TomBolton

Getting your kick that high at full speed first just takes learning the proper technique and developing the correct muscles with repetition. Holding it is bit different. Most of that comes from developing your hip flexors and back muscles. I'm currently trying to raise my tension side kick which is in my form, and I have found the best way is to practice alot of tension side kicks. Hold on to a bar or wall or partner and lock out a side kick as high as you can. Hold for 10 seconds, pushing your foot upward by tensing up your hip muscles. Then rechamber. Do alot of these on both sides and you wil see gradual improvement.

That statement is absolutely false. The minimum age requirement for a 4th degree in the ATA is 18 years old. Until very recently, it was 21.

Also, I've been training for 12 years and I'll be testing for my 4th degree this year. That's actually pretty long for my organization. I would have been elligible for 4th earlier, but you have to be 21 years of age. The standard time would be 8 years to 4th degree. 2 - 2.5 years to 1st degree. 3 years to 2nd. 5 years to 3rd. (that is from white belt) -Tom

"It depends on many factors. IMO you should have some years under your belt to be ready for shodan. We are allowed to teach after that, I wouldn't like to be taught by a person who's spent 2 years in my style and got BB." Different subject, but I'm not sure how obtaining a black belt qualifies you to teach at all. I've never understood this. Just because you can perform techniques doesn't mean you are good at teaching them. I think every organization should have a seperate intensive Instructor program. Does anyone know of another organization beside ATA that has Instructor training in teaching skills? -Tom

You should try to do some strengthening excercises for your hip flexors. This will take the strain off of your groin and back and allow easy comfortable motion. I would recommend starting on the floor laying on your side supported on your elbow. Slowly do tension side kicks; out 5 seconds as high as you can, then hold it at full extension (or as far as you can get) until you feel a burn in your hip then release and re chamber 5 seconds. Repeat this enough times that you start to fatigue a bit and it gets pretty hard. Do this on both sides. After doing this for a period of time on a regular basis, and it starts to get easy, move to standing up holding onto a wall and doing the same procedure with a full standing side kick (slow motion, just like on the floor) hold out for 5-10 seconds, and rechamber. This will help you strengthen and also pinpoint any problems with technique you may have. It works wonders. Hip flexors are sometimes neglected but are very important to good side kick technique. Try it out. It might fix your problem. -Tom