One of the most intimidating aspects of advanced Taekwondo technique is the Jumping Spinning techniques. The differences between an outside crescent kick and a jumping spinning crescent kick seem infinite and daunting. One seems like a basic technique and the other seems like a move only done well in the movies.

In reality, jumping and spinning is only a little more difficult than a regular “jump and switch your stance”. In both techniques the feet are merely trading places. However in the switch your head is stationary and in the spin your head spins in 360 degrees. So the challenge becomes maintaining your balance while twirling your head in a circle. Often just this realization; that the feet are doing no more than a regular switch, is enough to get the student to do a successful jump and spin.

One word I use often to help people maintain balance in a jump and spin is “chimney”. Imagine yourself standing inside a chimney when you are about to jump. Try to avoid touching any of the walls of the chimney as you jump and spin. Keeping this vertical aspect to the jump is 90% of any spinning technique. Losing your vertical axis creates dozens of other problems making executing the technique almost impossible.

Once you can jump and spin inside of a chimney, you only need to perfect your timing in order to perform any jumping spinning technique. For example, a  jumping spinning crescent is just an outside crescent delivered at the apex of a jump and spin. As long as you know hot to do an outside crescent properly and you deliver it at the right time, your jumping spinning crescent will be great. This is why I focus so heavily on foundation techniques. If you breeze by your basics then your advanced techniques will only be harder than they already are.

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