Round kick: what to do with arms?

[Ahoym8e]

The way I'm learning it is to keep my back hand (right hand on right roundkick) in line between myself and the opponent, moving towards the opponent a little during the kick (not to full extension, ony about half).

Before I knew any better I was flinging my back arm out to the side during the kick (sort of a counterweight to give the leg more power and speed).

Mechanically it worked pretty well, but then I was shown how I could catch a straight punch to the face with my arm out to the side...

[William Holland]

Arms for Round Kick

For the Round kick (In Jeet Kune Do known as Hook Kick) rear hand in front of chin/jaw line held loose & relaxed. Forearm in front of solar plex, elbow tucked in front of ribs.

The lead hand held low in front of groin, elbow slightly bent covering front rib line.

This was taught to me by Steve Johnson who trained privately with Bruce Lee, Taky Kimura and James Lee.

William E. Holland II
"The Mongoose"

https://www.ijkda.com

https://www.tactixtriainingcenter.com

[JKDBerlin]

I go with William, same here, taught to me by Sifu Larry Hartsell, Guro Dan Inosanto and Sifu Richard Bustillo.

Greetings

[Thai Bri]

Swinging your arm backwards is not adding any weight or power. It is doin the opposite. It merely feels more "powerful" as you are putting strain on your body by moving it in two different directions.

Keep your mitts up.

[William Holland]

Orangutan Arms

True That Thai Bri!

If you need to swing your arms for balance you belong on the trapeze not in a fight! And has far as power, Do you get the Power from the Hammer or the Nail. The hips baby the hips!

Kawabunga,
The Mongoose

[Thai Bri]

Being from Shulokai Karate, and then moving to Thai Boxing, I always had a hard round kick. I recently saw a post about Bas Rutten's kick. I tried it and improved power even more (though it is a little more telegraphed).

Basically your supporting leg moves in the direction of the kick first and, simultaneously, you turn the supporting foot outwards BEFORE you've thrown the kick. It is awesome for power.

[Uber_Tap]

You have to keep your hands up. If you go against a skilled fighter they will notice you have a tendency to drop your hands and they will find a way to counter effectively, even if you tuck you chin. It wouldn't take but one solid shot to the head to have you open up long enough for them to land a second, and probably more devistating shot.

[William Holland]

Both hand up leaves your midsection and groin open. And if you are fighting a JKD man he will stop kick you right there!

[Thai Bri]

So, you defend your groin with your hand? How long are your arms? Are you a Chimpanzee?

[William Holland]

Do your research. I can show you dozens of photos of Bruce Lee and other JKD people including myself executing a side kick or Hook kick with the lead hand down next to the groin, the lead elbow covering the ribs.

[Thai Bri]

And how many pictures are there of high kicking people getting knocked on their daft anuses?

[Uber_Tap]

While you are showing him that show him how many times a guy throwing a high kick has been dropped by a grappler and beaten about the face until he ultimately exposes his neck and sells his soul to be let free of a rear naked choke. Don't act like you have the end all be all answer because Bruce Lee used something 30 years ago in a martial arts world that has evolved many times over since then. You act as though you have the ultimate answer, and you don't. None of us do, only suggestions. I love the name dropin' though, it makes it sound official.

For the thread starter, keep this in mind. People on here have trained a lot of different styles, and some probably haven't even trained. They have a certain amount of love for whatever art it is they train and want to sell you on it. I'm probably no less guilty than anyone else. Train the martial arts for a while and make these decisions on your own. I keep may hands up because it's a lot easier to turn my hips a little to block a kick to the mid-section than it is to bring my hands up from my hips to protect my face. That works best for me, but may not for you. Training with good partners will give you the opportunity to test these theories out, and that's all it is at first, without worrying about getting really hurt. Good luck.

William, I'm not trying to attack you personally but you made it sound like because you and Bruce Lee did it it's the only way to go. I don't know if that is your intention, but that's what it sounded like and that is misleading to the thread starter. I posted something that sounded like I was giving the answer of all answers when that wasn't my intention and someone pointed it out to me, so I wanted to return the favor.

[Thai Bri]

And while you're at it. perhaps you can show us pics of someone actually blocking a real kick with their hand while they round kick?

Nope. Thought not.

[William Holland]

I have been teaching since 1978. I have been doing it that way and it has worked across the board.
I have sparred hundreds of rounds. Taught several MMA champs. Survived over 50 street fights. Not a scratch. I have trained with over 10 of Bruces original students who also use this method. Not all the time but as an option.

I figure we are doing something right. Wanna prove me wrong. Come on down. I always am up to test what I say. I do it for a living.

[William Holland]

Oh and Uber, I have had more than my share of cage fighting and nobody has tapped me out, including two UFC finalists who I trained.