Help with training

[Builderofmuscle]

I posted m training regimen in one of the replies. Anyways, I thought it was time for a change, so I basically just jotted down my weaknesses. Help would be much appreciated in setting up my new regimen:

Goals:
1) Increase Kicking Power
2) Improve Back Leg Side Kick
3) Improve Front Kick
4) Improve Back Kick
5) Improve Kata
6) Lose 7% bodyfat (10 lbs)
7) Gain 6-10 lbs of muscle
8) Improve vertical jump

[Leviathan]

training help

i am new to tae kwon do, but I have some of the same traing goals as you do.


Increase left leg flexability
increase left leg strength
Master left leg roundhouse
Master hook kick

[Builderofmuscle]

I do karate, but I guess tae kwon do and karate are very similar, but tae kwon do is more of a kicking are I guess.

[Leviathan]

when I took karate i was rather young, about 9 or 10 yrs old. Now, at 18, I regret ever stopping karate, well, at least until now, that I started tae kwon do! but hey, I really want to become the best i can. Not just at fighting, but being healthy and knowing i can be safe and have the knowledge of of to win a fight or prevail in a confrontation without using physical force. somehow, i believe, learning how to become a fierce fighter goes along with learning to be a fierce thinker, because quick thinking, (With a clear unclouded mind) can be just as affective. I want to train HARD, so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Tom Yum]

I was a practicioner of the Korean arts and we did a lot of kicking. One thing different about the korean arts is that non-tkd kicks aren't snapped from the knee. I've seen some TKD practicioners throw snappy whip like kicks (which score well in pt tournament) but the kick feels like a slap. If your kicks are making your partner loose his or her balance when they land, then you are starting to develop power.

Start out with a lot of stretches that work your hamstring, quads and hips. Don't rush into a leg strength training routine yet. Get flexible and practice good technique. If you're watching a commercial on t.v, use that time to get up stretch and practice throwing your kicks. Practice aiming them at targets.

Some ideas to work on while throwing your front leg side kick and hook kick is that your supporting foot should rotate allmost 180 degrees to provide proper delivery. This helps you rotate your hips into kicking position. Power comes from snapping at the hip and driving from the ball of the planted foot.

[Builderofmuscle]

I've noticed that in terms of strength, my upper body is weak, but punches are powerfull, whereas my lower body is well developed, but My kicks are not powerfull.

[Tom Yum]

I think power and strength are 2 different attributes. Power comes from repetition of good technique, use of body mechanics applied quickly wheras strength comes from maximum muscular contraction. They overlap at times. Who can bench press more? Arnold Schwarzenegger (at his prime) or Mike Tyson. Who has greater punching power? I don't doubt that Tyson has a wimpy bench or that Arnold can't hit, but we can see the results of their training. Arnold does weights 24/7 and some flexing to build symetric, large muscles. Tyson probably hits weights 2-3X a week for sports specific purposes, but spends countless hours banging at heavy bags and focus mitts, working on technique and maximizing his explosiveness. Training should match your goal.

Same with kicking. Work on flexibility. Practice throwing your kicks thousands of times with strict form. Then try kicking pads/shields with a partner. Explode the kick into the pad. If your partner has to regroup his balance after ea kick, you're developing power. If your partner weighs considerably more than you and they are moving, then you're there.

[Builderofmuscle]

I guess you're right, But there is something as using maximal strength to increase power. What about speed-strength? That's the same thing, isn't it?

[darrianation]

Here some stuff for kicks. I posted this in a another thread but I'll post it here too.

Well, I can tell you some of things I’ve done. Just some that I can think of right now.

Develop leg strength (but don’t get too carried away).

Weight lifting to develop leg strength.
1) squats.
2) Lunges
Other thing I do are to use ankle weights (not to heavy ) I use 2.5 lbs. And do slow controlled strait leg kicks (don’t snap these kicks; you can injure your joints. I’ll do 30- 50 to the side, to the front and knee strikes- remember slow and controlled. Pause at the end of the kick. There are many others, but this is what I do. Be creative and come up with some of your own.

Practice your kicks doing them as high as you can (after warming up and stretching of course). Do this several times 20, 30, 50, etc. If you can kick high then you can kick strong to the body, legs, etc.

The heavy bag! Love the heavy bag. Do each of the kicks in your arsenal very fast (quick) snap them. Do at least 30 times but more if you’re in good shape, and or have the time. Then do them as hard as you can. Some guys do 200- 300 hundred kicks. I could and did when I was seventeen. Now I just do a hundred. I do them strong though. Also swing the bag away from you and kick it as it swings back towards you.

Drills gee there are so many. One I like is have someone hold a focus mitt or thai pads. I like the mitts cuz’ it’s a harder target (hard on the holder though), (small target good for accuracy). Don’t worry about power concentrate on speed. After you have you’re targeting down have the holder stand just out of range. Have him move in and the second he gets in range fire your kicks. This is best done with round kicks. Also can be done with thai pads or shield For teeps. Here’s another one. Have your holder hold a Shield or thai pads. Set up just at range. You throw a kick. The holder when he see you kick he tries to get out of the way. If he is able to get out of the Then he tells you what he saw. You try to not make the same mistake (telegraphing).

The best thing I can think of is when you sparring tell your partner you just want to do a round of just kicks. Anoter one- before you spar pick a kick you want to work on. For example Left inside low kick. Tell your self you are going to throw this kick 10 times per round (more if you want.).While sparring practice deferent ways of disguising your kick. Jab first, use offensively, defensively with combos. After the first round your partner will pick up on this and begin to counter it. You have to get better at disguising it.

for all your kicks! practice, practice, practice, practice!!!

Hope this helps some.

[Builderofmuscle]

thanks, guys very helpful shit!, especially darianation

[darrianation]

Your welcome. anytime.