Tae Kwon Do?

Question

Been trying to improve my jump kicks, I always hit where I want too, but I'd the jump to be higher still, is there any particular stance that can help me go higher?

Also I've been sparring with a guy who knows Mui Thai, is there any stance I can use that can absorb those lethal lower leg kicks? Or a good way to avoid the kick, he seems to try the kick right after any kind of punch or during it.

Please answer like an adult and civilized person.

Answer 1

If you are accurate with your kicks now, simply continue practicing. There is no particular stance that will allow you to jump higher; your ability to jump is based on your leg strength and you physiology. You may be at the limit of your height already. My suggestion is to work on you calf strength and flexibility; this is where you get the majority of the "spring" that gets you off the ground.

As to your sparring dilemma; Katana is exactly right; there is NOTHING that says a Tae Kwon Do practitioner cannot employ low kicks just as effectively as anyone else. In fact, many techniques taught in Tae Kwon Do can be employed just as effectively on the ground as they can be while standing. If you have been studying Tae Kwon Do long enough, you would also know there is a technique that allows you to trap your opponents kick and sweep his back leg, the sweep effectively being a crescent kick at ground level aimed right at the back of his ankle. Front snap kicks to the knee are just as effective as ones to the midsection (not saying that you would want to employ that against your friend during sparring, just trying to illustrate a point). If you watch the mechanics of his leg kick, I woud bet you will discover that it looks strikingly similar to a back leg turning kick or crescent kick, just lower.

There is no reason why you should have to absorb the leg kick every time he employs it. Use your own kicks to block it, or move into him and jam the kick! If he is employing the kick right after or just as you are throwing a punch, change your technique and set your punches up with a kick. If he keeps getting the kicks in, then you are likely telegraphing your punch. Figure out what you are doing (maybe ask him what he sees that allows him to get the kicks in), and adjust.

Also, keep in mind that it could be your sparring partner is just that good. Nothing wrong with that, and it will do nothing but make you better if you use his knowledge to improve yourself. You may never beat HIM, but the knowledge you gain can make you more effective against others. AND, you just might teach him a thing or two yourself if you really think about how your Tae Kwon Do techniques can be deployed effectively.

Wait a sec: did I just say that a TKD practitioner and a Muay Thai practitioner can earn from each other?? I guess I did...

Answer 2

What was the first question? I think you left a word out.

Answer 3

Thunder..If you don't know the first thing about the two styles why even answer? Just too bash TKD? Get lost.

As for the leg kicks, checking or chambering works well, as does moving in the direction of his kick and countering at the same time, but my question is, what is to stop you from throwing leg kicks of your own? Who says a TKD person can't throw leg kicks? All it is is a round house kick with a different height. your's would probably be more powerful then his, because a strong high kick becomes a devestating low kick.

Answer 4

I dunno much about Tae Kwon Do or if you guys do any animal forms, but Shaolin tiger stance allows for high jumping.

-Sean

Answer 5

yeah, Muay thai kicks are very hard. So he counter attacks with low kicks. cool. ok. this is one option you take. come in throw a fake jab, and before or as he throw the low kick, you side kick him with the front side kick. Time it well and you can knock him on his back.

option 2. you move in to jab and cross and hook and hook and upper cut him. unleash your combinations as you move in close, if he throw the low kick, he risk be knockout by your cross. watch K1 and see how a puncher defeat a kicker.

Answer 6

practice, practice, practice. all stances can make your legs stronger...the key is to get in for example a perfect horse stance....and just sit there in the stance. in a few seconds your legs will start shaking and aching and burning. stay there as long as you possibly can. do this daily and your legs will be very strong.

the key with jumping is not only leg strength...but in flexing deeply on the knee before you jump. like you step forward with your right foot, jump up and kick with the same foot...jump front kick...when you take the step forward make sure you bend that knee deeply and that will allow you to spring up harder. also just as you are jumping...throw your arms up in the air just slightly...it will aid your momentum too.

also alot of times i notice people dont kick until they are on the way down...kick on the way up! dont kick hard..kick fast...your body and natural movement will provide the power. just have good form and speed.

you said it yourself...AVOID those leg kicks, dont absorb them if you dont have to...ive seen people get broken legs that way. ...thai fighters almost always step before they kick so they get a good angle...look for the step, not the kick. soon as he steps out...MOVE. pull your leg out of harms way quickly...how? dont think about pulling your FOOT back...pull your whole HIP back. (this will also allow you to retract your own kicks faster)

pick them off with your shin. example if he kicks at the outside of your left leg with his right leg, you need to intercept his range of motion...his kicks are powerful at the end of that range...in other words..where your leg is.

if you raise your left leg and move IN TOWARD his kick...his kick will have less power because you are jamming his range of motion. block with the top part of your shin bone...the 6 inches right below your knee...this is where your bone is the thickest and most dense.

also it is important to have strength in your leg...otherwise he will blow right through it and knock you down.

also your leg..when you pick it up to block...has to be at greater than a 90 degree angle. ie..dont "kick yourself in the butt" or have your foot too close to you...but stick it out slightly..so your leg is at greater than 90 degrees...this works for arm blocks too (greater than a right angle)...your skeletal alignment is much stronger this way and you can take more force.

also sink slightly on your support leg so you can take the impact without getting knocked over or pushed away by the force of the kick. do NOT pull your toes up toward your knee...he may kick your toes and break them...point your foot down. ....if you do what i say...you are using muay thai against muay thai.

dont just spar with him...learn from him too!

Answer 7

Really, the stance isn't what will help you jump higher (though the idea of the Tiger stance is partially correct...).  Jumping ability is something that is only gained through practice and repitition.  When I started training, there were two guys who had a trampoline in their back yard.  For years before they joined the program, they would do jump kicks on the trampoline, not really knowing what they were doing.  When they finally got some training, they were doing jump kicks an average of 6 feet off the ground.  Not bad for two 5'0" teenagers...

As for sparring with MT guy... again, the Tiger/cat stance would be beneficial here.  By not having much weight on the front leg (assuming that is what is getting hit, and you are not attempting to evade the kick), it will move more with the blow, thereby reducing impact.  But, if he's 'always' kicking at the same time.....  Mr. Myagi say - "Best defense, not be there."  MOVE.  It is very difficult to make contact with a target that isn't there.

Good luck with both endevors.

Answer 8

I do not believe Tae Kwon Do can help ya out much when your defending aginst mui thai. Also, don't forget about ground, grappling, and ... other. if your sparring it might be a good idea to spar against tae kwon do. i don't know the first thing about tae kwon do but muy thai is different.

but from what little i know, mui thai requires being able to take those low hits because combos are meant to throw you off.

Answer 9

My oppinion on the jump kick is when you jump pick up your knees as far off the ground as you can. Start in a basic backstance for the most height.

Answer 10

Thunder - you say you don't know the 1st thing about Tae Kwon Do, but you do know that Muay Thai is different?  How is that possible?  You also don't know how to spell Muay Thai.  

To the question, building leg and calf strength, combined with losing weight is the best way to get higher on your kicks, it has little to do with your stance.

As for sparring against any style with rules that allow kicks below the waist, you have to learn to "check" the kick if you are unable to avoid it.

You opponent has noticed a trend, and now everytime you punch, he is throwing a counter kick to your leg.  This takes the power off your punch and throws you off balance.

You need to work on being less predictable, it has little to do with the style and more to do with your ability to fight and what you have been exposed to so far in your training.

You need to fake, feint, circle, switch feet, etc. to become less predictable.    Your partner may be a better fighter than you, and may always win, but you will become a better fighter by training with him.  It's not that one style is better than the other, he's either more experienced or just better right now.  

Good luck and continue with your training.

James