When switching to south paw for left thai kicks what do you guys find more effective the quick switch of the feet or just stepping forward with your right foot and kicking? Or is it just a preference, the quick switch is deffinately faster but i feel i get less power and balance out of it than i do with just stepping fowards. I could always get used to it with practice but i was just wondering if ones better than the other, I was watching some sityodtong and fairtex camp videos and it seems like they quick switch a lot more often. Thanks

The power and balance issue of the quick switch depend upon proper foot placement and a lot of practice.

Stepping forward is dependent somewhat upon range.

Preference - quick switch.

Disclaimer - have never practiced MT in a gym and speak from kickboxing, TKD experience. Quick switch has not served me well in judo.

When switching to south paw for left thai kicks what do you guys find more effective the quick switch of the feet or just stepping forward with your right foot and kicking? Or is it just a preference, the quick switch is deffinately faster but i feel i get less power and balance out of it than i do with just stepping fowards. I could always get used to it with practice but i was just wondering if ones better than the other, I was watching some sityodtong and fairtex camp videos and it seems like they quick switch a lot more often. Thanks

Totally depends on the situation. If I'm throwing a combination and the other person is retreating and covering I'll take a step and kick. If things are staying close or I'm throwing something while moving back I'll do the switch. The switch is more explosive so I get the impression it's potentially the harder kick, though that may just be my perception. You can't always get away with doing a big step when you kick, so getting good at the switch is nice if you plan on making lots of use of that lead leg round kick. My left kick is one of my two main weapons (along with my jab) so I've gotten pretty accustomed to doing a fast switch. The switch kick is a nice counter kick.

Thanks for the info, i'll work on it in drills and on the heavy bag tonight. By the way i saw one of your MT fights Kid, you did good.

I have the misfortune of posting after Kidspatula, who basically stated everything I wanted to say, albeit she does it with more credibility.

My preference is the switch kick as well, and though I always imagined that my rear leg was strongers, I find that the speed of my switch kick generates a lot more power.

Alright Thanks, I'll try it out

Just to give yourself three options instead of two learn to throw the lead leg roundhouse without switching. I practice a no switch front leg kick a lot and have come to prefer it in a lot of situations.

Just to give yourself three options instead of two learn to throw the lead leg roundhouse without switching. I practice a no switch front leg kick a lot and have come to prefer it in a lot of situations.

I've had tippy-tap success with this in point sparring, but I don't see the power generation for it. How do you hit hard with this one?

Seems to me AnnaT and Kid posted a video about this some time back; look around.

THanks i read that right before my mma class last night and it worked great, not so much power with it but with some heavy bag work it'll get there.

I've had tippy-tap success with this in point sparring, but I don't see the power generation for it. How do you hit hard with this one?

It's not going to be as strong, but you can still get a decent amount of power out of the kick with the rotation of your hips. It just takes being explosive with it to get a good amount of force. I use this kick a lot myself. One thing that can make this kick work a little better is to stand kind of bow legged with your knees pointed out so you're already more or less in a good position to launch a kick.

That starting position/stance is what I wasn't sure about, thanks, KidS.

I was going to say something similar about stance. I wouldn't say I point both knees out but I do have to stand in a very square stance when I throw it. If you really torque your hips and lean back a little to make space you can get good power.

I do the bow legged stance myself, since I don't tend to like being too squared towards my opponent. Of course, Whiteshark seems to kick just a bit harder than me so be your own judge.

This is weird. I watched some video of myself and when I throw front leg round kicks I am actually standing more sideways than usual. I swear I feel like I'm squared up when I throw it but video doesn't lie.

At about 0:40 I throw like 4 lead leg round kicks without switching they aren't that hard in this video but the form is what I was talking about.
YouTube - Mega Throwdown 2007 - Kid Spatula vs Whiteshark (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiqrL4c74uo)

A friend I train with favors kicking like that Alex, I think its effective and its really quick as Hell. I tried it but I just can't seem to make it work for me.