<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=“-1”>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Robinf:
[b]Totallyfrozen,
Actually, flying kicks are for many reasons in training, not just sport.
They are for conditioning and focus, for something fresh for the mind and body to do (rather than getting stale with all the same techniques)…[/b][/quote]
Good point. That makes sense.
But I still wouldn’t try it in a fight, myself (if I knew how to do one); and therefore, I am not interested in spending the time to learn it.
However, I do see your point about using it for a fresh exercise to break up monotony.
“There is only ONE martial art”
[This message has been edited by totallyfrozen (edited 08-18-2000).]
In my limited experience, most streetfights have taken place within arms reach (grappling distance).
As far as a flying kick in combat, I guess I would say…
Let the other guy do one and you can punch him in the nuts when he gets to ya!
Correct me if I am wrong. I was told by a friend that Tae Kwon Do was originally created because the villagers in Korea were being attacked by bandits on horseback. Thus the flying kicks. I have NO idea if this is true or not. Robin?
I have heard legends similar to that one about the creation of the flying sidekick.
Personally, since I wasn’t at the creation of any of the arts or techniques, I can’t say with any certainty as to why they started, but I can surmise as to why it’s currently practiced. Even then, I could be totally wrong–I can only give my educated opinion.
Mantis does a kind of flying sidekick. It’s actually more like your running at the person and do a reverse leg kick to set up for the higher kick. Its like your running over them.
It’s usually seen as poor technique to actually fly through the air like an olympic long jumper to kick someone. Sure it will be powerfull, but it might be tempting for the defender to simply take a step to the left and go home. Most aerial kicks in mantis are jumping kicks. You can have a jumping stepping kick (duel in fists of legend between jet li’s buddy and the outside kung fu master), Has anyone seen those flying sidekicks where they use the bottom leg to kick? I just saw it in a chinese comic book and I was wondering if anybody actually did this? Peace out.
My understanding of the origen of it is the horse factor and also that Korea is rather mountainous,thus putting a premium on long range and jumping attacks.Ive never been there,so I cant say.
I’ve seen double flying side kick where the side kick is made with both feet in the same direction at the same time, but I haven’t seen the bottom one used independently. That would be neat.
Jet Li did in RMD to our friend Russel Wong (vanishing son), but it was most unconvincing. I think its more of an entertainment kung fu move. How could you do a flying sk with your bottom side oblique muscles contrated. It’s distorted and I dont even think you could get up in the air with your hips cocked down.
I DOUBT that a peasant (from any country) is going to take on an armed bandit on horsback with a kick. I DO know, however, that the jump spinning kick was used by the Hwarang to unhorse samurai (there’s even a legend about the son of a Korean king who dies valiantly, slaying an invading Japanese general with this exact move–before being shot with about fifty arrows).
I certainly would not use a flying side kick in a street fight; mass combat is another matter. Also, I have used a jumping front kick as a “first strike”–the guy never saw it coming.
Something that I forgot to mention the last time that I posted here. I forgot to mention that Choy Li Fut features a flying side kick…but it’s not the flashiest one in the world even though it can cause pain to an opponent’s leg. It’s aimed at the leg and the kicker would land in a drop stance. It’s one cool kick in my opinion, and I’ve never seen it used before I took up Choy Li Fut. I’ve kept that jump kick and it actually broke some shins.
