Kung Fu Crescent Kick
Chinese Martial Arts Training

A kung fu crescent kick requires balance and flexibility. When executing a crescent kick, you typically kick with the back leg, relying on your front leg for balance. If executing a right inside crescent kick, stand with your left leg forwards. Draw your right leg up and around, from right to left, in a circular motion, keeping the knee straight and your guard up; your leg should move from outside your shoulder width to inside of it. In this kick, it is the inside edge of the foot which is used tokick the target.

An outside crescent kick is similar. Again, if kicking with the right leg, the left leg should be forward when in fighting stance. The right leg is then drawn out to the left and swung in a circle to the right, where the foot is brought to rest behind the left leg, as it began. This kick is the opposite of the inside crescent, as its name would suggest; the leg should move from inside the student’s shoulder width to outside of it. For the outside crescent kick, the outside edge of the foot is the part of the leg used to hit the target.

Keeping the knee straight helps to build momentum in both the inside and outside crescent kick; this increases the kick’s force. However, this requires the student to be able to maintain their centre of balance while the momentum in their foot is maintained, a difficult task as the foot is well outside the student’s central body mass.

In class, the crescent kick can help you with your flexibility. Like the outside and inside leg raises done as a warm-up before class, it helps to make the hip joint more flexible. Thus, constant practise with the crescent kick will eventually enable you to increase your level of flexibility.With the flexibility comes greater control; as a crescent kick requires precision in itsexecution, you will gradually develop the ability to kick high without any loss of power. The flexibility and control gained by practising crescent kicks can help you with execute higher and more powerful kicks in class. A side kick, for example, can be used to target both the abdomenand the face when sparring; however, the high side kick to the face requires both flexibility and control, not only to reach the target, but also to ensure that no contact is made with the opposing student.

In sparring, this kick can be used to target the sides of the opponent’s face. However, good flexibility and balance, in addition to precise control of the kick, is required to execute this manoeuvre. If executing an inside crescent kick, it is important to bring your leg around your own body and over your opponent’s shoulder in as little time as possible so as to prevent your opponent from blocking the kick and unbalancing you. However, this means that your attention must be focused on several tasks at once. With your weight being suddenly placed only on your front foot, you must prepare for this shift in balance before the kick is even begun. You must also ensure that your flexibility allows you to aim for the side of your opponent’s head; otherwise,you will simply hit their shoulder or upper arm, leaving you open for a punch or a kick. It is also important to have good control of your leg; with good flexibility in addition to good control, staggered movements are avoided. This allows momentum to be built up in the kick, and ensures that the resulting force is delivered to the target in one smooth motion.

In street self defence, however, this kick is impractical. In the time it takes to bring your leg up and around to your opponent’s face, an opponent can have already hit you with a punch or a low kick. A punch, if powerful enough, or a low kick which hits the leg remaining on the ground, can both easily knock you off balance, putting you at a disadvantage. Your opponent could also grab your leg mid-kick, putting you in a situation where you may easily be thrown off balance. It is important to remember that a crescent kick is not useful when fighting at close range. It is difficult to build up any momentum with so little room to manoeuvre, and with little momentum, there is little power, rendering the kick useless even if it did successfully hit the opponent. With an attacker so close to you, it is far better to use low kicks, which are difficult to block, or punches, which are quick to execute, rather than a crescent kick.

The kung fu crescent kick, once examined, is not simply a kick; with practice, it can help you develop flexibility and control, both of which are vital in many of the routines and techniques taught. The crescent kick, in addition to being a kung fu technique, is also a valuable learning tool, regardless of the student’s level of expertise.

Thanks to Rushmi Sooriyabandara, Berwick Kung Fu student, for her contribution

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