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- Newsgroups: rec.martial-arts
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- From: osborn@socs.uts.edu.au (Tom Osborn)
- Subject: Re: Kicking with instep vs. ball
- Message-ID: <osborn.721958895@dragon>
- Sender: news@socs.uts.edu.au
- Organization: Computing Sciences, Uni of Technology, Sydney.
- References: <1992Nov13.160754.17949@ccd.harris.com> <101851@bu.edu>
- Date: 17 Nov 92 00:08:15 GMT
- Lines: 28
-
- The following comments apply for serious contact kicks, but are irrelevant
- for games of 'tag'.
-
- If the instep is straight (for a front or high turning kick), there is a
- risk of damaging tendons and ligaments between the toes and the ankle.
- You never intend to kick with the top of the foot, but intend to impact
- with the instep (ankle joint plus about 2-3 inches towards the toes),
- however, the necessary precision is difficult to guarantee.
-
- Ideally, the instep kick should maintain a bend (about 20 degrees) rather
- than 'pointing'. In most cases, it's better to bend a bit at the toes, too.
- This applies for kicking in shoes, too.
-
- There were some comments made by someone that ball_of_foot kicks were more
- powerful, but slower than instep kicks. Both kicks have plenty of power,
- provided they use the torso (& especially the hips) well - the ball_of_foot
- kick has less 'lift' of the torso (maybe even a drop) than the instep
- version, so their relative power/impact (assuming equal competence) has
- more to do with the target than the method.
-
- As far as speed of delivery is concerned, many of the older style (ball)
- kicks bring the knee around (like getting on a horse) - this is much slower,
- but breaks firmly held boards in demos.
-
- Where the knee is brought through and the torso turns through ~90 degrees,
- either kick will be quite quick, as long as the foot isn't tensed up too soon.
-
- Tomasso.
-