General Questions

[Billy Bucholtz]

Firstly, hello I am new.

 

Secondly, I am considering muay thai lessons with a local instructor. I have done a few lessons in the past and have some basic techniques down, but since the only other martial art I've even attempted in my life is western boxing my legs are neither supple nor very powerful, and I feel tremendously awkward while kicking. I have for the most part decided to work on balance and stretching in my own time, since the classes are more or less focused on the actual techniques and there is very little warming up or excercise involved at the start; however, being a complete dunce when it comes to these sorts of excercises, I have sort of hit the wall a bit.

 

Has anyone got any good stretching excercises or tips to improve my kicking? I'm not looking to be able to exhert Bruce Lee-like power at the moment, just as long as I can keep myself upright whilst throwing a high hook kick, that will suffice for the m,oment.

 

Secondly, I have recently started reading the aforementioned Mr Lee's Tao Of Jeet Kune Do, and am quite interested in learning this martial art. However, I've seen in several places that it is far more beneficial to at least study Jun Fan Gung Fu for a while first before attempting JKD, as that was the style which Bruce Lee was schooled in and therefore would give a better base on which to build JKD knowledge. My question here is two-fold; where can I get more information on JKD and Jun Fan gung fu, and does anyone know a decent school which teaches either in the British Isles?

 

Thanks

[SaiFightsMS]

Take a look around various areas of the forum. In health and fitness there is a thread full of stretching links. And over time a lot of questions have been asked about how to improve kicking techniques.

[Billy Bucholtz]

It wasn't actually tips to improve technique I was looking for; my complete lack of any technique whatsoever where kicking is concerned is the main problem. I know that stretching will help, but what I was looking for was if anyone had any advice on how to stay on my feet whilst kicking, as falling over each time I try to do a high side kick is a bit embarrassing.

[CheekyMusician]

It wasn't actually tips to improve technique I was looking for; my complete lack of any technique whatsoever where kicking is concerned is the main problem. I know that stretching will help, but what I was looking for was if anyone had any advice on how to stay on my feet whilst kicking, as falling over each time I try to do a high side kick is a bit embarrassing.

 

Balance comes with experience. I'm sure everyone has lost their balance when trying to do a kick. I've only been doing martial arts for a year, but I've found my balance has improved significantly. When I first started even my low kicks were wobbly. When I started to get a bit more adventurous and tried high kicks, I sometimes toppled over. Yeah, it is embarrassing, but everyone else will probably have done it at some stage.

 

Just keep practicing, and without even thinking about it, you'll find your balance has improved.

[DokterVet]

When you kick, keep your other (non-kicking) knee bent for ballance. Practice keeping your ballance by standing on one foot to stretch, to tie your, shoe, whenever you get the chance.

 

Also, try to relax your upper body when you kick. Your feet and hands should be able to work independantly. Don't stiffen up.

 

But you also need the flexibility. If you don't have that, you won't be able to get your leg up without falling over.

[Padawon]

go for it