How do I get my kicks faster?

[-OrangeJuice-]

I'm a 2nd degree black belt in Tang Soo Do/Korean Karate, and my kicks, punches, and techniques are all pretty strong. But one thing I never really focused on was the speed of my kicks. So now I really want to focus on getting them faster. I've heard from some places that using ankle weights are not good for kicking because they force the weight down instead of forcing the weight against the kick. I've heard of these things called kinetic bands though that are like resistance bands but they are strapped onto your thighs and they provide resistance. Have you guys heard of that? If you haven't, what can I do to get my kicks faster?

[Wastelander]

I'm a 2nd degree black belt in Tang Soo Do/Korean Karate, and my kicks, punches, and techniques are all pretty strong. But one thing I never really focused on was the speed of my kicks. So now I really want to focus on getting them faster. I've heard from some places that using ankle weights are not good for kicking because they force the weight down instead of forcing the weight against the kick. I've heard of these things called kinetic bands though that are like resistance bands but they are strapped onto your thighs and they provide resistance. Have you guys heard of that? If you haven't, what can I do to get my kicks faster?

I haven't heard about those, but I found kicking underwater to be helpful for strength and speed in my kicks

[KarateGeorge]

In my own training, I've found plyometric exercises targeting legs for kicks and arms/upper torso for punches to be helpful as well. Though you may not be performing the specific techniques of a kick, punch, etc., you are still working on building the "explosive" power of the muscle groups used by those techniques.

[bushido_man96]

Plyometrics and a good sprint program will help improve the speed of your kicks. I'd talk to a personal trainer, and get something set up you can follow.

Also, make sure to keep stretching.

[honoluludesktop]

A strong feeling strike without speed is more like a shove then a strike. If truly strong, it's probably "fast enough". As the goal is to strike down the opponent, then the strike need only be strong enough, but requires judging range, stealth, and accuracy.

[Jay]

I know you won't like it but I find after a few weeks of practicing kicks you get faster.

Repitition breads speed and coordination. Like when you learned how to type on a keyboard the more you do it the faster and better you get without even realising.

[Ti]

relax

[brickshooter]

IMO, the best training is flexibility and balance training, then kick repetition. The best kickers I've ever seen were the ones who don't telegraph their kicks. They don't look that fast when observing as a spectator. But they always tag their opponents.

Aids such as ankle weights is a recipe for hyper-extension.

[Benkyou]

I saw this youtuve video about speed kick...

And I will look for another video with special train of speed kick.. It was very good... I will try to find it !

[ThaiBoxerGene]

Any form of resistance training is good for speeding any strike. But, in my own personal experience, the only time it ever helps me get faster is directly right after I start kicking or punching without a band/weight.

Bottom line, only way you can really improve anything, whether it be strength, technique, or even speed, is to just keep at the rate of training you are going.