Soar Training: Kicking Week

Jok Ki (Kicking Techniques) are the bread and butter of Korean Martial Arts. In the world of karate, Tang Soo Do’s differences are most apparent in kicking – dynamic, high, and aerial. I want you to concentrate on combination and consecutive kicking while “Crossing the T.” Combination kicking involves both legs, while consecutive kicking is multiple kicks with the same leg. “Crossing the T” is nothing more than changing the angle of attack to gain the advantage while placing your opponent at a disadvantage. In other words, move around your opponent to create an opening to strike.

We will work on both the Kicking one-steps and our various kick techniques (i.e., offensive/defensive kicks, flying kicks, tornado kicks, 360º kicks, jumping kicks, stepping kicks, and the 6-point kick, which is all built on the 5 basic kicks). 

Terminology

Deah Jump Kicks: In the simplest terms, Deah kicks are jump-and-kick without “pumping.” Think of our roundhouse switch kick…jump (or hop), rotate, and kick with the back leg. When you perform an Ahp Cha Gi, you move the weight of your body forward while loading and extending the rear leg into a front kick. Deah Ahp Cha Gi is the same kick with a jump to begin movement. However, the jump allows for horizontal movement. 

E-Dan Jump Kicks: Sometimes called the “scissor kick,” E-Dan kicks have a pumping action. E-Dan kicks are designed to gain distance or height. When performing an E-Dan kick, you will produce inertia by loading and driving a knee (usually the back leg) in the direction you want to go. Once you have reached the target distance, the practitioner rotates the hips and kicks with the other leg. 

Preparing for the Test

We have a Striping System” for test preparation. Everyone must earn their stripes to test. If you are prepared to earn your appropriate stipe, tell me.  We will conduct our written test the week before the physical test.

Remember, Weapons are for Senior Green belt and above, and Soar 100 requires 6 completed Soar 100 challenges.

Written test preparation is your individual responsibility. We do not have time in the twice-weekly training session to cover the material for the written test, so you must study on your own.