Streching for high kick in MT.

**evil_e** · Posted On: 10/10/2006 1:22pm

I have been training in MT for a couple of months.
I can do low-mid level kicks reasonably well (hip twist, impact with front of the shin, etc).
Yet, I seem to make zero progress in kicking higher than my opponents upper arms.
The problem is not that I cannot get the leg high enough, but I seem to be unable to turn the leg in such a way that the impact happens with the front of the shin. I feel what limits me is both strength and flexibility. What's annoying is that I seem "locked", whereas other things slowy get better, this problem (unable to twist when foot is at head level) simply resists any attempts to improve it.
Hence, I was wondering if somebody could recommend some exercises to help with this (besides kicking) (could not find anything to this very specific problem using the search function).
Yes, this is my first post, so please blame/ridicule/attack me, if you must.

-E

**Draven** · Posted On: 10/10/2006 1:29pm

Splits, splits, splits....

**alex** · Posted On: 10/10/2006 2:24pm

keep stretching and practicing. some people can do this right away others take a while.

**Epicurus** · Posted On: 10/10/2006 2:32pm

I have a similar problem. I can kick that high but I can't do it with proper form. In my case it's because I let my kicks fall by the wayside and worked mainly on punches and now it's on my "to-do" list like cleaning the leaves out of my gutter. Just keep working on the splits - I'm sure you could find many articles on how to increase your leg flexibility in general, which is what you should do anyway even if you only want a specific kick. Give it time - like gaining muscle mass, flexibility shows no improvement at all at first and then suddenly you notice it all at once (at least that's what happens to me).

If the problem persists, then you are a mutant with deformed hips and should pursue a career in some sort of travelling show, charging five bits a gander.

***WhiteShark*** · Posted On: 10/10/2006 2:38pm

Splits never helped me much for MT high kicks. Hip flexibility and proper form are more important. Are you 100% sure your support foot is pointing Away from the target at impact?

Butterfly stretches and deep front-stance like stretches loosen my hips the best. Splits help with certain apects but loose hips and good form always gets me kicking higher and harder in the end.

**wackamole** · Posted On: 10/10/2006 4:47pm

PnF stretching, and/or yoga.

And prepare to be in a lot of pain the older you are.

**VikingPower** · Posted On: 10/10/2006 4:53pm

Dynamic stretching helped get my kicks up. My jodan mawashi before was only slightly higher than my chudan, but now I'm to the point where I can actually kick someone in the dome.

**Hannibal** · Posted On: 10/11/2006 12:36am

Just out of curiosity, when are you stretching. Most of your stretching should be done after hard training. That way, your muscles are warm and limber. Never stretch a cold muscle without warming up.

**octaviousbp** · Posted On: 10/11/2006 1:19am

A light warmup, followed by dynamic stretching, including sport specific motions works for me.

In my experience, splits will help you to do... splits. I save static stretching for cool downs to help with recovery.

Gradually increasing the height of your kicks on the heavybag will eventually give you a higher kick, plus it is training a sports specific movement that is valuable to your sport. Your training and stretching at the same time.

Hope this helps.