Roundhouse Kick issues

[gypsy rover]

All,

I have recently (10 months back) started back into TKD, and while I realize I am now 36, I am having a much harder time with Roundhouse and spin Kicks.

I cannot seem to get them any higher than the low waist. what stretching can I do to losen the hips?

My snap kicks are plenty high, and my side kicks a decent too- chest height- Is it more of a form issue? I feel I am pivoting properely, haved been told such, but cant get any height.

Suggestions?

[DWx]

Maybe working on the chamber and rotation of the hips might help? To practise I have a chair (or something else) to the side of me and try to chamber then come over the top of the chair before finishing the kick (if that makes sense?). Getting the chamber right is really the trick to the kick iteslf. Fully rotating the hip too ensures that you can get your leg over and also helps to add more power to the kick (through mass).

The only specific hip stretch I can think of is where you put the bottoms of your feet together and push down on your knees.

Welcome to the forums by the way

[gypsy rover]

So basically a butterfly stretch?

Thanks, and will try to "chamber"better.

Still looking to fix this, as it seems to really hamper sparing for me- I tend to do more side kicks, and natually they are slower than spin or roundhouse kicks.

Thank again, will give it a try

[DWx]

So basically a butterfly stretch?

Thanks, and will try to "chamber"better.

Still looking to fix this, as it seems to really hamper sparing for me- I tend to do more side kicks, and natually they are slower than spin or roundhouse kicks.

Thank again, will give it a try

Just doing side kicks rather than roundhouse isn't all that bad, especially if you are allowed the use of the hands. Most of the time people expect roundhouses rather than sidekicks so if you can get it to work for you go for it.

Also I will add that rushing a technique will not help at all. IMO its best to work out what you're doing first by going through slowly, then add some speed.

[SBN Doug]

This may take a while to read, but good advice through it.

http://www.karateforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=6186

[bushido_man96]

Another thing to consider is developing the leg strength needed to kick high. Being flexible is one thing, but having the strength to kick high is another.

An exercise you can do is stand by a wall, and extend your leg to a full round or side kick position. Then, hold it there for about 5 seconds, and then pull it slowly back. Do this several times on each side; do the kick slowly.

Next, while holding the leg out at extension, you begin pulsing the leg up and down several inches, working the muscle on the side of the leg that holds it in the air.

Along with stretching, like sitting splits and side splits to both sides, your kicking should improve.

Welcome aboard!

[pegasi]

Something else to remember is to look at where you aim your knee. A leg chambered for a kick is going to be bent 90deg or better. Your knee is the "lead" body part until you release the "snap" of your kick. If your knee is pointing to belt level that's where you're gonna kick. if you want to kick higher, you've got to aim the knee higher. Think of the kneecap as your pointer, where it points is where your foot's gonna go.

[dete]

exaggerate your kicks in a circular fashion. (this is good for joints too)

but don't force the height. Go about 70 of how high you can kick.

as you develop coordination with this new movement, you can decrease

the circle until it starts to look more & more like a regular kick.

I do this warm up everyday before I kick.

I'd say go here, snoop around & look for Zdrovye.

http://www.rmaxinternational.com/

a real eye opener for me.

[pittbullJudoka]

Also cantting the body away from the kick opens the gates of the hip to allow greater height. If you are trying to keep the body too upright you are bindinf the hips up and loosing height and power.

[bushido_man96]

Also cantting the body away from the kick opens the gates of the hip to allow greater height. If you are trying to keep the body too upright you are bindinf the hips up and loosing height and power.

However, don't lean back too far intentionally; this will cause you to take power away from your kick. As you kick high, you body should lean back naturally. Some will have more lean than others; it just depends on your body style.

Another way to help open the hips up is to make sure that you pivot completely on your base foot. What I teach is to make the heel of the base foot point at the target you are kicking at. This opens the hips, and doesn't restrict the kick.