Jumping
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Reasons for a martial arts jump
- To reach higher with an attack (such as with a jump back fist to the head).
- To raise the feet so something may pass under them (such as to avoid a foot sweep).
- To propel the body over something (such as to jump over a fallen opponent).
- To propel the body onto an object (such as to jump onto a chair).
- To apply all the body's mass into an attack (such as with a flying side kick).
- To allow the body to spin more quickly and freely (such as with a jump-spin kick).
- To move the body quickly over a distance (such as jumping backward to avoid a kick).
- As a reaction to a sudden, unknown stimulus (such as reacting to a sudden swooshing sound quickly approaching from the side of the head that turns out to be an attacker swing a pipe at your head).
- To give more space and time for the legs and feet to perform kick (such as for a jump side kick where both legs must chamber, one leg kicks and re-chambers, and then both feet must get back under the body for the landing).
- To entertain. These are the useless, trick or stunt kicks performed merely to entertain.
For many students, jumping seems to mean hopping into the air and then performing a technique. They forget that the purpose of a jump is to gain altitude, not to just to perform a jump.