Switch Stepping

[twtguy]

Can someone give me a detailed step-by-step on how to do this correctly? I always feel like Im doing it wrong...probably because Ive never been told how to do it.

[Yessir]

You simply change position from orthodox to southpaw, or vice versa. Ain't really anything to it.

If you are doing for the sake of kicking(whitch i'm assuming that you are) then you want to land on the leg that's rear a little sooner than the one ending in the lead.

How do you feel that what you are doing is wrong, might be a little easier to correct if we knew.

[Yessir]

And of course you want to do this while keeping your feet close to the ground, and without "jumping".

[Ghost]

front foot back, then other foot forwards, other foot leaves when front foot is 2 3rds of the way there. so its like two steps done really fast.
there should be a distinction in the sound, so you hear 2 feet land, one after the other but very rapidly. this keeps you on the ground more than if you just jumped and switched.

[JKDBrando]

Be quick kinda like a pendulum.

[twtguy]

thanks a bunch everyone. you actually said what I wanted to hear right here:

If you are doing for the sake of kicking(whitch i'm assuming that you are) then you want to land on the leg that's rear a little sooner than the one ending in the lead.

and a little more specific here:

front foot back, then other foot forwards, other foot leaves when front foot is 2 3rds of the way there. so its like two steps done really fast.
there should be a distinction in the sound, so you hear 2 feet land, one after the other but very rapidly. this keeps you on the ground more than if you just jumped and switched.

i just wanted to know what leg moves first and what one moves last. it turns out i have been doing it right. i guess im just not used to it yet, and thats why it feels funny. ive been doing it like this so when my rear foot lands in the lead position last, i have it land on "the imaginary triangle" (if youve heard kicking described with this) so that its angled for an immediate set up for a kick.

I guess another reason that I thought it might be wrong is because I heard it could be used to avoid attacks. example: someone throws a lead round kick to the inside of your leg...switch step as to avoid, then roundhouse since youre already in a power position. this made me think that the movement was more of a forward and back motion rather than in the same spot...much like shifting in boxing where you also switch stances. did you follow that?

[Ghost]

yeah, i get what you are saying, you stay on the spot though with this. The thing to be aware of is the range increase you get from for the other side, which is partly why you do it as well as it loading the opposite side.
So if you are right footed and you switch stance to southpaw, your left kick and knee gain considerable range from a foot switch, as well as you loading the left hand side by changing stance.

[fire cobra]

Also as you switch(from a left lead) cover your face with your left hand(so you protect during the switch) as the kick is coming out and landing change to the right hand to protect your face.

[twtguy]

Also as you switch(from a left lead) cover your face with your left hand(so you protect during the switch) as the kick is coming out and landing change to the right hand to protect your face.

do you mean by crossing it over my face as to protect my jaw? i could see how that could be better for starting momentum when i throw it back during the roundhouse too. thanks.

[fire cobra]

do you mean by crossing it over my face as to protect my jaw? i could see how that could be better for starting momentum when i throw it back during the roundhouse too. thanks.

Yes sir,

When starting the right kick cross your left arm over your face so that the back of the palm touches your left ear(tuck your chin in the crook of the right arm) this will help protect you as you go to kick,when your mid kick the left arm takes over,when you land return to the daan guard to practice again.

[fire cobra]

Woops exscuse me,that should read RIGHT arm across the face.

[twtguy]

awesome advice. thanks.

[ryangruhn]

It should also be noted that your hips should stay in the same direction. That is, your lead hip continues to stay as your lead hip. This helps with not only the speed and power but also not telegraphing the kick. Saying the switch is simply switching leads (such as in TKD) can be inaccurate and misleading.

Gruhn

[fire cobra]

It should also be noted that your hips should stay in the same direction. That is, your lead hip continues to stay as your lead hip. This helps with not only the speed and power but also not telegraphing the kick. Saying the switch is simply switching leads (such as in TKD) can be inaccurate and misleading.

Gruhn

Excellent Ryangruhn,

I missed that piece of the switch puzzle,yes the lead hip should stay as the lead hip,nice one.

[twtguy]

yeah, i tried keeping my lead hip as my lead hip, and it worked out pretty well. I was afraid that it would result in less hip rotation, but there was still a pretty decent amount of power behind it.