Tricking (martial arts)

Tricking is a training discipline that combines kicks with flips and twists from martial arts and gymnastics as well as many dance moves and styles from dance. It is a martial art that borrows techniques from taekwondo, takkyeon, wushu, capoeira, and more. It aims to achieve an aesthetic display of different combinations of "tricks". Tricking practitioners are commonly referred to as trickers. Examples of tricking techniques include the 540 kick, the corkscrew (cork), the flashkick, the butterfly twist and the double leg.

World-renowned Vietnamese kung fu dancer Julian Bui performing a flashkick.

History

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A tendency to exhibit techniques that are more flashy and complex was observed in martial arts during the period following the 1960s, predating the current tricking movement. Especially in taekwondo, an increasing emphasis on spectacular spinning, jumping or flying kicks developed during the mid-1960s with the introduction of international competitions.[1]

The actual sport of tricking is an internet phenomenon, emerging in the early 2000s.[citation needed] Xtreme Martial Arts is thought to be a close precursor to the sport, being shown at various martial arts tournaments in the 90s and early 2000s.[citation needed] By late 2003, the online tricking community was well-developed, bringing trickers from across the globe together. With the rise of YouTube, trickers were able to share their videos with others, and the discipline experienced a massive rise in popularity and interest.[citation needed]

Progression

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A tricker demonstrates a characteristic tricking move, the Corkscrew.

Unlike many established sports, tricking has no formal rules or regulations, and there are no governing bodies that regulate the sport. Strictly speaking, participants are free to perform any kind of dramatic maneuver and call it a 'trick' - though there are certain moves that are generally accepted as tricking moves. Some practitioners (especially those who discover tricking through the Internet) tend to learn the easier moves first (such as the 540 kick, aerial, kip-up, and backflip) and try to progress through a list of recognized tricks in the perceived order of difficulty. However, how difficult a trick is, varies from person to person; certain tricks may be inexplicably easier or harder than normal for a particular tricker to learn.

Trickers can be divided into different categories of style: some prefer performing mainly martial arts tricks (which almost always incorporate kicks into a trick), others mostly freestyle gymnastics and flips (mainly focus on combining different types of rotations and twists), but most trickers combine moves from both of the disciplines. Trickers regularly train their bodies hard to be able to perform their tricks at any time consistently.

Trick Lists

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CategoryPrerequisitesTricks NameDescriptionVariation
Flipping
RollsForward RollsRoll forward starting from feetDive Roll, 360 Dive Roll, Webster Dive Roll
Backward RollsRoll backward starting from feetArabian Dive Roll
HandspringHandstand + Forward RollsFront HandspringForward Flip using hands and Feet In Handstand PositionFlyspring
Bridge stretch + Backwards RollsBack HandspringBackwards Flip using hands and Feet In Handstand Position360 Back Handspring
HandstandCartwheelSideways Rolls using hands and Feet In Handstand PositionRoundoff, Single handed Cartwheel, Helicopter
FlipsForward RollsFront FlipsForward Flip starting from feet landing on feetFront Half, Front Full, Rudi...
Front FlipsWebsterSingle legged Front FlipsWebster Dive Roll
Backward RollsBack FlipsBackwards Flip starting from feet landing on feetBack Layout
Back FlipsGainerSingle-legged Back FlipsCheat Gainer
GainerGainer FlashAlso known as Flash Kick, a Gainer with a Flash Kick
GainerMoon KickA Gainer with a Hook Kick
Side Rolls + Front FlipsSide FlipsSideways Flip starting from feet landing on feet with head on flat axisSide Flips fulls,
CartwheelAerialA Cartwheel without using both hands,by facing front or sideFront Aerial, Side Aerial
Kicking
BasicRound Kick
Hook Kick
Front SweepMostly uses as a transitional move
Back SweepMostly uses as a transitional move
Round KickCrescent Kick
Hook KickCompasso
Butterfly Kick (B-Kick)Also known as B-Kick
> 180°Pop + Crescent Kick360 KickAlso known as Tornado KickCheat 360, Pop 360
360 Kick + Hook kick540 Kick (pop 10)1.5 Twisting Hook KickCheat 540, Pop 540
540 Kick + Round Kick720 Kick (pop 12)Double Twisting Round KickCheat 720, Pop 720
Twisting
Half twitsFull TwistA 360° twist
Butterfly Kick + Full TwistButterfly TwistA Butterfly Kick with a 360° twist
Gainer + Full TwistCorkscrew (Cork)A Gainer with a 360° twist
Set-ups
CartwheelScootone-handed Lunge into 180
Cheat StepAn additional 180° step before tricks, mostly use in Kicking
J - Stepalternating steps into swing
Euro Stepsingle leg Jump landing back on the same leg into swing
Master Scoot, GumbiRaizalternating steps into front half
RaizTouch Down Raiz (TDR)A powerful Setup used in advanced tricks

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Green, Thomas A.; Svinth, Joseph R. (2010). Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation. ABC-CLIO. p. 202. ISBN 9781598842432.