Roundhouse

[monkeymorgan]

In my class we are told to pull our toes back when we do roundhouse, but for some reason I can't pull them back. When I do some go back and others go forward. Therefore I usually kick with the top of my foot or shins. Does anyone else have this problem?

[Zaine]

I'm a little confused. Are they asking you to perform this kick with the ball of your foot?

[yamesu]

Sounds like the ball-of-foot technique.

A few people have this issue, and it is worth pressing the ball of foot into the ground while standing or sitting, to mimick the correct position. Gets the muscle (well, technically tendon) memory going.

Furthermore, one thing that was drilled into me from a young age was to practice pulling the toes back regularly. While sitting at a desk, watching TV etc etc... Even if you only have 30 seconds, its worth doing.

[Zaine]

True, practice makes perfect. You'll get it eventually. Do what yamesu suggests. When I was doing finger strengthening I would tap my fingers everywhere. Drove people crazy.

[DWx]

Yep, practice loads. Try walking on the balls of your feet too. Also got to remember to get the foot in the correct position too. Heel slightly higher not toes/ball higher.

[monkeymorgan]

Yes it is the ball of the foot technique that I'm supposed to be doing. I have tried sitting, standing and even laying down and using a towel, but I still can't pull all of my toes back. I also discovered I can't stand on my toes like a normal person. I either stand on the edge of my big toe or crush my little toes. No matter what I do only my big toe will pull back the rest go forward. What is wrong with my crazy feet?

[JusticeZero]

Don't know. Some people in my art have had a similar issue. It doesn't show up in the kicks as we use the shin, but the ability to have the toes bend back is a necessity for some of our stances where we sit on our heel with our weight on the ball of our foot.

Squat down until you can unload your legs with a structural connection to the floor, knees more or less together. Slowly push your hips forward, which will bring your knees toward the floor. You don't need to get your knees all the way to the floor, but you want to get your lap to slope away from you at the least. Don't try to do anything in particular with your toes, just keep your weight over the ball of your feet. If you can do this without mucking up your toes, you have enough flexibility; if it's problematic, then do that as a stretch. (Negativa works better, but that would be harder to communicate, and probably require me to physically show you the stance and application.)

[todome]

Stand on your toes with your feet together for a minute or two every day. Your feet just need to learn.

[monkeymorgan]

I have tried everything. No matter what I do I either end up on the inside of my big toes or crushing my little toes. I looked in the mirror at my cat stance which is on my toes and tried it every way I could think of and just as I thought I was about to get it my ankle would jump to one side or the other. I'm getting really frustrated. Everybody else in the world can stand on their toes except me. My knees will NOT go over my toes and my feet won't point forward which I think is my problem. Any advice?

[Kuma]

I'd advise looking into getting checked out by someone knowledgeable in sports training to give you a diagnostic check on your body. There may be muscular imbalances or other issues that need to be addressed.