down very close to my body. As you turn into the kick make sure to stack your hips ala dora chagi. This allows you to engage the gluts as you connect adding more power.

As far as the best way to hold, drop to a knee with one hand above and below the board or just thumb and index finger above for a speedbreak.

[Choiyoungwoo]

What do you consider the proper technique for performing a low spinning kick? Where do you put your hands on the ground and do you use a knee? I'm trying to get more torque in my kick because it hasn't worked that well when I'm breaking. Also, what's the best way to hold the board for someone who's performing the kick?

I've seen KSN do this kick with his knee down and 180.

If you insist on doing this kick w/o putting the knee down, ,,,, then, ---left foot forward, target @ 12 o' clock, pivot and drop, visual target acquisition, then hands slap the floor at 9 o'clock, pull the leg through. Hands need to bear weight as much or more than base foot, as there is much that can go wrong with the ankle/knee. Don't over train this!!! if your going to do it ,then do a few per session , maybe 4 reps at a time or so. Doing a lot (dozens) in one class improperly, for years, can blow your ankle or knee! or cause damage that won't show until much later. Long after you have retired from KSW you will not enjoy arthritis.
KSW PAUL I've done the no hands version and it looks cool and is indeed very fast, i.e. powerful, but it is a horrible mess physiologically on your knee and ankle. Most people that do this are relatively light, or young, or both. which is why the body will tolerate the abuse.......for now.

[AZeitung]

Can someone tell me what you mean by "knee down"? When I learned this, it was basically out of dragon stance, but neither knee was touching the ground. I can't imagine getting down on a knee to do this kick.

[Choiyoungwoo]

Can someone tell me what you mean by "knee down"? When I learned this, it was basically out of dragon stance, but neither knee was touching the ground. I can't imagine getting down on a knee to do this kick.

By putting the knee down while spinning 360 is a bad idea, so I am not advocating spinning on the knee. Rather, setting the knee down upon half pivot, and stopping the kick at or just past contact point. So now the kick is only about 180. Although this reduces follow through, and limits power some, it allows many people to practice, break with, or even apply the skill. with greatly reduced risk of injury to the supporting leg joints. Not as pretty, a little less powerful, but MUCH safer and more stable for adult students.

I am sure that Kuk Sa Nim was once able to do the 360 low spin kick, but I have never seen him do it in the last 15-20 years. I also don't see herds of middle aged masters practicing this skill often. However the video tapes/dvds show him applying the kick in dan do maki 15 with the knee DOWN and 180. So I must infer that the full 360 is not his preference at the time of the taping ( mid 80's) when he in his mid-late 40's. So based on his example maybe we should consider it's a worthy option.

[Gi Ma Ja Se]

a Good training tip ive found to help and improve the kick all round is to start in a squat (bum down) with calfs touching glutes if possible (flexibilty is a key) now do a low spin kick from here and dont come up instead finish in the same stance you started in.... now without coming up step forward whilst squatting, and do another low spin kick but this will be on the other leg..... do this over basket ball court distance and you'll hopefully see improvement....!

[davefly76]

What do you consider the proper technique for performing a low spinning kick? Where do you put your hands on the ground and do you use a knee? I'm trying to get more torque in my kick because it hasn't worked that well when I'm breaking. Also, what's the best way to hold the board for someone who's performing the kick?


start left foot forward, squat (bum down) hands on the floor, extend right leg back and put the most weight on the ball of you left foot, look at the target over right shoulder and spin through 360*

eventually you should be able to drop and spin in one motion.

:)

[kswgreenman]

a Good training tip ive found to help and improve the kick all round is to start in a squat (bum down) with calfs touching glutes if possible (flexibilty is a key) now do a low spin kick from here and dont come up instead finish in the same stance you started in.... now without coming up step forward whilst squatting, and do another low spin kick but this will be on the other leg..... do this over basket ball court distance and you'll hopefully see improvement....!

KSN Maxine had us do this a while ago and it certainly helped.

[KSW_123]

I think I wrote this in a another thread a while back, but my favorite strength building exercise is doing the one-two punch turn soo do exercise (on page 79 of volume 1 black book) with a squat. You do not spin all the way through in this exercise. The hands do not touch the floor. In the down position your butt should be on your heel, one hand striking and the other hand blocking your face. When you come back up, spin the opposite direction you went on the way down. I like doing the handwork with the spinning squat because it keeps the mind off of the burning legs. I think it also helps with balance and dissasociating the hands the feet. This exercise helps alot with the no hands low spin kick. (which I usually do more as duck as opposed to a full drop to the ground. It is not as hard on the knees and it still gets you underneath a high attack)

I like the previous suggestion as well.