SahBumNimRush
Master of Arts
One thing I've noticed more recently while sparring is that I tend to prefer the use of my hands over my legs. Going in for a great counter punch combo and maybe ending with a kick seems more natural to me than doing more powerful fancier kicks. I hardly ever use crescent kicks, Tornado kicks, or hook kicks. Mostly just round kicks, twist kicks, and side kicks.
Am I the only one? Sometimes I feel like a poor TKD practitioner because of my lack of kicking in a kick heavy art ( although I know perfectly well how to do them. )...especially after 11 years of it.
I use my hands a great deal. "Fancy" kicks? Depends on what you mean by "fancy." I use crescent kicks, axe kicks, hook kicks, jump back pivot kicks, as well as roundhouse, back pivot, side and front kicks. I don't use the acrobatic kicks, as I don't find them as effective personally.
I've been practicing for 28 years, and although TKD is a kickcentric art, it is perfectly acceptable to have balance between hand and foot techniques. Particularly if your goal is SD oriented.