Running, Hitting, Jumping, and More: Power Comes From the Core

You can see clearly in the powerhouse kicks of Bruce Khan how power comes from the hips and core. Here is a trailer from Revenger; more good fight scenes in the movie itself.

In “Interview with Bruce Khan” (Kung-Fu Kingdom, March 7, 2019), Brad Curran writes:

My first martial art was Taekwondo at the age of 7, then I transitioned into Hapkido when I was 14. Hapkido was the most popular martial art in my generation in Korea. In Sik Whang, (Hwang In-shik) who famously appeared in Jackie Chan’s classic film “The Young Master” and Bruce Lee’s “Way of the Dragon”, was my Grandmaster’s master. My master was really influenced by his kicking techniques, and compared to other Hapkido dojos, we focused our training more on kicking rather than joint locks and throw techniques. I had an average build compared to other Asians in my generation, and I wanted to have heavyweight power with ultra-fast speed.

Mas Oyama, the founder of the Kyokushin Karate, was very popular when I was young and his comic books had a big impact on me. So I started lifting weights when I was eighteen with the simple goal of improving my power and speed. In addition to Taekwondo and Hapkido, I have also trained in Taekkyeon (a traditional Korean martial art) boxing, kickboxing, Jeet Kune Do, Kendo, Systema, and Jiu-Jitsu for the past 17 years. Recently, I’ve also been fencing in my spare time.

I’ve always really loved to read and watch biographies and biographical films, so I came across a lot of different martial arts masters who were really inspirational. However, my biggest influence by far is Bruce Lee. He has always been a great spiritual leader and guide for me. His wisdom and philosophy constantly remind me how to evolve as a martial artist, as a martial arts actor, and especially as a human being.
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As I mentioned, I wrote the original script for the film, but “Revenger” was made a bit more dramatic by the director, Lee Seung Won. My original script was more brutal, bloody, violent, dark and moody, with a lot of homages to old school martial arts films. You can look at it as my version of “Enter the Dragon” and the Japanese anime “Fist of the North Star”. I’m a big fan of anime and draw a lot of inspiration from its screenwriting.
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I usually keep up my circuit training without breaks and use resistance bands for an hour to an hour and a half. I don’t do bodybuilding-type training anymore. It’s easy to lose muscle elasticity, and I always train my muscles to be more like a rubber band. I think elastic force is the key to speed and power for a lightweight person like me.

My greatest interest in martial arts is how to overcome my small size and age. Technique alone won’t work without sparring and conditioning, so my training routine is sixty percent physical training and forty percent form and technique. I think that’s the key for keeping in shape as martial artists as we age.
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The reason why I can be faster than younger stuntmen in front of the camera is because of the Body Whipping System. Many who have seen my action said that I use a lot of Taekwondo kicks, but the principle of my kicking is very different from Taekwondo. I combined many different styles of kicking to create my own style, everything from Kyokushin Karate kicks, Taekkyeon kicks, Jeet Kune Do kicks, Hapkido kicks, Muay Thay kicks, and Taekwondo kicks. I don’t snap very much to kick, and I use my joints minimally to get speed and power. The Body Whipping System also makes one’s punching and kicking speed faster and more powerful without sacrificing a lot of energy. Without any serious injuries, I’m sure that I’d be able to maintain my speed and power into my seventies.
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I would have to say my Top 3 Favourites are:

Bruce Lee vs Chuck Norris in Way of the Dragon” Jackie Chan vs Benny Urquidez in “Wheel on Meals” and Donnie Yen vs Collin Chou in “Flash Point.”

https://kungfukingdom.com/interview-with-bruce-khan/