Tae Bo Technique
On this page, the most important Tae Bo Techniques are discussed. If
you want detailed descriptions and pictures to go with it, get the book:
The Tae Bo Way, by Billy Blanks. These are used in all the workouts
The Kicks
Kicks can make you stronger, because they work the muscles that shape
the buttocks, the thighs, the legs and the abs. The height of the kick
is not as important, make sure you execute the move with proper form. A
lower kick with good technique is better than a higher kick with sloppy
technique. The following kicks are the most used in Tae Bo workouts:
- The Front Kick
- The Side Kick
- The Roundhouse Kick
- The
Back Kick
What's the difference between
a side
kick and a roundhouse kick?
This is an excerpt from his book
THE TAEBO
WAY:
Students who are new to taebo sometimes have trouble distinguishing a
side
kick from a roundhouse kick. that's understandable, because the two
kicks
have alot in common and their differences may not be obvious from videos
or
pictures.
In the martial arts, the side kick and the roundhouse kick serve two
different purposes.
The side kick is a very powerful kick, aimed at an opponent coming
directly
toward your kicking foot. since the goal is to kick your opponent with
full force, you focus on using muscles in your butt and your hips to
drive
a hard FLEXED foot straight out (but a few inches short of full
extension),
in a jabbing motion that makes the HEEL of your foot the point of
contact.
If you think of the side kick as the jab of kicks, then the roundhouse
kick
is more like a backhand slap. it is used to catch an oncoming opponent
on
his side. instead of thrusting your lower leg out side kick style, you
want to visualize whipping your lower leg from the knee down, so that
the
TOP of your foot (with toes pointed) snaps your opponent from the side.
For example, shellie would use the side kick to break a board that i am
holding, but use a roundhouse kick to knock that board out of my hand
from
its side.
For both kicks, position your body in a way that offers your opponent
the
smallest amount of exposed body space. that means you face in the
direction of the kicks but your upper body (shoulders, chest,
abdomen) remains facing frontward. it is also important to keep your
back
from turning or curving away from the kick. also ensure that you start
the
kick from the proper position -- for both kicks that means pivoting both
feet in the direction opposite the kick and positioning your hip so that
it
points upward and in line with the kick. at the same time, keep your
upper
body open and facing forward. dont let your upper body twist toward the
kick. instead, slightly lean your upper body in the direction opposite
the
kick, over your supporting leg.
The Punches
The following punches are the most used in Tae Bo workouts:
- The Jab
- The Cross
- The Hook
- The Uppercut
- The Speedbag
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