need advice on improving my kicks

[urbantus]

Im a 50 year old male in uk
I am currently a 3rd kup in Tae kwon Do [ITF]

Id really like to improve my kicking.

Can some one give me links or advice on improving style and power of my kicks

I also need advice on building up my leg and other muscles to enable me to improve my kicking

I also need additional advice on improving all my revers kicking

Thx

[ROBERT]

Weight trainig for tkd (http://www.martialartsplanet.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1796)
The above link will take you to another thread on this forum that should be able to help you with your strengthening question.

As for improving your kicks, the best advise is to practice alot. As a 3rd kup you should have been taught(not just shown) all of the basic kicks. Try doing each kick 10 times per day. Also pick out one kick per day to do(properly) as many times as you can in one go. Do this for a different kick each day. Make sure you are properly warmed up first.

As for reverse kicks, same thing as above. If you feel that you may not be doing them properly, ask your Instructor to evaluate you. He should be able to help you make corrections better than someone who has not seen you kick.

Good luck in your training, and welcome to the forum.

Robert

[Andy Murray]

Hi and welcome Urbantus,

there's some great reference material in the Magazine section of this forum;

Kicking Article (http://www.martialartsplanet.com/sections.php?op=viewarticle&artid=5)

[urbantus]

thx so far

my instructors are really good

but Id still like to get some info on improving my kicking

the thing im looking for is photos/pictures or even videos of the best way to perform the various kicks

thx again

[Andy Murray]

Yup, there's a full section in the magazine with pics. Here's the link;

Martial Arts Planet Magazine-Kicking- Click Here! (http://www.martialartsplanet.com/sections.php?op=listarticles&secid=4)

[ROBERT]

You can also look here techniques (http://www.grandmaster.cc/tkdtech.php3) . There are video clips of some different techniques.

Robert

[Cain]

Hi urbantus,

I had posted some freestyle exercises of you don't have access to weights for your legs -

these are not done in particular order just outlining the exercises -
1. Frog jumps
Sit in a squat position, hands behind your head and make short jumps upwards
Variations include moving your legs forward and back while jumping and also to the sides
2. Squat walks
Just walk as far as you can in a squat position and then walk backwards in the same position
Horse stance training
As low as possible, and try to stay steady and in one position for as long as you can
Variations include balancing your body with the balls of your feet in a horse stance
One legged squats -
The name says it all but these will be difficult at first, also don't walk or hop with these, just stay in one position.
Active flexibility -
Hold your kicks including front thrust, side kicks etc etc in one position

Long eh? ;)

Overall, remember, whenever you think legs, you have to think squats and do squats :D these are my favourite for legs

For the kicks, I would suggest you to get help from your instructor, since it's difficult to check your form yourself, an instructor can give you much better advice than a video etc etc the list goes on and on

And remember to keep practising :D

Slow kicking and holding will help you some in your kicking form also

Hope I helped,

|Cain|

Happy squatting :D

[urbantus]

thx for all help so far

keep it coming if you have any more

I totally agree that my instructor is my main source for guidance

but I also think advice from other sources can help also

btw Im really impressed with this forum

[TkdWarrior]

does anyone knows where i posted last time on kicks training :D
;)
ah man i hav to do my dirty work for me...
-TkdWarrior-

[TkdWarrior]

ahha here it is... well for better kicks u need good flexibility fo joints as u r 50 yr old u might need more warmup than others
i m putting it from some other forums so here we go

did somebody said "kicks"???
i guess u seriously need lessons from TKD Guy :D
IMHO the comment about flexibilty has become taboo in MA arena..it's rarely discussed or thoroughly researched....so i can see most ppl concerns about flexibility n high kicks n not getting stability with high kicks, it's not hard to understand the power or to gain KO power at good height,

the problem with mostly ppl training is that they develop bad habbits of kicking. being exposed to 2 kicking arts(MT n TKD) i m used to 2 different types of kicking(without chambering or with chambering) n those ppl who do chamber doesnt do it rite n don't gain height or power, in chambering ur kick should add momentum n hip power both so it should be more powerful kick...

now the prob is getting high kicks without warming up... u hav to drill for about a month to see any improvements...
1. first warm up a bit(by doing some stretching ie. side splits, low bow n arrow stance)
2. then try doing circular kicks n semi circular kicks 10 each from both leg
3. now stand in Horse Riding Stance then now shift ur left leg towards rite leg n shifting weight on left leg try gaining hieght on rite leg sideways...remeber that ur rite leg is little bend n ur upper body(above waist) is bend forward a little ... this is simple exercise for gaining height
4. now throw side kick n stop it there n hold it(like bruce lee did in movie "enter the dragon" do with other kicks
this was warm up routine for those who use chambering kicks
now comes to kicking part
1. first u should do kicks TaiJi style i mean kcik slow with balancing urself...
u'll find that u hav real probs with chambering(u'll be completely offbalance) if u r having probs then hold a chair or something ... start this with medium height...
in a week or so u'll be able to kick without holding... do this repititions with each kick u know
2. after kicking slow for 5-6 repititions now throw fast kicks
3. slow kicking can be done without warm ups too so when feel like try it... hav fun

now comes kicking part where no warm up is necessary...
1. Make sure u hav done slow kickings at least 2-3 weeks
2. Now make habbit of throwing kicks when u r doing not practising MA ie...walking, sitting(getting up n imagine oppnt n kick) this should be done at medium height...
3. imagining ur oppnt is very must it'll add intent to ur kick.
4. after couple of days start adding height to ur kick but the process remains the same.

normally results can be seen in one month but if u go slowly with first 2-3 weeks(i'll prefer that) u can end up around 1.5 -2 months but the results will make u happy

some more advice

stretch stretch strect will only make u overflexible, stop it... if u need KO power with head height kicks then u just need to change the way u warm up, practice...
1. avoid any partner stretching
2. get into habbit of throwing kicks every now n then(first start with easy height where u dont' get urself cramps, then increase height)

every excercise i gave is time tested which i learnt from my teacher n he learnt from his teacher n none of them had any probs with joints(my teacher hav about 20 yrs in TKD)

i hav given 2 types of stretching both works on active excercise not on partner stretches/stretching on machine which r passive excercise,
it doens't help the muscles much in a way than most of my techniques,

if u knew stretching was done to make sure that u hav enuff fluids around ur joints while working out so that u don't get joint probs...
n then other stretching excercises like thowring front/side/back raising kicks ensure the warmup for muscles so u don't get probs with muscles tearing...
it hav helped me n some other ppl whom i gave these excercises

-TkdWarrior-

[TkdWarrior]

hmm coming to think of it...
andy/cooler should make this an article n put it in article section...it's too popular all over the web...
instead of searching n finding i'll plug this site(oh yea n my name too) :D
how u think guys?
-TkdWarrior-

[Cain]

Well, maybe u hv a chance if u spell all over again :D

[just a j/k dude :D ]

|Cain|

[TkdWarrior]

lol i didn't notice that he's a TKD guy himself n into ITF :D
cool one more ITF TKD dude ... Yay...

cain by the time i use spell check n start correcting, i'll end up writing that article itself completely :D
-TkdWarrior-

[Cooler]

TkdWarrior if you e-mail me it as an article I will gladly add it to the articles section :D Maybe add a few photos.

Cooler

[C.Henry]

high repetition kicking drills. Joe Lewis used to do 1500 side kicks per day, per leg. I wasn't nearly as energetic and side kick wasn't my bread and butter, so I did 600 round kicks per day, per leg. You can't do this high repetition focus on more than one technique in a workout. You aren't a kid anymore so don't get carried away and create an injury.
Lots of stretching and walking. You can't stretch 15 minutes a day and expect to make much progress. The secret for me was to "steal time" for stretching. Watch TV while stretching. Talk on the phone-stretch. Hanging with a friend-stretch.
And the #1 thing to include in your program is squats. Start out with 2 sets of twenty reps and be careful to control your weight on the way down. When you feel like you can, move up to 3 sets in your weight training. If you aren't sure about what is good form on a squat then get someone to show you. Two days a week on the weights is all you can take if you are practicing your art as well.
I really believe that the best way to improve is to practice on your own in addition to going to class. The more you work out on your own, the more creative you will get in finding ways to improve your techniques. It doesn't hurt to get a practice partner either.

[C.Henry]

Did I mention practicing on your own? Practice what you want to, the way you want to. Have a good time at it. Get some toys (equipment) to make it more fun.
Hop to it.