What Forces Are Used in Kickboxing?
Kickboxing borrows from martial arts such as Tae Kwon Do and Muay Thai to produce powerful striking techniques. Understanding these techniques requires familiarity with physical principles regarding the behavior of force.
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Defenition
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According to Sybil Parker's "Encyclopedia of Physics," force comes from acceleration and gives an object energy that can transfer into another object. Forces in kickboxing result from accelerating your fists and feet to transfer energy to a target.
Tension Force
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Side Kick Tension force exists whenever your muscles expand and contract to move your body. The side kick relies mainly on this force and consists of lifting a leg with knee bent and pushing the foot into a target.
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Centripetal Force
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Roundhouse Kick The roundhouse kick involves rotating your hips with your leg at an angle to the ground while extending your knee. This combines two centripetal forces---one from hip rotation, and the other from knee swing.
Gravitational Force
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The axe kick consists of lifting your leg over your opponent's head and dropping it down. Muscle tension gets the leg in position and gravity does the rest.
Thrust
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Reverse Punch (or Right Cross) A reverse punch requires both hands. To punch with the right hand, you draw your left hand back. This creates a reaction force in the form of a thrust that pushes your right side forward, adding energy as you punch.
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- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of claudiogennari Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Umberto Salvagnin
