The snap kick is a technique that has been ignored by most martial artists due to its seemingly basic and impractical nature. Most people think a snap kick lacks many applications, which is true anyway because you only use it under certain conditions, and when the distance between you and the opponent is right.
But it's also easy to think that this technique doesn't yield any reasonable force when fired against an opponent, especially if compared to the more visibly powerful ones like the front kick or roundhouse.
If you concentrate on what you are seeing vs the invisible force that is being transferred (of course when technique is done correctly), you will easily conclude that snapping on your opponent isn't very effective.
All that matters in a snap kick is the force that is transferred to the opponent. Have the technique first, then learn to feel your kicks and slowly progress with speed.
So, how effective is the snap kick?
My classes have always started with snap kicks before a new technique is introduced. We are made to understand that it takes practice and patience to refine the snap kick, which is true considering that many people make terrible mistakes when firing the kick. Worse still, they always don't know that they are making a mistake.
I can confess that I have learned many lessons about the snap kick, most of which I end up discovering when practicing on my own.
The point is, it can take thousands of attempts to get this kick right. Some people rise up a little bit with their supporting foot to fire a snap kick. Others don't move the hip forward when firing it, thereby failing to transfer the energy of the body into the kick, ultimately the target. There are plenty of mistakes that people do without realizing it.
The correct way to practice a snap kick with good precision is to stretch your foot and toes to full length (as if preparing to walk on your toes) until you cannot stretch anymore. Then try bending your knees causing it to swing freely and then fire a few times. Remember, we are rocking our hips forward with the kick to transfer our body weight into the kick.
Once the kick reaches its target, it should be retracted with the knees still raised. This is the best way to practice it anyway.
Applications
With the right timing, I can close in the gap a little bit and fire at my opponent when I feel comfortable.
It's normally fired on the groin to cause your opponent to bend forward. This way, you still have a chance of hitting them with your elbow or something. There are many techniques that could go be applied on your opponent in this position.
Conclusion
Practice, practice practice! The snap kick is very basic but hardest to get right. I do not know what other way to put it in.
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Snap Kick Tutorial (Front Kick)by
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If you concentrate on what you are seeing vs the invisible force that is being transferred (of course when technique is done correctly), you will easily conclude that snapping on your opponent isn't very effective.
All that matters in a snap kick is the force that is transferred to the opponent. Have the technique first, then learn to feel your kicks and slowly progress with speed.
So, how effective is the snap kick?
My classes have always started with snap kicks before a new technique is introduced. We are made to understand that it takes practice and patience to refine the snap kick, which is true considering that many people make terrible mistakes when firing the kick. Worse still, they always don't know that they are making a mistake.
I can confess that I have learned many lessons about the snap kick, most of which I end up discovering when practicing on my own.
The point is, it can take thousands of attempts to get this kick right. Some people rise up a little bit with their supporting foot to fire a snap kick. Others don't move the hip forward when firing it, thereby failing to transfer the energy of the body into the kick, ultimately the target. There are plenty of mistakes that people do without realizing it.
The correct way to practice a snap kick with good precision is to stretch your foot and toes to full length (as if preparing to walk on your toes) until you cannot stretch anymore. Then try bending your knees causing it to swing freely and then fire a few times. Remember, we are rocking our hips forward with the kick to transfer our body weight into the kick.
Once the kick reaches its target, it should be retracted with the knees still raised. This is the best way to practice it anyway.
Applications
With the right timing, I can close in the gap a little bit and fire at my opponent when I feel comfortable.
It's normally fired on the groin to cause your opponent to bend forward. This way, you still have a chance of hitting them with your elbow or something. There are many techniques that could go be applied on your opponent in this position.
Conclusion
Practice, practice practice! The snap kick is very basic but hardest to get right. I do not know what other way to put it in.
