BALANCE

[50bob]

being new to karate,I am having some trouble keeping my balance like when I do a side kick or something else.

Any suggestions would be helpful

thanks Bob

[white owl]

Hey Bob, check out this link on the forums http://www.karateforums.com/any-ideas-for-improving-balance-vt36001.html

[joesteph]

I've had balance problems doing Soo Bahk Do, Bob, and I came across some videos by this gentleman:

In this video, he explains about turning the supporting leg's foot for side or roundhouse kicks, the heel of the supporting leg facing the target, of course. In another video, which I didn't bookmark, he gave additional advice that is simple and effective.

In this video, he speaks of turning the foot of the supporting leg, but how people frequently turn only the lower leg, not the upper and hip areas of the body. He's referring to needing to do this to protect the knee, but I discovered that by concentrating on the whole leg turning, my balance improved.

He also says in this video to keep the supporting leg straight, as in not bending the knee.* Again, this is about protecting the knee, but I discovered that it's a balance aid.

In another video, the one that I hadn't bookmarked, he suggests in a portion of it that beginners first turn the supporting leg, and then chamber for side or roundhouse kicks. While I didn't need to do this for the side "snap" kick in my art, I found that it was easier (as in easier=balance) to do a variation of the side kick, nicknamed the "screwdriver," by first turning the supporting leg and aiming its heel at the target.

I suggest you examine that you're turning the whole supporting leg, have the heel of the supporting leg facing the target, and even try turning the supporting leg's heel first, then chambering, to see if it eases you into better balance.

*EDIT: After reading Cathal's post, below, I realize I may not have been clear. I don't mean to keep the leg "ramrod stiff"; I'm referring to the video in which there's a noticeable bend in the knee by the demonstrator.

Edited September 14, 2009 by joesteph

[cathal]

If you are new to martial arts I can suggest, beyond "practice, practice, practice", to make sure posture and positioning are correct. First, if you have one leg in the air make sure your supporting leg isn't completely straight, a slight bend in your knee will help you to balance. If you notice how far your limbs are from your body centre you can see that this will affect your balance as well. For example if you are balancing on one leg and you have one of your arms from your centre moved to the side your balance can change.

So that, along with the other advice here, and from your instructor, your balance can improve.

Simple exercise:

1. Stand behind a chair.

2. Lift one leg, balancing one the other.

3. If you start to lose balance attempt to keep it with your muscles, grab the chair with your hands as you need to.

Start with 5-10 seconds at first. Move on up to 5 minutes, and so on.

[sensei8]

I can't truly add anything to any of the other posts to your question because white owl, joesteph, and cathal have done an excellent job of heading you down the right path of "Balance".

If I was to add something to this discussion, it would be this. STRETCH FIRST...THE ENTIRE BODY...NOT JUST PORTIONS!

[bushido_man96]

I agree with Bob; the advise so far is all good. Doing simple things like standing on one leg for timed segments can help improve your balance. As that gets easier, start kicking without putting the foot down.

I am also a big advocate of pivoting the base foot before the chamber or kick, like Joe talked about in his post. An instructor of mine called it the "pre-pivot," and I think it is a good way to save the knees in the long run.

[Tiger1962]

being new to karate,I am having some trouble keeping my balance like when I do a side kick or something else.

Any suggestions would be helpful

thanks Bob

This is normal for people who are new to karate and you probably will hear this from others but eventually after enough practice, it does get better. When I was new, I'd try and practice some things at home to get better control of my balance, such as when I'd be brushing my teeth or standing at the sink, I'd do it on one leg and have the other leg tucked behind my standing leg or in a yoga type pose and have the raised leg with foot resting on the standing leg. I have taken a few yoga lessons and found that helped my balance in karate tremendously. If you Google some one legged standing yoga poses you will see what I mean.

[tonydee]

Exercises that require you to balance and move on something unstable are particularly good. The most obviously accomplished person I know is Greg Laughlin (a book by his brother: http://www.amazon.com/Stretching-Flexibility-Kit-Laughlin/dp/0743200691)... who I remember mentioning he'd worked up to one-legged up-and-down squatting on one of those big plastic balls, apparently terrific for developing core strength. The point is just that when the body's intuition is that losing balance might be dangerous, the nervous system kicks in and works the supporting muscles much harder, so they gain strength quickly. Simply standing on one leg on a stable floor won't produce comparable benefits, but might be a reasonable way to start, and sufficient depending on your goals.

Cheers, Tony

[bushido_man96]

Well, there are basics and starting points for everything, Tony. That does sound like a good way to enhance training for balance, and is a good consideration.

[BDPulver]

Well everyone else pretty much summed it up best. Only thing I will add is to keep your knees slightly bent. Its normal for the leg to went to straighten out and is the one problem alot of new students to MA find. Takes practice and patience but you will get there.