low kicks & combat styles

[1008269]

hey all, iam new around here, but not new to martial arts.

firstly i would like to say that i really appreciate u all reading my threads.

no to the point.
lower body attacks (low kicks of various styles) have always been my favourite. so i concentrated most of my time on learning how to perform then. i know those are deadly ones (one swing > broken knee > fight over). i have always been very interested in learning actual style of lower kicks (if there is one ofcourse). plz does any one know if there are any styles or styles that involve those great moves (thai boxing ect.). plz reply.

secondly i know that low kicks is not very iffective on its own. so i would llike to learn how to perform high kicks. unfortunatelly mouscles on my legs are too stiff and i feel like riping my leg when i try to kick some one in the head (dont want to break legs lol). plz does any one can suggest me what is the fastest and best way to stretch my leg muscles to be able to kick high and swing like jet li (lol).

thanx all!

[Greg-VT]

I have not read this, but check it out. It may be able to help.

http://www.stafford-lau-gar.co.uk/columns/flexibility/index.html


There's also a thread in the Kung Fu forum somewhere, it has some basic stretches that could help.

[ladyhawk]

http://www.cmcrossroads.com/bradapp/docs/rec/stretching/stretching_toc.html

[JurassicWarrior]

Even Boxers and wrestlers have to stretch their legs. And so do I. I have to warm up before I warm up. Even though the above mentioned don't kick per se, They still need loose muscles to move around effectively.

[hedgehogey]

I think the best low kicks are muay thai kicks that target the thigh muscle. Savate also offers some options.

I think the knee snap thing is way overrated. If the opponent keeps their knees bent, in a boxers stance it tends to negate the effect. Hell I block kicks WITH my knee all the time! It's the standard muay thai defense.

[Brad Ellin]

In the Bujinkan the emphasis is on low kicks, nothing above the waist (with the exception of a stamping kick about chest height). Kicks are done using natural body motion, as if walking thru your opponent. The knee smash is very overrated and hard to pull off. Not as easy as it looks in the movies.

[KenpoDavid]

Most Kenpo styles use only low kicks, or kicks to the solar plexus at highest.

[JurassicWarrior]

Uechi ryu is big on the low kick thing. Albeit a few of the people who go wher I go have gazelle like legs and can get away w/kicking high. But low kicks are the rule, stomach area being the highest.

[brothershaw]

REgarding kicking the kneee, kick the side of the knee, from the inside (of the leg) out, or outside of the leg in. The knee (supporting ligaments/tendons whatever) is much weaker from the sides than from the front.

[Poop-Loops]

Try getting some books or something by Tom Kurz, he's an expert in stretching and a karateka himself. www.stadion.com

PL

[Albert]

How do you pronounce the 'Uechi' in uechi ryu?

[Scarlet Mist]

Yeah. I think a kick to the knee only works if your opponent has his legs locked out - unless you use a low sidekick - that would probably tear through muscle and bone if you do it right. I train in Choy Li Fut, we kick to just about anywhere. If you want to kick higher, I would suggest some real stretching. Stretch your legs everyday and get the muscles to relax. That should allow you to kick higher.

[Adam]

Albert, I actually pronounce it "wedgie-ryu". I hope that's not right :D

[Poop-Loops]

How do you pronounce the 'Uechi' in uechi ryu?

oo as in oops, e as in met and left, chi as in "cheetos".

PL

[JurassicWarrior]

How do you pronounce the 'Uechi' in uechi ryu?


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If I'm not mistaken, it's "way chee roo".

[Albert]

Ah, thank you. I figured it was something like that. lol adam, wedgie ryu, the deadly art of pulling up underwear. :D

[Poop-Loops]

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If I'm not mistaken, it's "way chee roo".

No, it's the way I said it. Unlike English, Japanese has only one way to pronounce things. Accents may be different depending on what part of Japan you are in, but generally it's the same.

I won't even go into how to say "ryu". The R is pronounced differently, and you really can't "spell it", you just have to hear it.

PL

[David]

Southern mantis has a saying which goes "hands for hands, feet for feet". spm has all low kicks with the highest being to sides, floating ribs and solar plexus.

Low kicks in spm are delivered after the arms have already engaged, so typically you'd be seizing with one ar,, hitting with the other and simultaneously delivering a leg strike. Doing it this way makes the kicks invisible to the opponent.

We also use a lot of the walking through or barging method. Applying lead-leg shin pressure on the other guy's shin prevents him advancing or kicking with either of his legs. We condition the shins to force through in this.

Rgds,
David