Tricking (martial arts)

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A tricker performing a flashkick.

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 breakdancing. 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.

History[]

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. 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]} Since the beginning of 2008, tricking has been receiving much wider publicity and popularity among the general public due to efforts of popular tricking teams.^{[citation needed]}

Progression[]

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.

Training[]

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A tricker performing a combination of tricks.

The majority of trickers are self-taught or have partaken in similar sports such as martial arts or gymnastics. Trickers usually learn from friends or other individuals who have more experience than themselves, or by reproducing movements seen in videos. Trickers often form "teams" of friends, and some attend tricking camps and gatherings. Tricking's popularity has increased over the years^[when?] bringing some facilities and gymnastics centers to coach tricking, and in recent years some martial arts and gymnastics studios in big cities feature classes for tricking.

Practitioners usually perform the majority of their tricks on grass or plyometric flooring. Foam landing mats, trampolines, or jumping jamborees are utilized to become familiar with new movements in a safe environment. In addition to practicing the moves of tricking, many trickers improve their physical fitness and undergo body conditioning and strength training, as many of the movements within the activity require a high level of strength. Dynamic and static flexibility training is also commonly practiced by trickers due to the upper range of motion many tricks require.

Tricking techniques[]

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This is an incomplete list of tricks extracted from online compendiums.^[2][3]

Tags

• (m) morning wake-up tricks
• (n) Novice tricks
• (b) Beginner tricks
• (i) Intermediate tricks
• (a) Advanced tricks
• (e) Expert tricks
• (e+) Even more expert tricks

Novice Tricks (and variations)[]

Beginner Tricks (and variations)[]

Intermediate Tricks (and variations)[]

Advanced Tricks (and variations)[]

Expert Tricks (and variations)[]

• Snapuswipe (e)
  • Snapuswipe Double (e+)
  • Hyper Snapuswipe (e+)
  • Suicide Snapuswipe (e+)
  • Snapuswipe Doubleleg (e+)
  • McDirty (e+)
• Other expert tricks
  • Bullet Flip (e)
    • Double Bullet Flip (e+)

Other movements[]

Prefixes and suffixes[]

• Cheat (Prefix) – a trick that begins with a 180 degree spin into a jump, or a trick that begins like a tornado kick.
• Hyper (Prefix) – to land a trick on the opposite designated leg by over-rotation.
• Switch (Suffix) – to land a trick on the opposite designated leg by switching the legs shortly before the landing.
• Swipe (Suffix) – a "Hyper" or "Switch" that happens while twisting horizontally or inverted, or a "540-style" trick executed from a twisting position.
• Knife (Suffix) – a hook or spin outside crescent kick executed immediately after a round.
• - (place kick here) (suffix) – indicates a specific kick that replaces another kick originally designated for the nominal trick.
• Jesus (Prefix) – any flip that is executed by rising straight up and reducing the amount of rotational momentum, it's notable for its extremely high set into the flip and the “crucifix” position resembling Christ the Reedemer.
• Reverse (Prefix) – to walk backwards into a trick.

Gatherings[]

Since its inception, gatherings have been a regular part of the tricking community. Organized by trickers, usually with the assistance of online forums, gatherings are an opportunity for individual trickers to showcase their styles and seek advice from other trickers. Gatherings usually have one or more Gym Sessions, where a gymnastics studio is rented out specifically for the gathering.

In addition, there are also mini-gatherings (also known as seminars/sessions) that usually take place in grassy fields. Compared to regular gatherings where trickers from all over the world attend, mini-gatherings generally attract local trickers to a one-day session. This in turn allows local trickers to meet, trick together, strengthen tricking in their own communities, and help expose it to more people in their local area.

There are many places where Tricksters gather, one of them being Hooked.

Team tricking[]

Trickers sometimes make teams and practice together, but often perform together as well. Many teams choreograph demos which they then perform at events. Not only do the demos promote their teams, they also bring tricking out into the light for the rest of the world. Some trickers choose to pair up with other trickers at competitions and perform. Teams often organize open tricking sessions and gatherings. Some examples of teams are: Loopkicks,^[4] Club540 online community^[5]

Media exposure[]

Since its rise in popularity, tricking has been featured in various media.

• Anis Cheurfa, a French professional trickster, portrayed the masked antagonist Rinzler in the 2010 film Tron: Legacy, utilizing tricking in combat.
• Jacob Pinto, a three-time Red Bull Tricking Champion, has been featured tricking in television, film, and commercials, such as Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris, Blackish and The Voice with CeeLo Green.
• Arrow, the DC television series played on the CW, showcased fight scenes by actress Caity Lotz, who portrays Sara Lance in the series.
• Daredevil, the Marvel television series, showcased fight scenes that incorporated tricking as well as many other martial arts
• Got7, a South Korean boy group under JYP Entertainment is famous for using tricking as part of their choreography.
• Andy Le, an American trickster who is known for his videos on his YouTube channel Martial Club, he was also a winner of the Red Bull Kick It competition
• Shosei Iwamoto, a famous Japanese Trickster who had the ability to do quadcorks when he was 13 years old.

See also[]

• Parkour
• Freerunning

References[]