As I mention in the previous blog, HIITT and Kick only uses a maximum of 6 techniques per routine. However, there are a core number of moves that are regularly used throughout each routine.
In HIITT and Kick we don’t make you buy any extra equipment such as gloves, because let’s face it, if you are defending yourself in real life, will you have time to put on some fighting gloves? No!
Because of this, we make sure all our techniques can be carried out safely without causing injury to yourself or other.
1. The Palm (or High Five to the Face as I call it).
The ’high five to the face’ is our equivalent of a punch. The risk of injuring yourself when punching increases compared to striking with the palm. Not only can you cause cuts to your knuckles, but the risk of twisting your wrist is higher.
In karate the fists are are conditioned by repetitive punching, but for someone doing an exercise class for the first, we don’t really want blood all over the gym!
The palm strike is carried out by extending the arm out, with the fingers pulling back towards the shoulder. Fingers are squeezed together and the thumb is tucked in. The idea, is that the impact is carried out by the heel of the palm, which also reduces the distance between impact and the wrist joint...........meaning you’re less likely to twist your wrist.
2. Elbow (Empi Elbow)
By far this is one of the more powerful techniques of H&K. Using the opposite arm to the leg you have in front, the elbow relies on the shorter distance to your shoulder along with the twisting motion of your hips (which is where most of the power is generated from).
The hand should be pulled back close to the shoulder in order to reinforce the elbow.
Personally, this is one of my favourites.
3. Hiza (knee kick)
The knee kick (hiza geri in Japanese) again is a strong strike. The hands should be utilised at the same time as the knee rises up, by pulling your attacker towards your knee. The hips should be pushed forward as the knee is brought up to generate the most power. Squats or jump squats are a good exercise to increase the power of this kick. A low squat helps with flexibility and mobility of this exercise.
So, those are just some of the techniques within HIITT and Kick, but hopefully gives you an idea of what the class is about and if you already take part, might reinforce what you’ve already learnt.