Respol

While I know that everyone may throw their roundhouse kicks a little differently, I think we'd all agree that the body mechanics should be the same for everyone.

With that said here's my problem/question. When I throw a roundhouse, I tend to have trouble twisting my kicking leg so that the impact of the kick is on the FRONT of my shin, instead, I tend to hit the bag with the INSIDE of my shin...I guess somehting like what TKD calls a crescent kick.

What training techniques are there to improve this twisting?

I am very very NONflexible. Would just kicking in the air with multiple sets help? Stretching?

Hardball

I had the same problem when I was a novice. If you are like me; you are probably working on the flexibility in your legs..My new instructor {several years after I was in the arts} gave me some exercises for the flexibility in the HIPS. THAT IS WHAT I WAS MISSING; HIP FLEXIBILITY EXERCISES. Even non flexible people can improve; I've stretched at least 15 minutes a day for the last 12 years with an average of 30 minutes and a high of 90 minutes. You can improve but you have to work at it. The best hip flexibility exercises are the ones that emulate "Lovemaking". Yes, the muscles you use in screwing will improve your roundhouse kicks, provided you use circular motions and do it daily.

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The Way of the Warrior is Practice. Daily practice, accumulate practice minute by minute, hour by hour and day by day. {Book of 5 Rings} Mike Brewers 2008 Sit up challenge 50,000/100,000 running balance.(Crunches) Kicks 6,300/100,000

HtTKar

alot of people have problems pivoting on their non-kicking foot properly. To help, you can use a wall to support you and make sure that you are pivoting on your foot properly when trying to execute a kick. If you focus on form, even when your not using a wall you will start to kick properly.

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Tom Yum

Is the reverse true?

Hardball

Yea I remember those exercises also. My instructor had me use a chair to work on my pivot. Hours and hours of holding a chair with one hand and just working on that pivot, mechanics and form.

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The Way of the Warrior is Practice. Daily practice, accumulate practice minute by minute, hour by hour and day by day. {Book of 5 Rings} Mike Brewers 2008 Sit up challenge 50,000/100,000 running balance.(Crunches) Kicks 6,300/100,000

AlexJitsu

I actually chamber my leg to the side for a round kick, grab my leg, and pull up. That seems to work.

Also, the stretch you're talking about is called the reverse butterfly.

Respol

Hardball and Alex,

Think you could descrive/explain this reverse butterfly stretch?
Or perhaps send me a link?

Is the the reverse butterfly the only hip exercise out there?

Thanks people!

Python

I have a couple students who are also very,very tight in their hips, but it is not just them...other novice students throw the roundkick that way too when starting out. It all boils down to the base foot pivoting and turning your kicking side shoulder (and yes the hip) over more. Are you standing up too tall as you kick?? It also helps to lean to the side or back a bit while kicking too. Even the students I have with tight hips, once they learn how to pivot the base foot correctly, they begin to hit with the correct part of the shin.

But yes, I agree, ya gotta stretch, stretch, and stretch some more.

OH, one more point, which happens alot too...when in your stance, as you step with your lead leg to kick with your back leg...are you stepping out at a 45 degree angle, or stepping straight forward?? 'Cause you have to step at a 45 or you will also be more constricted which will put more pressure on your hips to turn over.

GonzoStyles

you should not lean back or to the side to get the right angle, as a matter of fact you should stand tall as you kick to maintain a stance that is not off balance, hip flexibility more specific hip-flexor flexibility is the key and practice practice practice.

Python

So, what you are telling me is if you attempt a roundkick to the opponent's lead leg at the same time he attempts to hit you in the face with a right cross...you won't get hit??? Hip flexibility is very important, I will not argue that at all, but standing tall throughout the kick is asking to get knocked out!!

Gonzostyles, do you train MT or something else, because in other styles maybe standing tall while kicking is doable, but not in MT, especially when sparring or fighting. Your stance to begin with should be standing tall with the rear heal raised, but standing tall while roundkicking WILL cause you to lose balance and/or get hit hard. Think about it.

GonzoStyles

Ill tell you this go look at the Ramon Dekkers video clip I just posted and watch his pad work, tell me where you see him leaning in ANY direction when he kicks?

I trained Muay Thai with master Toddy, and I'll never forget him standing beside me as I kicked the heavy bag with his hand above my head telling me to come UP on my toes as I pivotted into the kick, dont know where or with who you trained, just telling it as I was taught.

Python

My puter is too slow to watch right now, but I will tomorrow on the other one.
Ramon Dekkers is no doubt a living legend, and probably not the best one to use as an example because he did not worry about the other guy, he went right through his opponents. He would gladly take a hit to deliver 4 or 5 follow up hits himself.

I am a Khuen Khru under Ajarn Surachai Sirisute, founder of the T.B.A. We are taught to rise up on the ball of the foot/toes while pivoting the base foot as well. It is equally important for both height/reach and power. BUT, depending on the target, the upper half of your body will both turn and lean with proper body mechanics. I am looking at a photo right now of Khru Yodtong Senanan demonstrating a right roundkick to the head of Walter Michalowski, and he is pivoting, rising up on the toes, turning his body AND leaning over. Another pic I am looking at is a recent pic of Kaoklai Kaennorsing landing a round kick on Mighty Mo at the last K-1. He is also executing the kick as I stated above. IN fact, I have many articles by Master Toddy himself and the pics show him the same way.

Gonzo, I am not trying to argue with you or say I am right and You are wrong (just so you know), and I know many teachers teach differently, but it does in fact depend on the target of the kick, whether it is being delivered low or high, and whether or not it is a cut kick, or a counter to that straight right hand...etc., etc.

Plus, getting the amount of hip flexibility that some students need, takes a while, so I usually have them kicking lower and working on proper body mechanics to begin with.

swisscom

Well, incase you're unsure of how to properly execute the technique.

Get in your stance
Take a small step northwest to your target
Simultaniously pivot your lead foot counterclockwise 90 degrees, and your shoulders 90 degrees counterclockwise aswell. Lean back, Point your knee where you want the kick to hit, follow through. Always keep your legs bent, never hit with the full extenstion of the leg, ummm. That being said, I think your problem is that you're not rotating your shoulders enough. If you lean back with your pivot leg pointing west, it would be really uncomfortable to do the whole "cresent kick" thing. Well.. there's my 2 cents.

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Python

Ahh...thank you Swisscom! Why didn't I just say it like that..LOL. OH, but that whole "northwest" thing is for us "rightys", right? Southpaws would step to the Northeast. Then there is the whole lead leg and change step/switch kick thing too.....

swisscom

yeah man, southpaws are northeast. If you're planning on kicking with the left leg, just do the opposites i guess.

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