Emphasis on slow kicking techniques is one feature which distinguishes Tang Sou Dao from other styles. It is also unfortunately considered by many students as the most frustrating and difficult part of the lesson. Having trained under Grandmaster Loke from a very young age, I recall as a child finding slow kicking very tedious and it is only as I have got older that I have begun to appreciate the clear advantages that slow kicking has in delivering a truly effective leg technique.

Advanced slow kicking demo at Malaysia 50th Independence Day anniversary at the Tun Abdul Razak Research Centre in
Brickendonbury, Hertford on 1st September 2007

Most styles do not incorporate slow kicking as part of their training. Having observed other styles' kicking technique carefully, most of the kicks really amount to flicking or throwing the leg and generally lacking any proper retrieval or control. Of course such kicks can still cause damange and injury, which is mainly due to the speed of the kick. However, while you can still deliver speed, it is very difficult without training the leg muscles, to be able to combine that speed with power for the kick to be ultimately effective and 'bone crunching'.

Training in slow kicking in most lessons benefits the student enormously in a variety of ways. Firstly, doing any technique slowly enables a student to examine the technique in minute detail. A student will become aware of the proper position of their body before, during and after delivery. Not only is the position of every part of the body from the feet, knees, hips, shoulders and arms important, but also the way they interrelate with each other as the technique is being released. A student can then appreciate that a kick is not simply flinging the leg, but every single part of the body has a role to play in ensuring that the kick attains optimum impact.

Slow kicking also ensures that the leg muscles are properly conditioned to maintain a stable position both during and after the kick. It is no point kicking someone if you are going to either fall over or be pushed back. When executing a slow kick, the bending of the supporting leg builds up the muscles and ensures that they are able to absorb the impact of the kick.

While the supporting leg is trained in its role to sustain the kick, the muscles in the kicking leg are specifically acclimatized to the kicking pathway. Training the leg to hold at the optimal point of impact strengthens the muscles at that particular position so when a fast kick is executed it will deliver explosive power.

It does not really matter how high you can balance a slow kick. The more you practice generally the higher your leg will go. The aim is to learn about the techniques, and to ensure that your legs are conditioned and adapted to be able to perform the technique to maximum speed, power and efficiency.

This year Grandmaster Loke has launched a new slow kicking form which incorporates all the main kicks (except for drop kick). This form will be compulsory for all Duan grades and will develop proficiency in both fast and slow kicks on both legs. There are also two techniques which will require the student to execute the kick fast and hold it at the maximum point of impact, a particularly difficult skill which will certainly improve power and muscle control.

I feel quite lucky and proud that Tang Sou Dao adopts a profound teaching method with attention to detail. Every technique, whether involving arms or legs can be examined and broken down into component positions, and it is those 'in-between moves' which reflects true skill and differentiates sportsmen/women from dedicated martial artists.

Tang Sou!