CHEAN CHUAI TI Front Thrust Kick

This Technical Article was first published in 1993 by Grandmaster Loke. "Chean Chuai Ti" (front thrust kick) is the Founder's favourite kicking technique and the development of this very practical technique has reached a high maturity among many of his students.

Master Adam Goward, 5th Duan, demonstrates the kick. He is a senior instructor supervising classes spanning a wide area from Tunbridge Wells, Haywards Heath, Horsham to Epsom.

FRONT THRUST KICK "CHEAN CHUAI TI" can be used from relatively close-up, to normal kicking distances. It is fairly easy to perform and is delivered from a natural frontal attack position. Even if it misses, there is always the opportunity for a quick follow up with either hand or foot techniques. Additionally, the position of the body during delivery is such that the groin and the body are well covered.

This is an important consideration because any good offensive technique must incorporate defensive properties. A final point worth considering is that comparatively speaking, front kick requires the least flexibility of all the kicks. This may be important for older students.

Beginners should concentrate on achieving the proper kick profile and action. The more time you give to practising, the more improvements you will see in your balance, speed, power, height and distancing.

Help front kick performance with the appropriate stretching exercises and safeguard your knee joint by strengthening and local endurance building programmes. Use lower stances than those you would normally choose for a combat situation and perform slow motion kicks in which you hold the leg in full extension for at least ten seconds. When you can manage this easily, you can repeat the drill but using ankle weights. Slow motion kicking is also useful for learning how to incorporate the technique with whole-body movement. Note: slow-motion kicking is required for your Duan/Black belt grading.

Begin by focusing your eyes on the target and do not blink until the technique is completed. Remember, never kick unless there is a target! Shift body weight smoothly over the front leg and allow the lead foot to pivot outwards. As you are doing this, smoothly change your guard. Don't lean forwards, backwards or sideways since any of these can alert the opponent to what you are about to do.

Next, bring your rear foot up and forwards, so it skims past the knee of the supporting leg and covers the groin. The sole of the foot should be at the same height as, or slightly above, the knee of the supporting leg. The ankle is flexed to a full 90 degrees so the ball of the foot is actually higher than the heel. Note that the guard is still in place, the shoulders are relaxed and the body is upright. Note also that the supporting leg is bent, so centre of gravity height is constant throughout the technique.

The kicking knee continues rising even as the foot begins to travel towards the target. It is permissible to tilt the pelvis back slightly, though your upper spine curves forward to reduce lean-back. The shoulders are still relaxed and the guard remains effective. At this point, both ankle and knee joints are flexed to 90 degrees.

The knee fully extends and the leg muscles tighten. The ankle fully extends though the toes are pulled back, so the instep comes into alignment with the shin. Note the relaxed shoulders and effective guard position. The eyes remain fixed on the target and the supporting leg stays bent, so height remains constant and impact recoil is absorbed.

Taken from a slightly different angle, the final photograph of the sequence shows the kicking foot retracting prior to setting it down. Once again the ankle has flexed to 90 degrees and the groin is fully covered.

The correct kicking action requires that the knee is first raised high, then dropped as the lower leg extends, i.e., the foot is first lifted and then thrust straight into the target. Avoid upswinging kicks because they lack both penetration and range.

Increase the range of your front kick by varying the angle of the supporting foot between 45-90 degrees from forwards-facing.

Use a mirror, or a partner to provide you with feedback. This is important because you may feel you are performing a good kick when in fact you are not. Use a kick/shield bag to ascertain the effectiveness of your kick in terms of power, speed and balance.

Now in the final section of this article, I want to consider some common faults as set out below:
1. A failure to flex the kicking ankle by 90 degrees before full extension of the kick. Not only does this prevent the proper performance of the kick, it makes it easier to block the kick and also exposing the ankle joint to injury from the opponent's blocking forearm.
2. Leaning the upper body too far away from the extended kick. This increases the time taken both to retrieve the spent kick and return to an upright position.
3. Tensing the shoulders and/or raising the guarding arms away from the body;
4. Relying on a snapping action of the knee to deliver the kick. This causes injury to that joint and the kick lacks power of penetration.
5. Straightening the supporting knee during the kick. This reduced the ability to absorb recoil and it also telegraphs your intentions to your opponent.
6. Failing to cover your groin during the initial and retrieval phases of the kick.
7. Losing control over your centre of gravity, so your spent kicking foot falls heavily forward, thus losing control of your next follow-up technique.

Front Thrust Kick "Chean Chuai Ti"

Demonstrated by Master Adam Goward, 5th Duan

Photography: David Brown

1: Change your guarding hands and bring your trailing hip forward as the lead foot twists outwards

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2: Raise your kicking knee until the sole of your foot is level with or slightly above the height of the supporting knee.

3: Raise the kicking knee higher and begin to thrust out the lower leg. Keep your ankle fully flexed.

4: The kicking knee drops as the foot is thrust into the target

5: Taken from a slightly different angle this shows how the spent kick is retrieved so that the groin is covered.

6: With the kicking angle fully flexed, the kick is more difficult to block. Kick then 'penetrates' from here when the foot is thrust forward and ankle fully extends.

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