UramawashiGeri pain

[Aiyo6o4]

Hi, this is my first time being here and I wanted to ask you guys how can I do the uramawashigeri?

Some info about me if it helps -> I am a brown belt in shito ryu karate, and I have been practising for 3 years. I am 17. I'm a tiny girl 4'11 ft, 100 pounds.

My senpais say it looks correct when I do it, but when i do it, it hurts the hip. I've been practising at the dojo last night, and now my left hip area hurts. ARGH!

(Ex. I hook kick with my right leg, and then my left hip area hurts...)

I'm a lot flexible than this guy at my dojo, who can do a really fast and strong uramawashi geri (He gets it in several times in competitions)

I'm kind of afraid that after a few years down the road, I'm going to need hip surgery or something

Thank you for your help!

[tallgeese]

Welcome to KF! Glad to have you.

Lots of guys here will be able to help without a traslation, for myself, you're gonna have to tell me what that is .

[Aiyo6o4]

The uramawashi geri?

I would say imagine a round house kick to the face except you're hitting with the ball of your foot on the other side of the face.

Sorry I can't provide a better explanation... maybe this short Youtube video-clip link below can be of help.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y85sHS89svs&NR=1

[tallgeese]

Have you just started doing this particular kick? Often, things like this are just the body acclimating to a new movement.

[ShoriKid]

Aiyo, welcome to the forums!

The pain in your hip, is it centered in the join of the oposite leg itself, or more a pain/constriction feeling on the outside of the hip? There are a couple of stretches that help me with this issue when I had it. Creeps back into things when I've not stretched right in a while. Depending on how the pain is hitting, you'll need to stretch different muscle groups to help out with this. That, and working the mechanics out slowly before going full speed helps get the body ready for the action.

[Killer Miller]

The key to this kick is to get the knee up as high as you can prior to initiating the kick. Think of a side thrust kick where you get the knee up high before thrusting. It is a ver similar action here for this kick. If the knee does not get up first, your legs and hips are going to carry the weight of the full extended leg/foot and could possibly give you the pain you are describing...

- Killer -

[Aiyo6o4]

Tallgeese, you could be right. It seems weird though as I'm the only one in the dojo that seems to be getting this pain...

Shorikid, the pain feels like it's coming from the joint, on the opposite leg (the support leg) more than it is coming from being inflexible. I will take you up on your advice and take it slow when learning this kick.

Killermiller, how high should the knee be?

Thank you for welcoming me and for your time helping me out!

[Killer Miller]

The knee should be as high as necessary for your target area, or as high as the knee will go for higher shots and the knee inline with your target... You always think "knee to target" in all kicks. This ensure the muscles go straight out as they are designed to do, and not in a cross manner that will stress the muscles and joints.

Think of like doing a high front snap kick past the target, and on coming back, striking your target....

- Killer -

[The BB of C]

Tallgeese, you could be right. It seems weird though as I'm the only one in the dojo that seems to be getting this pain...

Shorikid, the pain feels like it's coming from the joint, on the opposite leg (the support leg) more than it is coming from being inflexible. I will take you up on your advice and take it slow when learning this kick.

Killermiller, how high should the knee be?

Thank you for welcoming me and for your time helping me out!

If it's the supporting leg around the hip, then I think perhaps you're not pivoting that leg properly.

Watch the video you posted a few times. Don't look at the leg that's kicking, look at the leg that's on the ground when he's kicking. Pay close attention to the movements that his planeted foot makes. I'll use screenshots from the video to give a better visual.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b245/Hidushikai/untitled.jpg

When you start the kick, turn your foot like in the screenshot. When starting or chambering a kick, your toes should be pointing in the direction your leg is going to go. Your heel should be pointing in the opposite direction.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b245/Hidushikai/untitled2.jpg

As you lift up your leg, keep pivoting your planted foot. Aim towards pointing your toes behind you.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b245/Hidushikai/untitled3.jpg

When the kick gets to the part where it would be connecting with a target, your toes should be pointing behind you and your heel should be pointing towards the target.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b245/Hidushikai/untitled4.jpg

Equally as important as all that, make careful note of the way the instructor sets himself down. He's basically turning his back to the target. Personally, I would suggest reversing the movements your planted foot made and setting back down in the ready stance you were in before you executed the kick. But do what you find easiest, most comfortable, and can practice to make the fastest.

If you set down with your back to the target like the screenshot or if you reverse your planted foot movements and land back in your ready stance, either way you'll prevent hurting your hips more. You'll also naturally generate more power into the kick.

Practice this footwork in the kick slowly for a few weeks and then try it fast again. Do full body stretches frequently to increase and maintain leg flexibility. If you are continuing to hurt yourself after everything else I've mentioned, it might be something internally. I don't know what your diet is like, but I would suggest adding protien for muscle mass and calcium for bone structure. Or maybe you're just a n00b and if that's the case everything will come with time and practice

[Killer Miller]

But did you notice how high he got his knee prior to executing the kick? This is critical to the kick. The action of raising the knee, naturally forces the opposing leg (supporting leg) with proper pressure for the kick.

- Killer -