BACK PIERCING KICK FOOT TRAJECTORY

Hi all

Have I been teaching this incorrectly??

When performing I usually get them to start from the Goburyo Sogi A position. I tell them to look over the shoulder slightly (same side as kicking leg) but not to over rotate the body too much or the foot will not finish correctly i.e. ankle bent at 45 degrees.

Now I have been telling them the foot goes straight back akin to a horse kicking as this will ensure the foot will finish correctly. I have been told this would be for sparring only??? However I was told that you can bring your knee out slightly but I feel your foot will end up more like a side piercing kick position.

How should the foot travel i.e. Straight back from the standing knee or slight kicking leg knee raise then kick?

Straight back would be simply a 'back kick'. With the knee slightly out its a 'back piercing kick'.

BTW, AFAIA, if your looking over your shoulder its bending Ready Stance B, not A and in most of the patterns, back piercing kicks start from this position.

Stuart

President Choi says to keep the kicking leg close to the stationary leg, keep your back towards the opponent, and kick straight back.

How does having the knee slightly out make it a Back Piercing Kick?

Not so. You have different kicks to the rear; Back Piercing Kick, Back Pushing Kick, back Snap Kick, and back Rising kick for stretching. There is no plain Back Kick just as there is no plain side kick or front kick.

I presuming because it has the twist in it like a side piercing kick.

 Agreed on this, I think the 'straight out and back' type back kick would be termed a 'back thrust kick', but could be wrong.

Stuart

I meant Goburyo Junbi Sogi B apologies!!

It was from GM Choi I had been told the trajectory of the foot i.e. the foot going directly back. People in my own group are saying that the knee can go slightly out to the side, but not too much. My dispute with this is that by bringing the knee out your foot will not finish in the 45 degree position as per the texts. Whereas directly back it definitely will.

My understanding is that piercing kicks, as has been stated, are to twist like a punch however there is very little compared to the punch when performed.

To be honest I think this is the correct way it should be performed. It made so much sense when he performed and described it.

From checking I see thare are only 3 Back kicking kicks specified in the texts:

Back Piercing Kick: Footsword is used with the toes of the stationary foot pointed toward the front and ankle of the kicking leg bent at 45 degrees at the moment of impact.

Back Pushing Kick: procedure the same as back piercing except back sole is used and knee slightly bent at the moment of impact.

Back Snap kick: Heel reaches the target in a straight line with maximum knee spring of the staionary leg used. 

This video at 38 seconds in looks at back kick

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1WX7W9U8yk