In between the Axe Kick and Front Snap Kick is the Pushing Kick. The Pushing Kick, whose action is just as it sounds – a solid pushing motion with the bottom of the foot, has been developed and used to the great advantage lately by the Olympic Tae Kwon-Do stylists who see it as an effective technique which rises above the restrictions of fighting while wearing chest protectors.
Used both offensively as well as defensively, the Pushing Kick serves a lot of needs while sparring. If an opponent is rushing in, a Pushing Kick can help to keep them off of you. If you are trying to set up your opponent for a hand or foot technique, then the Pushing Kick can move them to a proper distance. Also, since the chamber of a Pushing Kick is halfway between those of the Front Snap Kick and Axe Kick, the Pushing Kick can be thrown as an afterthought when the Front Snap or Axe Kick that you were getting ready to throw turns out to be the wrong move at the wrong time.
Because your body remains upright while throwing this technique, it is fairly easy to keep your balance. The Pushing Kick gets its power from the quadriceps which thrust out the kicking leg – and the abdominal, illiacus, and biceps femoris muscles which help to keep the leg in chamber position.
Common Mistakes
The single most common mistake made while executing the Pushing Kick is failure to bring the kicking leg up into a high chamber position with the flat of the foot facing the opponent. The pushing action is straight out from your chest to your opponents.
The other most common error is to not follow the Pushing Kick with an effective follow up technique or techniques. The Pushing Kick is a good technique but cannot stand on its own.
Breathing
Inhale before you kick and as you perform the kick, exhale sharply. When you return to ready stance, inhale again.
