Sideswipe
Sideswipe

Prerequisites

Raiz
540

Optional

none
The Sideswipe can be two things:

Horizontal 540
or
Raiz Switch

Your hips should ideally on the same level as your hips or above for it to be a proper Sideswipe and not just a laid back 540 Kick.


01 540

The 540 is the basic on which the sideswipe builds upon. It's quite literally an upright sideswipe. You should be very comfortable with this trick before you learn the sideswipe.





02 Raiz

The second component is the Raiz. The Sideswipe is basically Raiz and 540 together. You don't need a perfect raiz, but it should ideally be a high and floaty one.  You should also be able to see the ground the entire time. This will help a lot, when you want to add a swipe to it.


03 Laid back 540

This next step will get you a lot closer to the sideswipe. Just do your 540, but instead of spotting forward at your target, spot the ground besides you. Precisely the point on the floor where you'll be swiping your foot into.  This will naturally cause you to lean back a little bit more. Almost there.


04 Sideswipe

Don't get stuck on the laid back 540. It's now time to turn that into a proper sideswipe.  

1st change: Swing your non-kicking leg up straight instead of bent. When you reach the peak of the swing, bent it in and swipe with your other leg over. 

2nd change: Take off exactly like you would for a high raiz. That means you should spot straight behind you instead of to the side. Push out your chest and swing your arms wide into the flip. Just like you would for the raiz. 

These two changes should be enough transform your laid back 540 into a sideswipe. Remember to spot your landing. 
Tips

Sideswipes can have quite a big impact on your joints if you land short. Swing your non-kicking leg up hard before you swipe over to gain maximum height. Push your hip up with your swing. You want to minimize travel and maximize height. Your swiping leg should come down straight underneath you to minimize the the landing impact. 

Swing your arms wide into the trick and then bring them in when you initiate the kick. The same goes for your non-kicking leg.  Swing it up straight and high and then bent it in when you swipe over.

Push all the way through your toes when you take off to maximize height and land on the balls of your feet to minimize the impact. 

Try to spot the ground ALL THE WAY throughout the trick. You won't lose orientation and you'll know exactly where you'll need to place your foot for the landing.
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