Kicking with the ball of the foot

[firecrackerz98]

I wanted to get some pointers on how to kick better with the ball of the foot and how your foot is supposed to be when kicking. I'm currently a white belt in Taekwondo and wanted to know how to kick with ball of your foot better with the front snap kick and the roundhouse kick. Whenever I try to do a roundhouse kick with the ball of my foot, my toes always hit the target. It is much more awkward than kicking with the instep. With the front snap kick, I hit the target with both my toes and the ball of the foot. I'm not sure if this is how you're supposed to kick it or if you only make contact with the ball.

[Wastelander]

I wanted to get some pointers on how to kick better with the ball of the foot and how your foot is supposed to be when kicking. I'm currently a white belt in Taekwondo and wanted to know how to kick with ball of your foot better with the front snap kick and the roundhouse kick. Whenever I try to do a roundhouse kick with the ball of my foot, my toes always hit the target. It is much more awkward than kicking with the instep. With the front snap kick, I hit the target with both my toes and the ball of the foot. I'm not sure if this is how you're supposed to kick it or if you only make contact with the ball.

Have someone watch you kick and make sure that you aren't pointing your foot down when you chamber it. No matter how far back you pull your toes, if your foot is extended you are going to hit with your toes.

If you have your foot correctly positioned (about a 90 degree angle to your shin) and still hit with your toes, then you may need to work on your toe flexibility. This will require stretches and static holds over a long period of time. While I can hit with the ball of my foot just fine on front kicks, I still have a hard time on roundhouse kicks, and I'm 7 years into my training. Don't expect massive leaps in progress--everything takes time

[DWx]

First and foremost stretch to get those toes pulling back and your ankle in the correct position.

Secondly you will significantly lessen the chances of hitting your toes if you are at the correct angle and distance to your target. As a rough rule, don't ball of the foot roundhouse a target that is straight in front. It's harder to get your hips and foot over. Instead use the instep or shin. Ball of the foot is more for a target that is 45° to your position.

Likewise with the front kick, ensure it is not travelling up (common beginner mistake) but extending forward into the target.

[Hawkmoon]

Kicking with the ball of the foot, takes practice and no small measures of courage!

(consider - Stub your toe, hurts doesn't it! Now kick someone!)

That pain memory is what your mind recalls/generates when you start to think about kicking and hitting your target with the ball of the foot when you are fighting!

Break the pain memory, this is important. If you do not there will always be a nagging voice in your head as you kick.

Less power less confidence....

First things first...stretch!

There is no substitute for this, stretch your toes by pulling them back (not with your hand) with the muscles in the foot.

If your at school or the office pull them back when you are sitting down, under the desk!

Something I do when I have the chance is kick the floor and walls once I have 'that' foot position. I do this to 'beat' the pain memory, to beat that fear.

Do take care your not trying to 'break' the wall or floor, just that memory.

When you kick the floor (with that foot position) do so like you have a stone in your shoe and your trying to move it the gaps in between your toes or something.

As to kicking a wall, well yes it sounds mad, to a degree it is I guess, as here you do add some power and over time you do 'go for it'!

When you kick the wall, kick it at about shin height to start with, this allows the foot to form the shape more easily as you work on breaking the memory. (Think kicking a football/Soccer ball)

As you become confident (over weeks not days and certainly not hours) aim higher and add more power.

You need only reach chudan height, as once you have reached this level you have already beat the memory, its now more a conditioning exercise!

Do the kicking as if doing a mai geri, over time once the memory has been beaten, start to kick mawashi geri, consider the head/face and your foot as a third fist!

When I fight I do use such a kick like a third punch. I prefer to kick the thigh, my opponent sees a front kick movement form my leg, and assumes a kick to the middle or head...then pow his thigh reminds him he has legs as well!