Wushu Heel-Palm-Kick

Wushu Heel-Palm- Kick

The heel palm kick is one of the most basic wushu kicks, but you don't really have to practice it every day. In Chinese (Mandarin) this kick is called "Deng Tui". Dengtui is a horizontal wushu heel kick with a synchronous palm punch. When you kick with the right foot, you punch with the left palm and when you kick with the left foot, you punch with the right palm. For more wushu kicks and basics, check out wushu main.

Execution

  • Beginning position: Stand upright with legs closed and your arms relaxed.
  • Make a fast step to your right (about 2 ft, like if you are doing a half wushu horse stance), pull your right palm to your right hip and put your left palm in front of your right shoulder. The fingers of the right hand point down and the fingers of the left hand point down. Also turn your head and look down 45° (to the right) for a moment. Inhale at the same time.
  • Then turn your head forward again and punch with your right palm. Exhale at the same time and extend your left leg so that only tip of your shoe touches the floor. Pull your left palm to your left hip.


  • The toe-fist- kick: Step forward with your left foot (heel first) and kick with the right foot (ankle flexed - toes point up). At the same time, punch with your left palm.
  • Keep looking straight forward and exhale as you kick/punch.
  • Hold the end position for a short moment and then let your foot fall slowly.
  • Now step forward with your right foot and do the whole thing the other way around.

Advice

  • Kicks and punches have to be horizontal.
  • To improve your hip strength, try to hold each kick for a few seconds.
  • Do 8 kicks in a row. 4 kicks with the right leg and 4 kicks with the left leg.