BG Martial Artists/Yoga pplz (The one or 2 of you out there)

[Cadsuane]

Flexibility is important for high kicks, but so is sufficient core and leg strength to actuate your leg that high. What I was taught to do was go through the kicking motion in slow motion and hold the full extension, steadying yourself on something solid, then coming back again in slow motion. It's brutally tiring and hugely improves the power and accuracy of high side thrust kicks and roundhouses.

Eventually you can put some sandbags on your ankles and face level kicks won't be much more difficult than waist level ones.

[Max™]

I used to do sets of punching drills with those strapped on ankle weights for the same reason.

Still no matter how powerful you get your highest kicks to become, in the process you will be strengthening your more lateral strikes which have mechanical advantage as well, and incidentally have more reach.

[Chips]

I used to do sets of punching drills with those strapped on ankle weights for the same reason.

Still no matter how powerful you get your highest kicks to become, in the process you will be strengthening your more lateral strikes which have mechanical advantage as well, and incidentally have more reach.

I can definitely head kick harder than I can punch, it's all about the hip movement.

[FNH]

I can definitely head kick harder than I can punch, it's all about the hip movement.

Agreed, torque the hell out of my kicks adds tons of power, he's obviously not kicking right.

[510Meeze]

Agreed, torque the hell out of my kicks adds tons of power, he's obviously not kicking right.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqAmTtZpJGA

[Conformity]

Sign up at local MMA gym if you want to actually learn what the fuck you are doing

[Blarg]

Sign up at local MMA gym if you want to actually learn what the fuck you are doing

make sure you buy a tapout shirt first though, it makes you punch and kick harder

[Max™]

Agreed, torque the hell out of my kicks adds tons of power, he's obviously not kicking right.

That isn't what I was saying.

I said any kick you can throw well over hip level without leaving the ground may be a hell of a smack.

The same kick thrown AT hip level is going to have longer reach, and better transfer of mechanical effort into your target, and will thus be stronger.

There are many more targets than just the head, and I'd rather use the longest strike appropriate for a situation on the closest target available.


I'd rather not have to be in a situation where I would be forced to do that to another person though, it's all fine and dandy with pads and shit with people used to taking hits. It's also neat to have a variety of cool drills or whatnot you can show off if you want.

I had different motivations for learning how to fight, and only needed to be able to inflict the most severe damage possible as fast as possible, because I'd rather not grapple with a vicious fucker like my dad.

Ever seen a guy get out of a headlock by sticking his fingers into the other dudes mouth and ripping the side of his face open?

It's disturbing to say the least.

[Blarg]

You stand a pretty good chance to break something in your hand when you punch someones face. Hitting a dude in the head with your shin will not only be much stronger but also less likely to cause you injury.

[Firedemon]

When I'm at the dojo we do a 2-man stretch. One person steps about a foot away from the wall and leans their back against it, while the other person brings your leg higher until until you can really feel it stretching. We do this 3 times per leg, and the repeat as a side kick stretch. Another leg stretch that we do requires both people to sit down. The person that's getting the stretch will open their legs as wide as they can, and the other person will put their feet on the inside of your legs, slowly pushing outward while pulling on your obi.

We do a bunch of other 2-man stretching drills, but those are the 2 that focus on your legs.

[Max™]

If you ever hear me comment about how I think global warming is a good thing, it's because my knuckles ache when it gets really cold and I'm not moving them, hardening your hands for punching has downsides at times.

Spoiler: show

Faces do have uneven bones you can strike badly and hurt your hand, but the throat, the soft spot ahead of the shoulder, the armpit, floating ribs, temples, ears, and your opponents hand itself are much better targets for a punch in my opinion.

If my dad hadn't killed himself when I was 16, then I was going to kill him.

At that point I was already actively engaged in training and exercise, so I was left without a drive to really continue. Then I caught one of Bruce Lee's old interviews on TV and felt inspired to resume learning how to express myself physically, as he described it. The satisfaction of physical strength is gratifying in itself, as is the confidence of being able to defend yourself and your loved ones if no other option is left.

Only time I got mad and hit someone as hard as I could, it was a friend who said the wrong thing about one of my sisters when I was already pissed and walking away. I turned and pounded him right under his collarbone, and the instant I did it I felt horrible. Totally overreacted and really hurt someone I cared about, he sat there wheezing and trying not to cry for a bit... had a big ugly bruise for a while... I don't like hitting people if I can avoid it.

Anyways, I am reminded of a comment about Bruce being called "Three Kick Lee", cause he only really uses his three basic kicks.

[Hushigoshi]

I'm surprised a lot of people are telling you to stretch before you kick. Although it's good in theory, if you don't stretch properly, you'll end up hurting yourself rather than work on your flexibility to kick higher.

You actually want to warm up your legs before you start to stretch them, like a light jog for five to ten minutes to get the blood flowing. That way you lessen the chance of straining a muscle while you stretch. Nothing more embarrassing than hurting yourself trying to stretch before you start doing anything strenuous.

After you stretch, then start doing whatever you want to work on your kick height. After you're done, but before your body cools down, you want to stretch again. The second stretch is to actually work on your overall flexibility.

[Max™]

"Sorry bro, can't go hang out with ya today, pulled my hammy stretching."

Yeah, that would be pretty lame.

[Blarg]

I watched a video of bruce lee punching and I think kicking a heavy bag or some pad. He looked pretty terrible.

[510Meeze]

7:08, this dude is the Jordan of Thai Boxing.

[Max™]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf12iowNH38
That?

Eh, I'd prefer not having him hit me, but I was more inspired by the way he referred to it, expressing yourself physically, expressing oneself to your opponent. Just clicked when I heard it.

[510Meeze]

Didn't see anything heavy about that bag lol. Kung Fu is so cute, like a kitten.

[tyven]

talking head kicks and not discussing crocop and marius zaromskis? FOR SHAME



he just won his last fight two weeks ago with another KO head kick

[Cream Soda]

I'm surprised a lot of people are telling you to stretch before you kick. Although it's good in theory, if you don't stretch properly, you'll end up hurting yourself rather than work on your flexibility to kick higher.

You actually want to warm up your legs before you start to stretch them, like a light jog for five to ten minutes to get the blood flowing. That way you lessen the chance of straining a muscle while you stretch. Nothing more embarrassing than hurting yourself trying to stretch before you start doing anything strenuous.

After you stretch, then start doing whatever you want to work on your kick height. After you're done, but before your body cools down, you want to stretch again. The second stretch is to actually work on your overall flexibility.

Would an 8 mile bike ride take the place of a jog? If so I can just do this shit when I get home from school every day.

[volcanicweather]

You ride a bike 8 miles to school? damn man

Hushigoshi hit the nail on the head though, make sure you warm up before you stretch. It doesn't have to be much, even just running in place for a minute or two works fine. I wouldn't stretch after riding your bike personally, especially if your legs are already aching.

You really should take lessons at a MMA gym though or something similar to learn proper kick techniques and how to move your entire body to make your kicks more effective. I took BJJ lessons for over a year and I learned little things such as sliding my stationary foot and how to open my hips which helped tremendously,