Black Belt Training - Jump Hook Kick Drills

Here are some awesome drills for making your jump hook kick higher and faster for the 1st Degree Black Belt form.  Here they are written down - but to really "get it," check out the video (it's like 2 minutes long but you see every drill demonstrated).

1.  Do the kick for speed at belt level (because that's how high you'll kick when you're off the ground)
2.  "The set up"
3.  The high jump with knees to chest - work on the smoothness of the step incorporating your arms and timing your jump
4.  Do the kick!!  HYPER-FORMANCE BABY!!

Here's the URL Link to it below (it's on Youtube):

MR. HAYHURST'S JUMP HOOK KICK DRILLS

Cross Train, Train, Work out with someone else, whatever you wanna call it

In 2011, it will be the fourth year training with Haganah founder Mike Lee Kanarek.  He is a true leader.  I've done most of the classes that are in the Haganah system and they have been awesome - I understood the importance of knowing these things but they were also FUN.  In Columbia, MD, I did one of the first Combat Fitness classes around.  We had to run about 2/3 of a mile and when it was time to go he said, "Follow me!"  That sounds kinda of insignificant, but it was awesome!

He first taught me when I trained with him in 07 that you must cross train.  Even though he had his favorite martial arts to train in, he said that you can get something out of every style.  So as a martial arts athlete, I'm constantly thinking about self defense, sparring, and a ton of other things martial arts related.  The thing is, doing a kettlebell class, XMA class, or a gymnastics class will help you in some way.  Kettlebell training is something that has become huge and it helps build functional strength in all sports and activities.  Gymnastics athletes are among the most fit and strong in the world (Strength is measured by how strong you are compared to your body weight).  XMA class is all about performance - Bruce Lee was an amazing martial artist but what made him famous was his showmanship.  Also, someone who has mastered a martial arts trick (like one from HYPER Martial Arts) can achieve a goal in ANYTHING.

So in about 2 weeks I'm going up to Mr. Stuart's Martial Arts to train with MLK again and I'm so excited.  Last year I went and I had 2 hours of sleep and was sick - but I wouldn't miss it for the world.  Out of all the typing you may have just read or skimmed through just take this with you - you should take something from everything you do.  Try new things as often as possible even if at first it seems silly or unimportant because it will make you better somehow.  Check out the video below of Ms. Wallace-Holubyckyj and I training with MLK in Columbia, MD in Combat Fitness (We won... if you know what that means!)

This is what we do!!

So there's nutrition, there's fitness and jumping around getting ripped.  There's hitting pads, doing forms, defending yourself against the pretend attacker in self-defense.  This is what it's for.  We SPAR!  Tae Kwon Do is known for it's flashy kicks that evvvverybody says, "that wouldn't work on the street!"  Well, duh!  This is OUR sport.  Even though you wouldn't throw a kamikaze jump spinning hook and land on your shoulder on the street, Tae Kwon Do athletes have a super-human-like understanding of distance.  They know where they need to be to make their opponent miss by mere fractions of an inch and the timing it takes to land the knock out blow at the perfect moment. 

While TKD athletes train to spar with a lot of kicks, they also do scenarios where their attacker is grabbing or punching.  This way, they can defend themselves on the street too.  Also, students at ATA Elkton cross train in other martial arts.  Many times, our classes involve kickboxing, boxing, and Muay Thai kickboxing drills to enhance our skills.  We also train in wrestling and brazilian ju jitsu, too!  This makes us more rounded martial artists and will help us defend ourselves better "on the street."

Aside from all that, check this video out below.  This is the super exciting-to-watch action that is TKD Sparring!  Clips taken from big events all around the world, on thing is similar in every segment - the loser BITES THE MAT!! ENJOY!!