slow high kicks

[beagstkd]

I'm sure this has been addressed several times in this forum but I've heard several times that to gain height (if flexible) you need to strengthen your supporting leg (not the kicking leg).

To clarify, my flexibility is fairly good where I can almost get out into a full split. While sparring I can kick quite high but where my problem comes in is when trying to do a slow kick I can't get my leg much higher than my waist.

Any truth to this problem being a strength issue, not flexibility?

[Martial Walrus]

I'm assuming you're talking about practicing kicks very slowly in order to improve balance, technique, and core strength.

This is probably a strength issue. The core muscles are essential for being able to have the control to do a kick slowly at face height. I would recommend that you focus on strengthening the muscles of your stomach, lower back, and hips.

I know a very good exercise for strengthening the lower back specifically for kicking. You may already know it, but I'll describe it for you anyway just in case you don't.

Hold onto a wall or the back a chair with one hand (for the sake of this description, we'll say it's your left hand). Point the heal of you left foot directly away from the wall and raise your right food off the ground. Your hips should be turned over, but not completely turned over and facing the floor as if you were doing a back kick. Instead, keep your hips facing the wall to your left. Your upper body should be leaned back towards the wall. Essentially, you want to be in the same position as if you were doing a round kick or spinning hook kick. Now, imagine a line going from your shoulders to your hips. Keeping your leg straight, move your right knee side to side across this line. It is most important to pull strongly when bring your leg to the right, bringing your knee past your hip so that your body makes a sort of bow shape. Do not let your upper body move, only your leg. You can begin with your leg low, around waist height. As you get better, try bring it up higher and higher until you can do it at face level. Keep doing it on one side until that side gets sore, then switch to the other leg.

I hope this helps.

[DWx]

I'd say its to do with strength. But not just the supporting leg, but the kicking leg too. Easiest thing to do to improve is just to keep doing slow kicks at a height you can reach and then work at slowly increasing the height each time you do it. Can hold on to a chair or wall for support at first. Focus on the whole kick, from the chamber right through the execution and the retraction of the leg.

Another good one is to do a slow side kick, hold it, then grip and raise the leg ~2cm, relax and raise again. Do it about 20 times and you'll feel it all down kicking leg thigh. Similarly, do the side kick and move it side to side. Make it more difficult by using ankle weights.

A horrible one to do is one legged squats whilst holding the kicking position. Best done with a partner. Do the side kick facing your partner and have them hold your leg in position. You can hold onto their other hand or belt. Bend the standing leg so you squat down and the push back up into the kicking position. Make it harder by exploding up i.e. a one legged squat jump.

[Martial Walrus]

A horrible one to do is one legged squats whilst holding the kicking position. Best done with a partner. Do the side kick facing your partner and have them hold your leg in position. You can hold onto their other hand or belt. Bend the standing leg so you squat down and the push back up into the kicking position. Make it harder by exploding up i.e. a one legged squat jump.

This sounds absolutely evil. I have to try it.

[bushido_man96]

All good advise. You can also hold the leg out in an extended kick, and do what I call "pulses," where you raise the leg up and down about 6 inches. I think that is what DWx is describing, but I do it without grabbing the leg and pulling it up; use the muscles to do so.

[DWx]

All good advise. You can also hold the leg out in an extended kick, and do what I call "pulses," where you raise the leg up and down about 6 inches. I think that is what DWx is describing, but I do it without grabbing the leg and pulling it up; use the muscles to do so.

Yep that was what I meant pulse the leg by gripping the muscle to raise it.

[bushido_man96]

All good advise. You can also hold the leg out in an extended kick, and do what I call "pulses," where you raise the leg up and down about 6 inches. I think that is what DWx is describing, but I do it without grabbing the leg and pulling it up; use the muscles to do so.

Yep that was what I meant pulse the leg by gripping the muscle to raise it.

Ah, ok. I see what you are saying now. Didn't mean to steal your idea there!

[DWx]

All good advise. You can also hold the leg out in an extended kick, and do what I call "pulses," where you raise the leg up and down about 6 inches. I think that is what DWx is describing, but I do it without grabbing the leg and pulling it up; use the muscles to do so.

Yep that was what I meant pulse the leg by gripping the muscle to raise it.

Ah, ok. I see what you are saying now. Didn't mean to steal your idea there!

Heh no, great minds think alike

[bushido_man96]

All good advise. You can also hold the leg out in an extended kick, and do what I call "pulses," where you raise the leg up and down about 6 inches. I think that is what DWx is describing, but I do it without grabbing the leg and pulling it up; use the muscles to do so.

Yep that was what I meant pulse the leg by gripping the muscle to raise it.

Ah, ok. I see what you are saying now. Didn't mean to steal your idea there!

Heh no, great minds think alike

Is it coincedence that we both do TKD? I think not!