07.07.20
The sixth hour of this particular client’s second MMA course continued work on the switch kick and also focused on the back kick.
The lesson began with three rounds of shadow boxing. These were progressive rounds to warm-up and for muscle activation relevant to the areas covered today. The one minute rest periods between rounds consisted of continuous movement to keep the heart rate up.
We then moved onto the switch kick and went over various principles such as keeping the hips forward throughout the action and not changing eye levels. I also used the Saenchai Shuffle to focus on the shuffle action used in the switch kick.
Finally, we covered the mechanics of the back kick. The back kick is a curious technique. I have experienced and watched it taught in a variety of different ways. In essence, it can be defined as a thrusting kick performed with the fighter’s back to their opponent. From a self-defence perspective this could be incidental with the defender kicking out like a horse or donkey at an attack from behind. However, for the most part, the technique is usually taught with the fighter turning away from their target and then kicking out. It is often labelled a spinning back kick, but I don’t view it as a true spinning kick due to the shortness of the movement. Originally I was taught to throw it in the same way I threw a spinning a hook, spinning crescent and spinning heel kicks by turning my head quickly to the target. However, I was later shown that doing this compromised the kick’s force. A head rotation takes the kick off in the same direction as the true spinning kicks robbing it of it linear strength. Therefore, I now prefer to look over my shoulder with my eye rather than turning my head all the way round.