I breathe, lean back and prepare to fling myself into a technique that attempts to kick physics in the face. BAM BAM.

I feel the air as I launch into what appears to be a martial arts jump kick on steroids.

Two kicks, a roundhouse, followed by a mid-air wheel kick, and I’ve pulled off a move, oddly named, “Jacknife” It is one of many techniques in a branch of martial arts called, “Tricking.”

While most martial arts techniques focus on groundwork and fighting, Tricking takes to the air with an emphasis on flash and athletic prowess.

It’s a mixture of gymnastics, martial arts, and break dancing, with an emphasis on individual creativity.

A relatively new alternative-sport movement, Tricking is mostly underground, with a repertoire that includes flying jump kicks, twists, and flips. Tricking focuses on how cool the moves look, often downplaying the practical usage of the kicks.

As a martial art, it is often misunderstood. While no one can deny the difficulty of the moves, a frequently asked question is: “How are you going to use that?”

Since I have no intention of using Tricking in a fight, I don’t launch my foot into the skeptic’s face with a technique that looks cool, but can hurt in an incredibly inefficient way. Instead, I ignore him.

Too many people believe someone skilled in a martial art should be able to kill a man with his pinky while tied up in a straitjacket.

Yes, martial arts are often portrayed as such, but if one looks deeper, other aspects emphasize a more subtle side.

Like most martial arts, Tricking, highlights athleticism and the ability to confront fears. Trickers must prepare themselves before attempting moves that could instantly throw them face first into the ground.

So, before you look at a martial arts move and want to ask, “How are you going to use that in a fight?”, stop yourself. Instead, ask if the technique is really intended to knock someone to Neptune.