Friday, June 6, 2014

The Roundhouse Kick



Above is a perfect example of the roundhouse kick. The technique behind this simple kick is fascinating. As you can see, the bottom foot is turned 180 degrees, which allows the individual to have more acceleration, power, and speed. One can imagine the kick to be like a whip, snapping at the edge of impact. 

In Tae Kwon Do, there are two styles of the roundhouse kick. The 'old school' method involves the kick to be delivered with the ball of the foot and the body leaning into the momentum of the kick. The 'new school' method does not involve the body leaning into the kick and uses the in-step of the foot to hit. 

Personally, I like to take different aspects from each method. When I do a roundhouse kick I like to lean my whole body into the force of the kick, while using the in-step of my foot to strike the target. The reason is because I prefer power over speed. If a person preferred speed over power, they wouldn't lean into the kick as much. 

I believe roundhouse kicks are the most utilized kicks in any martial arts that involves striking. They are used for thigh kicks, body kicks and even head kicks. When administered with enough strength, the roundhouse kick can cause broken ribs, legs and even neck injuries. 


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