Problem with Roundhouse kicks

[XGPAT]

I've been doing shukokai karate for about six years now, and in the last year or so I've had some problems with my roundhouse kicks (also problems with hook kicks and side kicks).

I dont know if its a flexibility problem or not, but when doing these kicks I feel strong pain in my hip joints, and as a result I often lean back a lot (bad technique). in order to get my leg up high enough.

When this problem started I noticed I would twist around too far during the kick, so my supporting leg was almost facing backwards and my kicking knee was pointing to the ground.

Then when attempting to correct this by under twisting my body, I notice the angle between my flat stomach and the kicking leg is less than 180 degrees.

If I try to put my hips and legs in the correct orientation, I cannot lift the leg very at all.

I can identify the pain another way. You know that stretch where you stand with your legs apart, touch the floor in front of you, touch the floor behind you (by reaching between your legs), then bring your upper body upwards and push your hips forward- I feel a lot of pain when I come up to straighten my upper body. Hips just hurt a lot.

I don't know if this hip joint pain is because of poor flexibility, poor hip muscle strength, or some sort of joint damage.

Can anybody help?

[yamesu]

Osu,

Sounds like a flexibility issue to me.

Stretching Scientifically has a test that is useful to work out what your individual limits are (and if you can do Yoko Keage at chudan, you will definately be able to strech to the point you can do Jodan Mawashi).

But try this - stand up straight and pull your foot into sokuto, then swing it up to the side. If you can get to your hip height with both legs, your hips and pelvic bones are not the problem, its a muscle and tendon flexibility issue. If not, your body may not be built for high kicks.

I have always been shocking at Jodan Mawashi, and only started to get better at it in the past couple of years (mid, Ive been doing Kyokushin for nearly 18 years). Try the stretching in the vid from 3:00-3:20 twice to three times a day and see if it works in assisting your technique and flexibility:

It has helped me! Good luck.

Osu!

[MaxMarks]

You may also want to try working on your core strength. That kind of pain can be caused by week stabilizing muscles. You may have nice strong primary movers (the big muscle groups) that are over shooting the capability of your smaller stabilizing muscles. Add some destabilized core exercises to your routine. There are several planking exercises where you balance on one hand or foot or both. Also, try sitting on the floor and pulling your feet off the ground then tossing a medicine ball with someone. Do your best to keep your feet up. Going back to a low roundhouse on a bag or pad too may help. Do some research on core exercises you'll find plenty to keep you going for a while.

[XGPAT]

I tried standing straight and swinging my leg up on each side, while keeping my foot pointing forward. I can barely get it to about 2 thirds of the way up to hip height. At this height, the pain is present but mild, and I notice that the limiting factors for this leg lift feel a bit like inflexibility and muscular insufficiency.

The other day I felt a very intense instance of this pain that I am talking about. Ill explain how I found it:

I was lying on my back, and my knees were together, and my feet were on the floor together. My legs were making an A shape, as in my knees were bent and my hips were bent as well. My lap was making a 45 degree angle with my stomach. (No pain yet)

Then, while keeping my feet together, I spread my knees apart. I only moved them a bit when my hip joints started hurting a lot. I think the angles on two planes are a very important aspect of this pain.

*This pain is nothing like stretching pain, it doesn't feel like tendons, it feels like the actual bone joint of my hips.*

Also it might be relevant that I am 17 years old nearly 18, and this pain only started when I was 15 or 16 about.

[MasterPain]

That sounds serious. You should get that x-rayed.

[Zaine]

That sounds serious. You should get that x-rayed.

I agree. It sounds like you've had an injury that hasn't healed correctly. Check it out immediately if not sooner.

[XGPAT]

I consulted a physiotherapist, and I'm quite sure I have some sort of Femoral Acetabular Impingement (FAI) - It is present in both hips, and is only present at the sides where the leg would go in a mawashi geri.

[MasterPain]

Anything they can do for it?

[XGPAT]

Well i'm just doing some exercises and stretches at the moment - but its possible that x-rays will be needed

[Liam888]

ive got same problem what kind of stretches the physio give you