Hold side kick vertical?

[xnfx]

Hey guys.
I was watching some ISKA kata competitions on ESPN, and there were a couple Taekwondo guys I think. They could hold their side kick almost vertical. I was wondering if you guys could tell me what kind of stretches and exercises you do to achieve that? I know it takes years or persistance, but what can get me started towards that goal?

Thanks

[Tant01]

Gymnastics...?

[elliotNess]

It may be natural ability.

[Tant01]

Someone needs to be kicked hard by a decent TKD man... Seems like a reverse spinning thrust kick to the rib cage was a TKD technique used in more than one televised MMA event recently...

Guess you missed that one, eh? Oh yeah... the TKD guy was a mmartist that won his match. Anyone recall his name... (not Bonnar, S.)

[EmptyneSs]

i sparred a tkd/boxing guy a few weeks ago, he was pretty good. he caught me with a nice tkd roundhouse to my ribs that knocked the wind out of me, it was pretty painful. his only problem was that he kept hurting his foot when i would block his kicks with shins and elbows. he was fast and agile, and could fight from both sides. obviously he took his training very seriously.