Kicking Techniques

[Marc_2002]

I'm trying to improve my turning kick, or what some arts call 'round-house' kick. It may be one of the mostsimple of kicks yet, after two years of training I'm still having difficulties.

For example, doing a waist height turning kick and slightly just above is fine. When reaching head height there is a problem. I can reach head height but a) there's no power b) I'm leaning back too much rather than keeping upright and c) my technique is wrong as my knee is dipping too much i.e. facing downwards instead of upwards.

I'm fairly flexible and have strong legs, but something is lacking, Im not sure how I can improve in order to execute a high turning kick with power, correct technique and keeping more upright.

I'm guessing if I were able to bring my knees higher up to my chest then this would help, but its difficult...Im guessing that any improvement in my turning kick would also improve my side kick (in terms of height).

Anyone has any similar problems? or anyone know of any good exercises for this?

[Ice Phoenix]

Try concentrating on keeping your back straight and twisting at the hips more!

But anyways, why do you want to do head-high round-houses; the lower the better!

[Marc_2002]

ICE PHOENIX....

I do Wing Chun and TKD...high kicks aren't relevant to Wing Chun, but they are to TKD. I'm going on to Red Belt soon and I want to be able to use the proper technique. I mean, I could get away with doing it as I am at the moment, but Im not happy with it.

Also...High kicks are important in sparring, at this level people usually have learnt to keep their guard up at all times, so waist level kicks wont to me much good, and I usually end up kicking people elbows...whic hurts. On the other hand, people seem not to be too smart about keeping their heads protected at all times - I rarely use turning kicks in sparring, which is a shame, but I think its about time I got the height and power to make them worthwhile in a competition.

[MinisterofDeath]

TKD and Wing Chun

Marc,
I also do wing chun. How is it going for you? I've been debating if I should take TKD or not. How are you punching when you spar/fight? Are you using a vertical fist or horizontal? If I do start TKD I will also be learning Hapkido.

[Marc_2002]

***MinisterofDeath***

Wing CHun is going great. I started it a phew months after TKD. As for how i punch, obviously in classes i punch regularly, but in sparring i punch as we do in WIng Chun as I think it is more powerful (nobody has noticed yet, or said anything to me about punching this way so I guess it's ok).

Realistically tough, in TKD punches aren't worth much, its about how you kick. Doing TKD I tinhk would be a good thing to do alongside Wing Chun as you get skills in both Distance and Close-quarter fighting/sparring. As for doing Hapkido at the same time as TKD I wouldnt advise it. I was considering the same thing at one point and wastold that it really isnt worth it as many bad habits can be picked up from studying the two at the same time.

The advice I was given was to perhaps consider doing Hapkido when I become more advanced at Taekwondo i.e Black Belt and above, but I guess you know what is best for you and perhaps you have been advised differently.

[Brokenmace]

Hi, Marc_2002,

I don't do TKD anymore. I only did it for a few months when I was ten. Now I do Jun Fan Gungfu, which contains elements of Wing Chun principles in it. I also practice a little Filipino Kali.

My point is, Jun Fan is heavily influenced by kick boxing, specifically Thai and elements of Karate, mixed with Western Boxing.

I don't know what your dojo's (or your) goal is, but it seems like you are going more for form than efficiency. Some folks think they are the same. Not always.

For instance, I bend backward all the time when I deliver roundhouses (we call them hook kicks). This keeps my head out of the way of their feet. It also keeps your body closer to the ground, so if they sweep you, you don't have as far to fall, and rolling away is easier.

Also, we don't like to kick to the head. I realize this is a problem in most TKD dojos, since in point sparring it is the waist and above, right? We believe kicking to the head is poor for balance, and leaves you open to counter attack. But then, we don't point spar.

My point is that if you must kick above the waist, then you should trap the oppenent's arm first, usually off a punch. This is highly effective, but you might be hindered by your regulation gear, although I seem to remember that Fairtex gloves I used to wear left your fingers free.

Grab his punching hand and pull him into a sidekick or roundhouse (this kind of roundhouse works best if you are in opposite leads, though).

As for turning your knee down? I've never heard of that. Most folks I know have a problem with turning their knee too far UP on high kicks. Hmmm. You might be turning over too much with your hip. The knees usually follow the hip in most kicks. Are off balance with your knee like that? Try and keep the side of your hip that corresponds to your kicking leg point at the ceiling at a 45 degree angle.

good luck

[MinisterofDeath]

Brokenmace,
Kicking to the head is not a problem for all people, just the ones recieving the kick
I admit the you shouldn't kick to the head unless you have the skill to pull it off, otherwise your nuts will be beat into a fine paste. The TKD blackbelts that I know can do this and pretty much kick as fast as I punch, they also have a crazy sense of balance.

Marc,
thanx for the response and advice.

[Brokenmace]

You'll note that I didn't actually say high kicks can't or even shouldn't be done. It's just not our focus. We stop folks fine by kicking out knees, thighs, and groins.

I was around a lot of black belts. Sure, it was years ago, but I saw some wild stuff back then. But adrenal dumps and survival stress do a lot to a person. I've known more than one high kicker to resort to boxing and low kicks because they were more natural and relied less on secondary responses.

Having said all that, high kicks certainly have a place in combat. My strategy is to employ them after I've gained the upper hand, to finish them off.

But I'm not sure combat is the point here. I probably wondered too far off topic. My previous pointers on high-kicking still stand. We practice them all the time at our kwoon, because we need to know how to defend against them.

[tekkenmaster]

Hi i'm new here. I've been doing tkd for about 7 years.

If you want to have good high turning kicks, you should do some running to warm up, say 10 mins, then leg stretching like front splits both sides then box splits.
Doing lots of sit ups and running can help you as this gives you more strength to control your technique.
Just practice doing it and you'll get there in the end.
hworang from tekken 3 has good kicks. press the right kick button or circle on the ps1 and he will do a high section turning kick perfectly for you. Just copy him!

[Marc_2002]

Thx for the responses guys,

I think its time i got out TEKKEN...lol Unfortunately the style I do of TKD is WTF. therefore we dont use gloves nor can we grab etc...only kicks and punches (not to the head), I guess that's why high kicks are important. As for fitness, I already do quite a bit of running and stretch for an hour each day! I think the problem with me is the strength in my upper legs which is why i struggle to do a high turning kick properly and with power...I guess practice makes perfect, but that could take some time...

[Ice Phoenix]

If any sort of muscular weakness is the cause of your problem it would originate in your lower/central back, not your legs! Believe it that round-kicking power comes largely from those areas of your back more so than your leg! And don't worry about your power yet, technique comes first and then the power!

And so the Tae-Kwon-Do style you do is 'What the F*ck' is it?

That's exactly what I would say when I found out I couldn't punch to the head, grab, or use gloves! "What the F*ck" I would say!

[aseepish]

Originally posted by tekkenmaster


If you want to have good high turning kicks, you should do some running to warm up, say 10 mins, then leg stretching like front splits both sides then box splits.

There's another reason why low kicks are prefered by some - no warm up or stretching needed, and less risk of hurting yourself if you need to throw one in an emergency.

[Crash Stitches]

dude, you're almost a red belt in TKD and you can't do a round kick? What effing McDojang are you "training" at? I did TKD for 6 months and was teeing off on heads in 2 weeks....

[Marc_2002]

Crash_Stitches...

**CRASH **

Thanks for the 'modesty' and vote of confidence. Good for you, I'm glad you seem to have a natural ability at these things, however if you read what I wrote you wouldnt really have botherd.

Some people try and better what they can do, instead of thinking that theyre already good enough, and as for kicks, you can never think that theyre good enough or don't need improving.

People with a little less arrogance are ready to look at themselves and admit that things need improving. That's the way forward...does anyone else agree?

[tekkenmaster]

i agree with marc_2002