using high kick in traditional kung fu

[golden arhat]

youtube cro cop


high kicks ftw

[huolung]

I've always been taught that high kicks were generally more for practice. According to Dr. Yang for instance crescent kicks (or inside/outside sweeps) are erroneously believed to be aimed at the face. Instead they are meant to hit the wrists or forearm of an assailant attacking with a weapon. Other than that they are executed much lower in order to damage the opponent's knee, or otherwise destroy his rooting. Kicks are generally trained high to develop speed, power, and balance but are reserved (more generally as this is not ALWAYS the case) for knees, shins/ankles, groin, and sometimes the solar plexus in actual combat. The hands protect the groin from counter attacks from kicks as kicks should (once again generally speaking) be used a middle to long range as opposed to short. But that is what I was taught for basic Longfist strategy, and so I understand this may not be true for everyone.


Namaste

[TaichiMantis]

Whew! Glad I don't have to worry about protecting my groin on my high kicks....uh...er...unless someone is trying to insert their foot.

[Shaolinlueb]

just kick fast, strong, and hit your target. no need to worry then.

[lkfmdc]

According to Dr. Yang for instance crescent kicks (or inside/outside sweeps) are erroneously believed to be aimed at the face. Instead they are meant to hit the wrists or forearm of an assailant attacking with a weapon.

Ah, yes, to defend against the knife, crescent kick it out of his hand, ah, yes

[huolung]

Whew! Glad I don't have to worry about protecting my groin on my high kicks....uh...er...unless someone is trying to insert their foot.

I believe the point was that it's really kind of impractical to kick HIGH in a real fight... Sorry you were unable to comprehend... I thought the language was simple enough...

[TenTigers]

high kicks do many things-they train your feet to be as easy to use as your hands.
"Arms like legs, legs like arms" If you can kick to the head, you can kick to the groin twice as fast. It trains the body. The way to develop your Gung-Fu is to develop total mastery over your body (and mind). Try to create the perfect vehicle. Strength, flexibility, coordination, technique. You cannot expect a beat up rustbucket to race in the LeMans. You need a fine tuned machine, like a Ferrari.

Besides, if the opportunity presents itself, don't you want the skills to be able to take it?

Not only that, but if you don't train the kick, you won't be able to defend against it. You won't know how to use it, set it up, and make it effective, so you will not be able to defend against those who can. These are the people who will get KO'd by them.

[Lucas]

listen to the fight commentary in a lot of cage fights where the guys land high kicks. Cung Le comes to mind of course. From listening to the fight commentators, you would think that some of these guys had never heard of a high kick.

and the guys getting messed up by them in the matches, likely are not very profecient with a large range of kicking techniques.

its always going to be give and take with what you spend your time on in training, but i think its wise and well worth the time to explore your full range of kicking abilities.

[TaichiMantis]

The ones that pull it off with success have a quick recoil. Most people leave their leg out too long and it is easy to steal their center and dump them.

[AJM]

I've only met one person that could succesfully execute a high kick to the head without it getting intercepted by a skilled opponent. I only practice it as an exercise. I do keep a hand in proximity to my groin when I kick.

[Shaolinlueb]

high kicks do many things-they train your feet to be as easy to use as your hands.
"Arms like legs, legs like arms" If you can kick to the head, you can kick to the groin twice as fast. It trains the body. The way to develop your Gung-Fu is to develop total mastery over your body (and mind). Try to create the perfect vehicle. Strength, flexibility, coordination, technique. You cannot expect a beat up rustbucket to race in the LeMans. You need a fine tuned machine, like a Ferrari.

Besides, if the opportunity presents itself, don't you want the skills to be able to take it?

Not only that, but if you don't train the kick, you won't be able to defend against it. You won't know how to use it, set it up, and make it effective, so you will not be able to defend against those who can. These are the people who will get KO'd by them.

I am going to go with my boy 10 tigers on this. great answer.

[Hitman]

Dear all,
Does anyone know the reasons why this tan tui sifu dropped one of his hands near his groin, before he did some of his kicks?

http://johnswang.com/Han_TanTui.WMV




Thank you

[jet64]

As a kung fu fighter, one of the first five rules that i follow is -never throw a highkick unless your opponent is half conscious.

[David Jamieson]

Dear all,
Does anyone know the reasons why this tan tui sifu dropped one of his hands near his groin, before he did some of his kicks?

http://johnswang.com/Han_TanTui.WMV




Thank you

who cares. it's a form.

[YouKnowWho]

Dear all,
Does anyone know the reasons why this tan tui sifu dropped one of his hands near his groin, before he did some of his kicks?

http://johnswang.com/Han_TanTui.WMV

Thank you

You always use one hand for offense and another hand for defense. When you punch, your other hand should protect your weakest spot and that will be your head. When you kick, your other hand should protect your weakest spot and that will be your groin. Many CMA styles have groin cover posture. It could be more symbolic than true usage.