Ottman

Leaning back will throw you off balance, especially when you land. Try to stay completely vertical. Of course this is more difficult, and your kick won't be as high initially, but keep practicing and stretching. Also, if you're kicking a target, Try to jump forward at the target rather than walking up close to it before executing the kick. You'll find you actually get a higher jump when jumping forward, as well as forcing you to remain upright. Plus, in sparring and in real life, your target is rarely close enough for you to jump straight up and kick. You usually have to close the gap if you want to make contact, and your forward momentum is a great way to get more power without exerting more energy. (P.S. I also love practicing the jump and spin without the kick. I never would have developed good jump-spin techniques without practicing this way. Also try just the spin kick on the ground a few times before incorporating the jump. If you break down the technique (any technique) into its basic parts, I find that it's much easier to execute the whole thing later.) Happy Training!!

3 and a half like most here for 1st dan. (It takes at least 3 at my school.) Then I stopped going to classes for about five years and studied Jeet Koon Do and Capoeira instead. (Every martial artist should look into JKD.) Just passed my scond Dan test last month, a year after returning to class. I guess I should be a fourth Dan if I had stayed on track, but belts are just to keep your pants up anyway.

I used to use 2.5 pound ankle weights and I'd do leg raises with them (lying on my back, 3 sets of thirty, five days a week) and I'd also stand against the wall and hold my leg in chamber then slowly kick out and hold it at extension for five seconds. Five reps with each leg for side, turn and front kicks every other day and in just one week my kicks were much faster and higher, and I had become noticeably more flexible. Try it out, you might like it. Happy Training!!

Just a small word of advice: if you're going to get hit by the push kick, keyai as it hits you and move in. Unless your opponent is a lot bigger and stronger than you are, chances are he'll be pushed off balance by your forward momentum, even if he lands the kick, and then you've got him, follow up quickly and don't stop attacking until you absolutely have to. Also, respect your higher belts, they can teach you a lot. This doesn't mean you should roll over for them, but realize that they are better than you because they have already gone through the trials and experiences you're going through right now. Learn from what they do, but develop your own style and work on it often. Try new things whenever you get the chance and ask someone you train with for their opinion or advice. A lot of times an outside opinion can give you insight into a strategy that you never considered before. Happy Training!!