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Crescent Kick. The crescent kick is typically the first kick taught to students because it is relatively easy to perform, it is versatile, it has many variations, it gets students used to using their hips and body to kick instead of relying on just leg muscles, and because it helps warm-up the legs for other kicks that may be used during a class.

• Two methods may be used while performing crescent kicks: one uses a swinging leg; the other uses a snapping leg. Beginners are taught the swinging leg method.

  • Swinging Leg Method. Leg swings in a large motion with knee kept straight throughout the movement.

  • Snapping Leg Method. Leg swings in a small motion with knee bent, then leg snaps the foot out in the direction of the swing.

• Perform right leg kick (left leg kick uses identical but opposite motions).

• Partner holds a hand target outward with its surfaces perpendicular to the floor.

• Stand in a ready stance, facing and centered on the target, with arms held in the basic guard.

• Twist hips and upper body toward left.

• Lift right straight leg high across body toward left, with toes pointed upward.

• Twist hips and upper body back toward right while using right hip muscles to pull right leg straight into and through the left side of the target.

• Impact area is the outer edge of the sole of the foot, and the outer ankle.

• Right leg completes its motion by swinging back down into its original position.

• Think: twist, lift leg, twist and pull leg across, drop leg. Ideal movement of leg is a half a large circle: up one side of circle, flat across middle of circle, and back down other side of circle to the starting point. However, most students tend to make the movement an oval, where the leg makes an almost circular movement without pulling though the target. This prevents using the power that is generated by pulling leg through the target

Front Snap Kick. The front snap kick is easy to use but its use is limited since its travel is upward and easy to block. Also, the kick must strike a target with a horizontal orientation, which is pretty much limited to under the chin or up into the groin.

Partner holds a hand target outward with a target surface parallel to floor. Stand in a front stance with arms held in basic guard, facing and centered on the target. Chamber trailing leg by lifting knee high in front of body and close against the body. Shin is held vertical and ball of foot is extended downward with toes pulled back toward the knee. Aim the knee at the target, since the foot will travel to where knee is pointing. Snap ball of foot upward into bottom of the target, keeping the toes pulled back so they do not jam into the target. Quickly re-chamber the foot and step it back to its original position. The kicking motion is an upward, snapping motion. Perform the entire kicking motion from the floor, to the target, and back to the floor in one smooth, continuous motion.

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