Twist, Turn and Torque! Power Around the Hips (diary entry)

          27.07.16 Tonight’s second lesson was my new client’s third class in Personalised Martial Arts Cross Training. Based on her instinctive use of round hand strikes we have been exploring circular martial arts techniques, proving that it’s not all Baguazhang or Aikido. This lesson we focused more on Boxing and Muay Thai, bring kicks and their relationship with punching into the discussion. We warmed with some footwork. Here I introduced the V-step, which brings in a non-linear approach to movement. Previously bobbing and weaving was used to load up hooks, liver shots and shovel hooks to attack from a 45 degree angle. Tonight we were using the actual footwork to manipulate the movement of an opponent. This became more relevant with the Thai clinch. Working from the plumb position my client used balance points to move her opponent into diagonal knee strikes.

We then went back to stand-up striking and I used some basic combination work. Jabs and crosses were used to set up the hook and then round kicks. The jab, jab/cross, jab/cross/hook and jab/cross/hook/cross combinations are great simple ways to encourage bilateral striking. The punches set up either side single round kicks low and mid-section. Punches set the tempo and pace for kicks, encouraging faster movement with the oblique muscles, hip flexors and all the muscle groups down from that point. The “Thai” round kick was also examined in some detail. This is the free-flowing round kick exhibited in several Southeast Asian combat sports, mainly using the shin as a striking tool and most notoriously used against an opponent’s legs.  I explained how it differed from the snappy versions found in French Savate, where the hard shoe is exploited more, and also Karate, Tae Kwon Do and similar arts and their derivatives (such as American Kickboxing) that developed it in the 20th century. The Thai kick derives it force far lower down than other round kicks that place a lot of emphasis on the striking out at the knee joint. There is also a strong focus on creating a torqueing action with the oblique muscles. Whilst following the combinations set up by the punches, we used the same side hand to the kick to set up this action. For example, after a jab the opposite hand would start to shoot forward as if to throw a cross, but be pulled back to help generate power in the round kick. I used a same side rear hook hook/round kick combination to explore the importance of this torqueing action. Both strikes, coming from the rear side have a greater distance to travel and more time to accelerate to their intended targets. Therefore they give us two very powerful strikes. We then linked together kicks in the jab/rear round kick/lead round kick/cross combination. This particular combination encourages “walking kicks” and requires explosive hip movement. The lesson was finished with some free-style focus mitt work bringing the clinching and stand-up work together.