split kicks

[Goju_boi]

ok heres the thing I can do the splits both ways, but when I do a front kick or side kick I can't take it all the way up.What gives?I'm flexible enough to get into that position.

[Drithen]

You need to develop the muscles that allow you to hold your leg up that high. I would suggest practicing holding your side/front kicks at their highest for as long as you can, work it out that way maybe

[Goju_boi]

I've seen that exercise in a stetching book, but I thought that it was for endurance or something like that.

[Drithen]

You could also get a resistance band and practice your kicks with that on to work out your hip muscles, other than that I'm not sure what else you can do.

[Meguro]

You're flexible enough, perhaps too flexible like a rubber band that's lost it's elasticity. I'm not a physiologist so I don't know if the analogy holds. I'm curious, what was the point of this flexibility, kata or fighting? Sounds like what you've developed is static flexibility, which is obtained by holding a stretch position for a long period of time. Contrast this with dynamic flexibility, which is flexibility obtained by kicking and moving (it's better and more accurately explained elsewhere).

I like the suggestion of using elastic bands to develop strength. Other types of resistance training might help with your kicks.

[Aodhan]

ok heres the thing I can do the splits both ways, but when I do a front kick or side kick I can't take it all the way up.What gives?I'm flexible enough to get into that position.

Check your plant foot position.

Try this for a drill. Stand leaning slightly against a wall, both feet pointing forward. Lift your knee straight up as high as you can, and have someone hold their hand as high as you can go. Then, turn your plant foot out 90 degrees, and lift your knee again. I generally get about 6-7" higher with my knee when I have the foot turned.

It has to do with the hip structure, and how the femur fits into the socket in the pelvis. Side kicks are the same way, but I generally turn my foot almost 180 degrees when I do side kicks, as opposed to 90 for front/round kicks.

Aodhan

[Goju_boi]

Well as for kata,the answer is no.Then for fighting the answer is somewhat.I just like it for the look of it.Anyways Meguro what your saying is that I should practice more high kicks and leg swings?i will also try what aodhan said, thaks everybody.