Question on jump kicks

Ironcrane

Blue Belt
Joined
Dec 9, 2008
Messages
262
Reaction score
7
Location
Oregon
I was doing an experiment with a jumping round kick to see how much stronger it was compared to a normal one. After a little bit of practice, both kicks felt exactly the same, in the amount of power behind them.
This seems kinda odd to me, as I'd figure the jumping kick would be stronger. So now I'm looking for someone with more experience with these types of kicks to help me out with this.
From your experience, is a jumping round kick stronger then a normal round kick? And if it is stronger, then by how much? Or are they truly the same?
 

seasoned

MT Senior Moderator
Staff member
Lifetime Supporting Member
Joined
Apr 19, 2007
Messages
11,253
Reaction score
1,231
Location
Lives in Texas
I was doing an experiment with a jumping round kick to see how much stronger it was compared to a normal one. After a little bit of practice, both kicks felt exactly the same, in the amount of power behind them.
This seems kinda odd to me, as I'd figure the jumping kick would be stronger. So now I'm looking for someone with more experience with these types of kicks to help me out with this.
From your experience, is a jumping round kick stronger then a normal round kick? And if it is stronger, then by how much? Or are they truly the same?


Within this forum there is a wide variety of ideas about leaving the ground to kick. I can give you my opinion, as one of many. In Okinawan GoJu kata, there is only one place where you leave the ground, and it is to cover distance rather then gain height, or power. Basically, in what I have studied and teach, a practitioners feet attack low. and their hands attack high. In leaving the ground as in high kicks or jumping, There is a greater chance of sacrificing balance and stability.
 

Tetsujin

Yellow Belt
Joined
Nov 11, 2008
Messages
39
Reaction score
5
Location
Kanagawa, Japan
A jumping roundhouse will not generate significantly more power then a regular one. It may even generate less, because if you strike when airborne you won't have the ground as leverage to keep yourself in place and transmit all the power into your target.

But then a jumping roundhouse isn't about generating more power. It's about getting extra height and/or range, and possibly for its surprise value. If you want to generate more power then you do that with spin, not air. A spinning roundhouse (i.e. tornado kick) will give you more power than either a regular roundhouse or a regular jumping roundhouse. The advantage of jumping for a spinning kick is that it lets you spin a whole lot faster than if you are stuck on the ground.

You can use a regular jumping roundhouse effectively to close the gap on an unsuspecting opponent. Another effective technique is a 'pumping' jump roundhouse where you lead into the jump with the knee of the non-kicking leg before turning the hips over and roundkicking with the other leg. This is a good way of creating an opening by distracting your opponent with the first part of the technique. Another though more difficult technique is the jumping single-leg double-roundhouse, where you jump and roundkick low as your supporting leg is bent up underneath you, and then roundkick again off the same leg high as your supporting leg straightens up for the landing. (So there are some advantages to be found with the non-spinning jumping roundhouse techniques, but extra power isn't really one of them, and there is increased risk too.)

Jumping/spinning techniques tend to be underrated by those who can't or don't do them, but they can be a very effective addition to your arsenal if you take the time to learn and understand them.
 
Last edited:

zDom

Senior Master
Joined
Aug 21, 2006
Messages
3,081
Reaction score
110
Done properly, kicks will have body weight behind them and jump/flying kicks will have MORE body weight behind them, so yes: more power.
 

StuartA

Black Belt
Joined
Feb 4, 2008
Messages
634
Reaction score
33
Location
London
Remember, a jumping kick should be moving towards the target - meaning the body of the user. In many cases this is downwards (aka Jump Side) or sideways (aka Jump Turning) or fowards (aka jump Front).. in all these cases they have Gravity + Unsupported Body Weight behind them as opposed to standing kicks that have Grounding as mentioned.

Stuart
 

YoungMan

2nd Black Belt
Joined
Dec 22, 2007
Messages
779
Reaction score
27
A jump kick is not necessarily stronger than a standing kick, since you lose power as soon as you leave the ground. It can help you compensate for height and distance, but only inasmuch as your jumping kick is as high as other's standing kick. In other words, if you can jump as high as other peoples' standing kick, you will not lose power. Otherwise you will. Consequence of physics and biology.
 

jarrod

Senior Master
Joined
Jul 7, 2008
Messages
2,172
Reaction score
96
Location
Denver
I was doing an experiment with a jumping round kick to see how much stronger it was compared to a normal one. After a little bit of practice, both kicks felt exactly the same, in the amount of power behind them.
This seems kinda odd to me, as I'd figure the jumping kick would be stronger. So now I'm looking for someone with more experience with these types of kicks to help me out with this.
From your experience, is a jumping round kick stronger then a normal round kick? And if it is stronger, then by how much? Or are they truly the same?

there is only one reason i train jumping kicks, & that is that they build explosive power in your legs, & jump squats get boring after a while.

jf
 

Tetsujin

Yellow Belt
Joined
Nov 11, 2008
Messages
39
Reaction score
5
Location
Kanagawa, Japan
there is only one reason i train jumping kicks, & that is that they build explosive power in your legs, & jump squats get boring after a while.
My primary reason for training them is that they're fun to do. It's weird how often the enjoyment aspect of MAs gets overlooked. But yes, I agree that they're good for developing explosive leg power as well.
 

jarrod

Senior Master
Joined
Jul 7, 2008
Messages
2,172
Reaction score
96
Location
Denver
My primary reason for training them is that they're fun to do. It's weird how often the enjoyment aspect of MAs gets overlooked. But yes, I agree that they're good for developing explosive leg power as well.

that was kind of my point too...they are certainly more fun than jump squats!

jf
 

Lynne

Master of Arts
Joined
May 4, 2007
Messages
1,571
Reaction score
30
Location
Northeast, USA
that was kind of my point too...they are certainly more fun than jump squats!

jf
Jump squats are fun for awhile when we get to jump over one another. After about 5 sets though I worry more about landing on someone rather than my technique. Sometimes we do them over focus pads. We don't do them very often though.

I'll be using the jump back kick to break for 2nd gup. Haven't learned it yet. So, the jump back kick should be more powerful than the back kick? That's good to know. Every red belt at my school worries over the jump back kick break.

I thought the jump roundhouse without the fake felt very awkward at first. Now it's a bit smoother but I haven't used it in sparring. I need to be faster so as not to telegraph the kick. Is it possible to not telegraph jump kicks? I seem to telegraph the jump roundhouse with the fake as well. Thinking too much?
 

jarrod

Senior Master
Joined
Jul 7, 2008
Messages
2,172
Reaction score
96
Location
Denver
i'm by no means an expert on jumping techniques, but i would try something like this for a jump roundhouse in sparring: from a left hand lead, change levels to throw a right hand to the body, then try the right leg jump roundhouse. the level change should chamber you for your jump without giving away what your doing.

jf
 

Lynne

Master of Arts
Joined
May 4, 2007
Messages
1,571
Reaction score
30
Location
Northeast, USA
i'm by no means an expert on jumping techniques, but i would try something like this for a jump roundhouse in sparring: from a left hand lead, change levels to throw a right hand to the body, then try the right leg jump roundhouse. the level change should chamber you for your jump without giving away what your doing.

jf
Sounds sneaky enough to work :)
 

jarrod

Senior Master
Joined
Jul 7, 2008
Messages
2,172
Reaction score
96
Location
Denver
i always tell my students, if you can't be good, be sneaky! keep us posted.

jf
 

ancient warrior

Yellow Belt
Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
39
Reaction score
0
jump back kick can be the strongest kick done. without proper technique, since human legs work like a horse or mule so with proper tech. much great stregnth & power can be achieved.whoever holds your boards will be crutial to a proper break so work without boards at first getting distance and target area have your partner always stay in same position you adjust yourself to the target. and jump to a height that is comfortable then extend leg from the knee like it was on a track sliding back, the foot that is breaking should be a little to the side like 5 oclock rather than straight down at 6 oclock ,although both angles are right for back kicks( with your toes pulled to your shin leaving no dangling toes to get broken) punch thru board with heel ., after the break slide forward on the same track landing on the opposite foot from kicking ending up in fighting stance ready for anything.......a. w.

I'll be using the jump back kick to break for 2nd gup. Haven't learned it yet. So, the jump back kick should be more powerful than the back kick? That's good to know. Every red belt at my school worries over the jump back kick break.

I thought the jump roundhouse without the fake felt very awkward at first. Now it's a bit smoother but I haven't used it in sparring. I need to be faster so as not to telegraph the kick. Is it possible to not telegraph jump kicks? I seem to telegraph the jump roundhouse with the fake as well. Thinking too much?
kick when they arent looking
 

Latest Discussions

Top