by Thomas Kurz Kicking in a no-holds-barred fight is risky, the higher the kicks, the riskier. From the previous article, Where from Are the High Roundhouse Kicks in Karate, you know how typical applications of kicks in Okinawan te removed risk from kicking. But how about other, more popular, punch-and-kick martial arts and sports? You […]
High Kicks with Tactically Sound Setups Read More »
by Thomas Kurz Okinawan te, the precursor of Japanese karate, did not teach high kicks — too risky in self-defense. But high kicks were used in la savate (or la boxe française), a part of the French military’s close-combat training, which French instructors taught to Japanese military during training missions between 1872 and 1919. This
Where from Are the High Roundhouse Kicks in Karate Read More »
by Thomas Kurz High kicks were introduced to karate between 1936 and 1945 by Funakoshi Yoshitaka, son of the founder of Shotokan karate, Funakoshi Gichin (Draeger 1974). The original karate of Funakoshi Gichin, based on Okinawan te, was oriented toward self-defense. Its stances were wide, its kicks short, powerful, and low — to avoid counterattacks
Why and Since When Are High Kicks in Karate? Read More »
by Thomas Kurz Some time ago I talked with a sports instructor friend about using teaching cues, including those I call “control points,” as well as analogies. And a few days ago he pointed me to a mini-course based on a book The Language of Coaching: The Art & Science of Teaching Movement by coach
Comments on The Language of Coaching: Not Only for Coaches and Instructors Read More »
by Thomas Kurz Well-schooled instructors know thoroughly their sport’s techniques and tactics as well as the methods of teaching physical skills. Instructors with teaching know-how make their students learn skills quick and easy. Such instructors’ knowledge of teaching methods makes it so. No matter how great is an instructor’s mastery of a sport, if that
A Bit of Know-How for Teaching (and Learning) Techniques Faster Read More »
by Thomas Kurz Before I get to the post’s subject, a note on terminology: The words skill and technique are often used interchangeably, and that is fine. For my use, talking about sports, I consider techniques to be building blocks of skills. Thus a boxer’s skill of evasion is built from various techniques of footwork
How to Learn Skills Faster and Better—Through Verbalization Read More »
by Thomas Kurz This article quotes extensively from Chuck Remsberg’s post “6 myths of police training that inhibit effective learning” but it applies to all skill training in any sport or martial art. The post is based on Robert Bragg Jr.’s presentation on skill instruction at the latest conference of the International Law Enforcement Educators
Six Myths of Skill Training vs. Rational Training Know-How Read More »
by Thomas Kurz Speed of learning and the ability to perfect movements depend on the size of one’s stored experiences of movements (“movement erudition”). Yes, those who have more will get more, easier. This is why well-trained athletes do a wide variety of exercises besides those that are sport-specific for them and practice techniques of
The More You Know, The Easier You Learn Read More »
by Thomas Kurz Click here to read the earlier posted article on the right body alignment for great height and power in the roundhouse kicks. Here are two questions and answers that demonstrate the necessity of having sufficient strength, muscular endurance, and mastery of lead-up skills prior to learning the high roundhouse kick. The first
Questions and Answers on Practicing High Roundhouse Kicks Read More »
by Thomas Kurz Click here to read the previous article, on the right body alignment for great height and power in the side kicks. High Roundhouse Kick—Correct Form (for full instruction see Clinic on Stretching and Kicking) To throw powerful high roundhouse kicks you need to align your body as follows: 1. The thigh of
