Learning to kick with the ball of the foot instead of shin

[pathgen]

Hello

I have a question I am wondering if anyone can answer. I took a style of Karate when I was younger that was very much like shotokan, but not shotokan. They taught me how to do the roundhouse while using my shin.

Fast-forward to now and my current dojo which is traditional shotokan does roundhouse kicks with the ball of the foot. However, my leg doesnt seem to want to cooperate. I can kick fine with my shin, but trying to kick with my foot seems to throw my balance entirely off. I wonder if my foot is not flexible enough when my leg is up or something. I think the problem might be when I chamber the leg and tighten unnecessary muscles in my foot.

I have been stretching and practicing, but it has been a little over a year and many other things have improved, but I still can't get the roundhouse right with the foot.

Does anyone have any advice or suggestions that might help?

[ps1]

You're probably off balance because shin kicks require a different hip action and leg action than kicking with the ball of the foot. With the typical shin kick, the hip tends to lead the entire leg, like a bull whip leads from the handle. However, with the traditional roundhouse kick, while the hip motion is still instrumental, the knee tends to lead the action with the hip action unfolding into the strike behind it.

So with a shin kick, you tend to have no bend at the hip joint during the kicking process. The knee is bent while the kick is en route and unfolds as you make contact.

With a traditional round house kick, you tend to have a bend at the hip and the knee. As the ball of the foot begins moving toward the target, the hip also begins to unfold in order to translate the rotational motion into through the leg into the target.

That may sound confusing. Sorry if it does. Just ask your instructor to go over the technique very slowly. Then, at home, compare the hip and knee action of the two kicks. You'll see what I mean.

[Dobbersky]

Sounds like you studied Kyokushin. The only "Traditional" style I know that kicks with the SHIN!

Round kick is a Round kick whether you strike with the foot or the shin!

Its about practice, practice, practice!!!

I would suggest back to basics and break the kick down to its components using a chair for balance then go from there

[Epic Martial Arts]

TRY PIVOTING the leg you are standing on 180 degrees, that can help.

[pathgen]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I think you are right ps1, I will have to practice in front of a mirror and experiment with it.

I didn't study Kyokushin, I studied a style called Gosoku-Ryu, which is very much like Shotokan. The founder of Gosoku-Ryu and Mas Oyama used to train together and were good friends, so I would imagine they could have shared ideas when forming both of their styles.

[Jissen]

A 'ball of the foot" roundhouse kick, is basically just a front kick turned on its side. Not literally, but it's a good way to begin.

It does not go sideways on impact, it goes TOWARD (into) the opponent like a spear. Infact it's easy if you start throwing a front kick...then just pivot on your support leg, allowing your hip to turn over.

Btw...Uechi Ryu has always used their shins as well, even though it's not part of their kata

[bushido_man96]

All good advise. Something you might consider doing is breaking the kick down into its component parts; the chamber, the kick, the re-chamber, and the return to the floor. After doing it piece by piece, using a wall or chair to balance if need be, try going from chamber to kick to rechamber, and just do lots of reps. See how it feels, and related what you see out of your leg to what you are feeling when you kick. Then try to isolate that spot, makes some changes if you need to, and work the reps again. It should get fixed in no time.

I'm not sure if ps1 is describing a Muay Thai version of a shin kick as compared to a more "traditional" round kick, but it kind of sounds that way (please let me know if I'm off, ps1). If that's the case, does you shin kick only go belt level and under, or do you kick higher with it? If it is a difference in kicking height, then that could be the issue. I think its harder to do the Thai style shin kick higher, but that's from my experience, having short and stubby legs. That could be a spot to check out, too.

[Nadopi]

Very interesting! Thank you!

[Harkon72]

The two kicks are very different, with the kin kick, the feet are 180 degrees away from each other. With the ball kick the feet should be parallel.

[bushido_man96]

The two kicks are very different, with the kin kick, the feet are 180 degrees away from each other. With the ball kick the feet should be parallel.

I'm not sure I see what you mean here. Could you elaborate some, please?