Kicking - flexibility and balance

[catlike]

Mawashi geri has me foxed. At a grading recently we all had to do Mae geri and Mawashi geri in four steps:

1. Lift leg up

2. Kick

3. Retract

4. Down

Then 3, then all as one. Front kick was fine, I get that, and can balance etc. But for a roundhouse, how the hell can you lift a leg up and to the side, then somehow spin round, then kick, then retract, then spin back round all on one leg?

Then I have the issue I'm not sure if you make contact with the top of your foot or the ball of your foot. Front kick is obvious, but I'm sure I saw an instructor using the ball of his foot on a roundhouse kick.

And then... Flexibility. I can just about kick at stomach level from my right leg. My left leg could maybe get to knee level but I'm all over the shop then.

I know it's practise practise practise - but are there any drills I can do that isn't kicking that will help in any way? Standing in front of my bedroom mirror I reckon I got through 50 kicks last night and still felt I was no further forward.

[Nidan Melbourne]

For the Mawashi Geri you can kick with ball of the foot OR the top of the foot.

One drill i recommend is to break it down to two steps, and work on both 2x10-15 on each leg. Step 1 is to bring leg up and pivot to the kicking position (without actually kicking). Step 2 is kick and recover.

Once you've done both steps you can combine. If i get a chance this weekend i'll film what i mean if you'd like

[LLLEARNER]

Hello catlike.

It sounds like you are new. Like me. I am 38 and just started taking karate lessons. Hip and leg flexibility is also an issue.

Mawashi Geri was tricky for me at first too.

This is the way I was taught. First lift leg to side and chamber the kick. Then I twist/spin on the balls of my foot until my foot is approximately perpendicular to my target and snap my kick out. Re-chamber my leg. Then drop back into my stance.

As Nidan said, practice the steps. Practice getting the leg into chamber and your body oriented to the target. Don't worry about the kick. Then drop back to stance. This will get you used to pivoting on one leg. It is a new skill with new motor movements combined. Practice. Practice. Practice. Do a few sets once or twice a day. This little practice sessions add up like compound interest. It also allows you to ease you muscles into the new movements.

But this is what worked for me. I know there are great Senseis (I hope I got the plural spelling correct) here for advise. They are always willing to answer questions.

If your situation is like mine, I don't have a ready training partner to practice with so I practice what can and try to work on refinements and partner work at class. I also use youtube, especially for kata work. It can be hard to remember the steps from class to class on a new kata.

Another thing I do is keep a small notebook with me. In it I have pictures and descriptions of movements and skills. When I get a few minutes here and there I review it. I also have my knowledge portions written out for study.

Welcome to the new and exciting world of Karate and to KarateForums. I have gotten good advise here and I know you will too.

[catlike]

If i get a chance this weekend i'll film what i mean if you'd like

I very much do like! Thanks for the suggestions, guys!

[JackD]

I found this article a while back which is useful for me

http://wantagekarateclub.co.uk/wordpress/?p=125

Perhaps do the drill as Nidan Melbourne suggests, but try at first holding onto the back of a chair or leaning against a wall that way you take out the balance issue and can concentrate on the technique.

Good luck with it, it's a basic kick but it isn't easy!

[JackD]

ps TURN THAT SUPPORTING FOOT!!

[LLLEARNER]

ps TURN THAT SUPPORTING FOOT!!

This can be the hardest part to get down. But turning that pivot is extremely vital to many aspects of not only karate but other martial arts. Practice is the only cure.

[JR 137]

My problem with mawashi geri is I turn too far and lean back too much. I don't have this problem during kumite, just during line drills.

[DWx]

Practice holding onto a chair and going through the motions slowly. Then build up to slowly without the chair. Then to fast.

This video might also help (i know its TKD but the principals are the same):

[LLLEARNER]

My problem with mawashi geri is I turn too far and lean back too much. I don't have this problem during kumite, just during line drills.

Have you tried visualizing a target at the same distance you kick correctly during kumite?

I know it may be trite but the difference I see is having a target and lacking one.