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Faster Kicks and Punches

Author: Keith Pascal
Date Posted: October 25, 2008

Beginning, Intermediate, and even advanced martial artists write to me asking how to make their defensive hits and kicks faster. They want to add speed when they have to respond to the situation. Here are two tips, to improve your martial-arts speed, which means faster kicks and punches....

My earlier recommendations had to do with working on developing a quicker reaction response. Some took my advice, but others said that they just wanted to develop faster techniques.

What's the Self Defense Problem, Really?

When martial artists do ask for tips on developing speedier kicks and hits, I usually have two pieces of advice. And to be completely frank, it's almost never a question of the speed of the punch or kick itself.

Yes, that's right. To get faster, you don't have to concentrate on raw speed ... at least not in this article (smile).

Besides a quick reaction response and faster moves what else is there?

Imagine an attacker trying to accost a woman. She has to defend herself. So, she kicks to the groin. The attacker easily turns his leg, knee into the kick, which effectively blocks the self-defense attempt.

Even her punch to the groin is easily blocked.

And the martial arts experts feel that this strategy won't work. Many women aren't trained in martial arts, and they don't have the muscle mass to deal with a big, mean brute.

What is she to do?

Don't you feel that if we could just get the victim to throw a kick or punch that was super fast, that the assailant wouldn't have a chance of blocking?

Two Tips For Improving Effectiveness (and Speed)

As mentioned, some of the discussion fora do conclude that it's a question of the victim not being fast enough -- not professionally trained.

Well, as I said, after a little analysis of their technique, I more often than not offer two suggestions:

* Work on eliminating your telegraphs (early, warning motions)

* Link the timing of your punch or kick to the proper distance.

In other words, too many people show the intent of their strike -- the attacker can tell that the victim is about to kick.

AND

Defenders often start their defense too early. They aren't at the proper range to reach the groin, and/or their early technique ends up telegraphing their intent.

If you were teaching a self-defense class, how would you have your students practice strikes to the groin?

Would the above two observations alter the exercises that you taught?

Something to think about, wouldn't you agree?

About The Author

To get on a great list all about effective self defense sign up at: AdvantageMartialArts.com. (You get a great free ebooklet on elbow strikes, check and blocks, when you join.)

To learn to defend yourself with a knife, go to: KnifeFightingBooks.com

Keith Pascal has taught martial arts for over 25 years. He left his job as a high school teacher in 2000, to become a full-time writer.

Article Source: JKD Street Combat - online collection of speed and power training articles.

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