Balance on some kicks

[robothat]

So, I'm a second degree brown in Seidokan Karate.

I'm honestly quite awful though for the level at which I should be....

I have very flat feet, and they screw me over every time I'm trying to do kicks like at all; anything other than front kicks. So I train in shoes, with arch support a lot, to try to help.

Especially on side kicks this happens; after I've extended the kick, I get all wobbly on my standing foot and every single time have to like stumble and adjust my stance when I bring my kicking leg back. It affects my power and speed too; I'm awful and innacurate and can't kick high and it's just BAD.

But mostly on balance anyway; I always wobble on my standing foot, and it's very annoying and uncomfortable, and it does it even with the shoes. It feels like I'm going over onto the inside of my foot, or the ball of my foot, to keep my balance.

To what extent do any of you think this is from flat feet, and to what extent it is correctable through practice? I just can't stand strong and stable on my foot when I kick I hate it and I'm like so close to just quitting karate because of it.

Thank you!

[isshinryu5toforever]

It could just be that your legs aren't strong enough. I don't think flat feet is a huge issue, but leg strength might be. It would definitely affect your balance. Flexibility is another issue. It sounds like you have poor flexibility, which will lead to you being wobbly when moving kicks outside your comfort zone. That can be a problem if your comfort zone is about knee level. Doing yoga would likely help you a lot.

[robothat]

Thank you.

Yeah I'm not that flexible...I mean, by standards of athletes of most sports, and definitely the general population, I'm quite good in that, but in terms of martial artists I'm bad.

I think it's probably strength more than flexibility though, though flexibility is some extent I'm sure.

On front snap kicks I can get to about the level of my lower-face/chin.

Side kicks, about hip level, maybe slightly higher. Roundhouses like barely my shoulder.

But again, I'm bad on all those, especially side kick, so I think it's probably leg strength mostly...do you have any suggestions on exercises for leg strength and flexibility?

Also, is it safe to do static floor stretches before having warmed up the muscles with jumping jacks, leg lifts etc?

[isshinryu5toforever]

Active stretching is better than static stretching when you are just starting a workout. As far as leg strength goes, squats and lunges are a good place to start.

[conrad665]

So, I'm a second degree brown in Seidokan Karate.

I'm honestly quite awful though for the level at which I should be....

I have very flat feet, and they screw me over every time I'm trying to do kicks like at all; anything other than front kicks. So I train in shoes, with arch support a lot, to try to help.

Especially on side kicks this happens; after I've extended the kick, I get all wobbly on my standing foot and every single time have to like stumble and adjust my stance when I bring my kicking leg back. It affects my power and speed too; I'm awful and innacurate and can't kick high and it's just BAD.

But mostly on balance anyway; I always wobble on my standing foot, and it's very annoying and uncomfortable, and it does it even with the shoes. It feels like I'm going over onto the inside of my foot, or the ball of my foot, to keep my balance.

To what extent do any of you think this is from flat feet, and to what extent it is correctable through practice? I just can't stand strong and stable on my foot when I kick I hate it and I'm like so close to just quitting karate because of it.

Thank you!

I have flat feet, too and I am a second degree brown belt in Shotokan. I use strong bandages to support my arches. My feet really hurt after a tiring workout.

I agree with isshinryu5toforever, your wobbling may be due to lack of strength. I haven't had such problems so far. You can do some stretching concentrated on your calf muscles. It really works both on strength and easing the pain of flat feet.

I prefer warming up a little bit before stretching. It is more comfortable. Stretching with a friend is the easiest and quickest(and most painful ) way of being flexible. You can do something like having him push the insides of your thighs with his feet while pulling your arms, or push you from your back while your legs are wide open. Putting one foot on a wall and trying to raise it higher is my favourite. Good luck

[ninjanurse]

I would guess that it is all in your balance and where your center of mass is moving to during execution-if it moves aways from your supporting leg you will wobble or fall. Even small upper body movements or head movements can affect this! Perhaps someone can watch you and analyze your movements?

As far as flexibility goes-focus on technique first. Your kicks will get higher as you become more flexible but they won't get any better without training the muscles,ligaments, and tendons to go in all the right places. A daily stretching routine is the only way to go.

[zalexia]

I am also brown belt and i find that the rapid rate they are showing us new and more complex kicks are driving me nuts too. I currently have multiple sclerosis and balance is always an issue for it. Although practice practice practice has helped me w/ balance. Take spinning back kick for example.

I felt i couldnt do it , hated it yet i went home and practiced holding on to a counter and just getting the motion down. then i figured out where the center of gravity is and weight distrubtion, once u get all that down i figured out where the power came from. Try asking your teachers too for help sometimes mine will take the time to show me where the balance is i am missing or some part i am missing. i now can do a spinning back kick pretty well but still want to practice impacting the pad more. I always work my good side first if i dont have it right and then i know how it feels and what i have to do on my weak side.

i am allotted to actually wear water shoes in class due to my ms. I can't feel the ground if i am in bare feet. may ask ur teacher if thats ok. water shoes arent that hard and make sure u get one that are soft on the top if u do.

[JusticeZero]

Walk Barefoot.

When walking barefoot (or in super-thin shoes that don't have heels or support) you naturally shift to a more digitigrade position and have to use a lot more and different muscles than usual. These muscles include the ones that you need to stabilize yourself with, and they will get quite the strengthening workout. Don't overdo it, but don't underdo it either.

[DWx]

I'd guess at the strength issue too. Strength in the supporting leg is just as important as strength in the kicking leg, if not more so. I saw the biggest improvement in my balance and ability to kick after I started biking everywhere instead of bus or car so I'd definitely recommend putting in some sessions on the bike. Greatly improves the quads, glutes and calves. Maybe try stuff like squats too. Or even just practice doing the kicks slowly over and over again, maybe using something to hold on to until you get better.

TBH your level of flexibility sounds about mine... don't let that worry you too much. Better to have good lower level kicks that actually do something than high flicky kicks.

[robothat]

Thank you for the advice everyone.

I've been trying to practice kids and flexibility for several weeks, but have now decided to quit martial arts.

My feet are gonna screw me over every time, I'm not improving in either strength or flexibility, and to be honest I'm too old to really improve at all anymore considering where I'm starting from now.