A great deal has been written and said about kicking in today’s age of modern martial artists. Many people who are cross training seem to mainly focus on low Thai kicks because of their effectiveness and they present less risk of being taken to the ground by the grappler.
When it comes to kicking you really have to decide what your purposes are for training in the martial arts, it might be that the art you practice in encompasses a lot of kicking. If you are aiming for competition then kicking might be an important element, or you may be hooked on the Kung Fu movies and like all the flamboyant techniques which are generally kicks.
When I was a junior, kicking was my best technique and I quickly realised that I also need to be able to punch after being beaten by the puncher on several occasions. I then set about developing my hands to the same leveI as my kicks to be an all round fighter.
I personally enjoy kicking very much and find it rewarding, I am confident enough of my kicking ability in a real situation, because I have had the unfortunate pleasure of using them on several occasions, but you must train your kicks for this test and not just competition to give yourself any chance of success.
1. Front Kick
The front kick is a good powerful kick that is good for stopping attacker coming towards you. Practice chambering your knee, so your knee faces the ceiling. Extend your leg out bending your toes back and striking with the ball of the foot. Keep your hands up and if kicking with the back leg change your guard over. You can snap your kick or push kick (we will go into different ways to kick in a latter column). Good areas to strike are shin, knee, groin, bladder and abdominals.
2. Roundhouse Kick
The roundhouse kick is a circular techniques and is good for throwing in combinations, beware that you can open yourself up when kicking to the inside of your opponent. When executing your Roundhouse Kick chamber your leg so that it faces to the side. Extend your leg and point your toes strike with either the top of the foot or the shin. Areas to strike are thigh, body and head.
3. Side Kick
The side kick is a very strong and fast kick, great for points sparring but you need to work on this technique to fire strong and effective combinations because you turn side on whilst throwing the kick and this can slow the next technique down. Chamber your leg the same as a roundhouse kick, extend your leg and strike with the heel or foot sword. Areas to strike are the knee, body and head.
4. Back Kick
If you know Master Bob Sykes you will know this is his favourite technique, and bob has a great back kick, this can only be achieved through lots of repetition. Its one thing to have good form in a kick and another to actually be effective at putting it into practice. If you get this kick right it can probably be the most powerful kick of all. Keep your feet still and turn your body, look over your shoulder, chamber your leg and throw a sidekick and you have your back kick.
This technique can be used to counter if timed correctly or it should be used in a combination with other techniques to set it up.
TIPS FOR KICKING
Practice your balance by chambering your leg tight.
Keep your hands up at all times
Practice your kicks using different methods to develop different attributes – shadow for form, pad work for power and speed, partner work for distance and timing.
Remember to focus on Quality not Quantity
Stretch and strengthen your legs to develop flexibility and strength to allow greater movement and use less energy in your kicks
Practice with both legs – when I was competing the front leg was mainly used and because of doing many more repetitions on one side I have developed a back challenge. So practice both sides!
Remember the harder you work the luckier you get. I look forward to working with you next month.
Author's Bio
Lee Mainprize is a martial arts teachers, teacher. He helps beginners and students learn martial arts online and gives martial arts home study.
If you have been married for any length of time you know full well the amount of work that has already taken place. Yet, there is still more work looming.
Wouldn’t it be nice if there were some short cuts to experiencing more blessings in a marriage?
While there are no easy tricks or short cuts that will lead to success in marriage (there is simply no way around the fact that marriage takes work) there are some different hacks you can try that may bring about another level of passion and adventure.
Some of these my wife and I have tried with success, a few others we are attempting along with you.
1. Block out time for each other. While this may seem like a no-brainer, many times it goes undone. It is too easy to get caught up in the routine of the week and only see each other in passing. No relationship worth having can survive for long without time dedicated to its development. Go to dinner together, shop for groceries, go for a walk. Whatever, just do it together.
2. Plan the week together ahead of time. Each Sunday my wife and I have a quick discussion regarding the coming week and each other’s schedule. That way, if there is anything to be reminded of or worked around, there is time to adjust.
3. Do it on Monday’s. Not to discourage doing it on other days of the week as well, but if you regularly begin the week with an encounter with your spouse, it sets a positive tone for the rest of the week. Many couples seem to work up to doing it later in the week, this allowing for schedules, workloads, weekend plans with the kids, you name it to get in the way. Start off the week together and see if the rest of the week is different between you.
4. Email your spouse throughout the week. Anytime we can make contact with the people important in our lives, the relationships are better. Due to the busy nature of people and their unavailability at times during the day, send a quick email. Seeing a note from my wife in the inbox brightens the moment.
5. Keep a clean and organized bedroom. When your surroundings are chaotic and cluttered, your life is as well. It is inevitable that we will be impacted by our surroundings. If you want to experience a romantic and passionate marriage, create the environment for it. Nothing can spoil the beginnings of a spark like clutter and messiness. Put everything in its place in the bedroom, clear off the dressers and nightstands. Clean the floor. Make the bed each morning. It will be much more inviting to go in to later in the day.
6. Go for a walk. Not only will you and your spouse benefit from the time spent together during the walk, you will also notice the difference in your own metal and emotional well-being. When you go walking regularly with your spouse, you will also notice better physical health. It’s a win, win, win.
7. Unclutter your to do list. There are many things that compete for our time, and sadly, the most important things usually get pushed aside for the little to do’s. Focus on the most important things each day. Get those things done then reward yourself with quiet time at home with your spouse.
Extracted from Simple Marriage
It happened one stormy morning of mid-February when I preferred to just stay at home. With this kind of weather, it is usually hard for me to leave my bed, enjoying the warmth beneath the blanket. So I just stayed in my bed, staring at the window and watching for the pouring rain.
I didn't have anyone to talk to, but I couldn't help reminiscing my stormy past. So I started to write all my resentments in a form of a letter.
Dear Past,To my amazement, I received an immediate response that read like this….
I am writing you because I don't have anybody to listen to me. I can't help it anymore so I decided to confront you because I thought it was the right thing for me to do, since this is all between me and you.
There are a lot of memories of you that are really worth remembering. I learned a lot from you during my happiest and saddest moments, during my richest and poorest days and my best and worst times. And I want to thank you for that.
When you were still my "present", of course I enjoyed every second, every minute, and every hour spent with you, stitching bad things and good things together, enjoying the freedom I had.
What bothers me the most nowadays is that I feel that you did not totally let go of me. It is because you still seem to be controlling parts of my being. I am still disturbed by what I had already left behind when I made the changes in my life to be a better person.
It seems that until now, you are still holding some pieces of me. It often feels like you urge me to go back to find those pieces of my history and put them together to be whole again, so I could free myself from yesterday.
I am not so happy with what is happening to me in the present. I think that you are the one causing me distress because it feels like you are pulling me backwards and keeping me from moving on.
You are not making things any easier for me. I have already suffered too much for what I have done and maybe that is now enough to pay my lot.
Don't you know that you are the main reason for my day-to-day anguish and lots of sleepless nights? Please stop haunting me… please let me go and find a better life. Please set me free….
JP
To You, JP,I was suddenly awakened by a knock on the door. It was my flat mate calling me for lunch.
I got your letter. It's quite a surprise for me to read about your complaints and accusations against me.
Not even one of the questions should be thrown at me nor should the whole letter be addressed to me but to "You", since you hold all the answers to your queries.
Now it is my turn to say things and ask you questions that may help you clear your mind.
What you've done before were the things that made you feel like living your life to the fullest. Memories that made you seem to be happiest in those moments, whether good or evil, cannot be easily or completely forgotten because of what you want to do now.
You made me exist, didn't you?
It wasn't me who made your life miserable; it was all "you"! So why do you keep on blaming me? Don't you even dare put all the blame on me!
Now, you see, what makes you remember me the most are the worst things you have done.
Don't you feel how sad it is that you could never be proud of your past?
You're not like other people who are telling stories to their children about their history. Their stories are being proudly preached to the next generation.
You know what? I am so sorry to tell you that you haven't yet realized that you are actually blaming your own self; you haven't yet forgiven yourself for the wrong choices you've made before.
Try to forgive and forget. Forgive yourself, and you will soon be free. Learn to forget the things that you are regretful for, so to stop them from haunting you.
You chained yourself to me but you made yourself unaware that anytime you want, you could break free, because the key is right there in your hands.
You must be very grateful that because you have me, you learned from your mistakes. You realized that the things you once thought to be good or right were never right, so you became aware of not doing those things again.
And the most important of all, you have changed into a better you. How I wish that when you are already in your future, you will not have the same regrets about what you have done today like what you did yesterday.
So please, make the best out of your life in the present!
Good luck!
Once with you, "Past"
When I opened my eyes, I felt the warmth of the rays of the sun striking directly on my face. I realized that what had just transpired was only a dream.
Then I got up and went by the window. I looked around and noticed the very bright surroundings. The storm had already stopped…
The present is the most influential part of a lifetime because what we do in the present, determines what we will be leaving behind as part of our past and could also predict what kind of future we will have.
Many people may not believe it, but it is never untrue. The present is the most important part of life.
So be wise and good. We must remember that we can never go back in time and will never know if we will still be here tomorrow.
Today, we ought to be more careful with our decisions and actions. The moment we make a forward step, the last footprint left behind us is already a part of our past. A single step plays a vital role in the quality of things we are making these days.
One of the many secrets to be happy is to love and accept, with all our hearts, the kind of life we have at the moment.
Remember, acceptance breaks the spell of regrets. The best thing for us to do now is to make our present the way we will never regret when it becomes part of our past.
Our life today is made up of what we have learned yesterday. So we must learn better today and live a better life tomorrow!!!
Written by James Patrick Cabacungan
In life, some people may misunderstand who we are, our motives etc. and may withdraw or redefine boundaries in a relationship. I have seen it happening in my own life and that of my loved ones. Whereas in the past I used to get upset, I don't anymore because I have learned not to sweat over small stuff and I don't take offense like I used to do. I cannot deny that in the process of learning, I do remember the pain of disappointment from the past and for self-preservation, have changed in some ways.
I shared this with a dear friend who left Penang recently and she responded with a beautiful piece of advice and reminded me about my qualities and reminded me that if and when people don't appreciate or give time to really get to know me, it's their loss and if I can move on without feeling bitter, then I am on the road to recovery!
A beautiful piece of advice indeed. Thank you dearie...At the same time, I admit I try to understand people and to see their worth for who they are. Yet, when I share this with them, despite the positive comments, some do not believe my sincerity and in the past, it used to hurt. Not any more though. I realize that if I can see the worth of a person, it is good for me...but if they don't believe that I do, it is their prerogative.
I am not bitter about people but rather, am very hard with myself, kicking myself for this and that and for my reaction in the past but I am letting it go and moving on...I have not fully recovered but I believe I am in a better stage than where I was. Someday, I will reach full recovery..Another dear friend who has enriched my life in so many ways, reminded me not to be so hard on myself. I guess I am my own worst critic and the self-bashing that I used to do left wounds that are still in the process of healing.
To be honest, I can handle disappointments that I encounter now and in the future but, it is the emotional baggage that I carry with me which I have to let go...and let go I must and am letting go...In the mean time, I tread very carefully...as if walking on eggshells...
Blogging has certainly been good for me although it has taken a different route from when I first started this blog for obvious reasons. Because I have a very active mind and always want to learn and to know more, I give myself projects to do for my blog and in the process, enrich myself with the knowledge gained, release myself in the cathartic outpouring of my writings and hopefully reach out to other readers who may be in the same shoes. And I know that I am in the recovery stage because to be honest, I have never felt happier than how I feel today. Yet, I must confess that I wish certain dreams of mine (largely business in nature and where moving is concerned) may come true but even if it does not, I know I am at peace with myself and that in many ways, I am blessed.
I came across the following story about half an hour ago and I thought it quite uncanny because it echoed what my girlfriend had told me...so I am posting it to share with you...after which I must confess that I cannot wait till the weekend so off I will go to visit Island Plaza again for the book sale :-)...but I will be a good girl and only buy what really interests me :-). Thank goodness book sales are not held too often in Penang! Have a nice day and may God bless you!
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ALWAYS LOOK ON THE INSIDE - Author Unknown-
I remember reading a story once about a man who was exploring some caves by the seashore. In one of the caves he found a canvas bag with a bunch of hardened clay balls. It was like someone had rolled up some clay and left them out in the sun to bake. They didn't look like much, but they intrigued the man so he took the bag out of the cave with him.
As he strolled along the beach, to pass the time, he would throw the clay balls one at a time out into the ocean as far as he could throw.
He thought little about it until he dropped one of the balls and it cracked open on a rock. Inside was a beautiful, precious stone. Excited, the man started breaking open the remaining clay balls. Each contained a similar treasure. He found thousands of dollars worth of jewels in the 20 or so clay balls he had left, then it struck him.
He had been on the beach a long time. He had thrown maybe 50 or 60 of the clay balls with their hidden treasure into the ocean waves. Instead of thousands of dollars in treasure, he could have had tens of thousands, but he just threw it all away.
You know sometimes, it's like that with people.
We look at someone, maybe even ourselves, and we see the external clay vessel. It doesn't look like much from the outside. It isn't always beautiful or sparkling, so we discount it; we see that person as less important than someone more beautiful or stylish or well known or wealthy.
But we have not taken the time to find the treasure hidden inside that person.
There is a treasure in each and every one of us.
If we take the time to get to know that person, and if we ask God to show us that person the way He sees them, then the clay begins to peel away and the brilliant gem begins to shine forth.
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May we not come to the end of our lives and find out that we have thrown away a fortune in friendships because the gems were hidden in bits of clay.
May we see the people in our world as God sees them.
May you see me as who I am, and how God sees me. May I do the same to my loved ones and friends.
God bless you and have a great day!
While enjoying my coffee this morning, I came across this touching story that has many lessons for us.
Many times in life, we may miss God's blessings, because they are not packaged as we expected. For me, it is quite difficult to have faith in something or someone and to trust God always. We have to believe that HE knows what is good for us and that He may even ignore what we thought was good for us.
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SOMETIMES GIFTS ARE HARD TO RECOGNIZE (Author Unknown)
A married lady was expecting a birthday gift from her husband. For many months she had admired a beautiful diamond ring in a showroom, and knowing her husband could afford it, she told him that was all she wanted.
As her birthday approached, this lady awaited signs that her husband had purchased the diamond ring.
Finally, on the morning of her birthday, her husband called her into his study room. Her husband told her how proud he was to have such a good wife, and told her how much he loved her. He handed her a beautiful wrapped gift box. Curious, the wife opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the wife's name embossed in gold.
Angrily, she raised her voice to her husband and said, "With all your money,you give me a Bible?" And stormed out of the house, leaving her husband.
Many years passed and the lady was very successful in business. She managed to settle for a more beautiful house and a wonderful family, but realized her ex-husband was very old, and thought perhaps she should go to visit him. She had not seen him for many years.
But before she could make arrangements, she received a telegram telling her that her ex-husband had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to her. She needed to come back immediately and take care of things.
When she arrived at her ex-husband's house, sudden sadness and regret filled her heart. She began to search through her ex-husband's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as she had left it years before.
With tears, she opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. Her ex-husband had carefully underlined a verse, Matt 7:11, "And if you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father, who is in heaven, give to those who ask Him?"
As she read those words, a tiny package dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a diamond ring, with her name engraved on it -- the same diamond ring which she saw at the showroom. On the tag was the date of her birth, and the words...'LUV U ALWAYS'.
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Do not spoil what you have, by desiring what you have not; but remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.
If your gift is not packaged the way you want it, it's because it is better packaged the way it is! Always appreciate little things; they usually lead you to bigger things!
"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart."
Have a nice day and may God bless you with wisdom to recognize what you have and to be thankful always....
Every once in a while, I take a break and think about where I am going, what I have done and if there be any area in me that I should change and new habits, values or concepts that I should adopt. In other words, a simple self-evaluation to ensure that I do not maintain status quo.
If there is no change, there is no growth. With growth, there can be greater self-development. Any resistance to change means we will be static. However, I realize that if I truly desire to have a better marriage, more life balance, higher self-esteem, train better behaved children, or build more quality friendships, then I honestly need to embrace change.
Sadly, the harsh reality of life shows us that so many of us focus on changing other people around us, even though we know deep down this doesn’t work. I still remember that when I first started going steady with my husband in 1977, I used to tell him - please change in this area and that. His response was simple. Why don’t you change first? Why don’t you accept me for who I am? Thirty two years down the road, we don't say such things anymore because along the way, we have learnt to accept and love each other for who we are. More importantly, we understand the psychological make-up of each person and reach out to meet the other person's needs instead of our own needs.
As I approach middle age, I realize that there are many answers to this question. First, you will be happier if you are continually growing and learning. You can only be responsible for you. When you change, people will follow. Lastly, by living your life to the fullest, you contribute to making the world a better place to live. So somewhere in the late 1990's, I gave up trying to change him but focused instead on changing myself. That brought about a real breakthrough.
Sigh. Let’s face it. Change is difficult. We are creatures of habit, and many of our behaviour patterns were learned in childhood. Maybe those forms of behavior served us at one time, but eventually we will be called to change if we want some part of our life to be different. Here are five aspects of change that I have learned through all the knocks of life I have experienced, especially in the last six years.
1. Action
You can read every self-help book, attend seminars, or talk with people about how they’ve made changes, but unless you actually take action, nothing is going to happen. Of course gaining knowledge helps. However, it’s only the first step to change. For example, when I was younger, I had an anger management problem. I decided to change when I realized how it could affect my health and so I took steps to resolve anger such as counting to 10 before I responded, moving away from the conflict situation because I knew I had to do something different to conquer my anger issues.
2. Focus
To focus, you need a vision and a plan. I thought of how I wanted my life to be different, and how to change it. For every change I wanted to create, I normally pick two or three things I can do to support that change and stick to them. And then I try those things for a substantial period of time before I move on to something else.
3. Discipline
This is what will carry you through when the going gets tough. Anyone can stick to change for a week or two. It takes a disciplined mindset to make lasting change. You have to be able to pick yourself up when you fall down, brush yourself off, and try again. Discipline can help us to develop a lifestyle change for us that can tremendously improve his hitting and his confidence.
4. Courage
The number one reason we resist change is fear. Sometimes it can be scary to change. It is much more comfortable to maintain status quo. It is normal to feel fear, but yet it is so crippling. To have courage is to not feel fear, but to push through the fear. Then I can learn something about myself. I am capable of conquering fear, and I am typing this to tell you about it.
5. Support
Change requires supportive people in your life who believe in you and who will encourage you on your journey. We need someone to hold you accountable for what you say you’re going to do. You need friends and family members that won’t let you give up. You need love and understanding when you are struggling. Now, I surround myself with loving and helpful people even if they are few in number. Finally, we need to put God at the center of our live. Some changes are so difficult, but all things are possible with God. So, what are we waiting for? Time to change….
