Side kicks in KPC and Kick Max

[berry99]

I was wondering if anyone else has problems with their form during side kicks (or roundhouse kicks) that are in KPC and Kick Max. I must confess that I have only done the leg drills twice in KM and I feel like my form is good there. Probably because I have the chair and it is so slow. Something crazy happens when it is a faster paced tempo and I feel like a dog peeing because I just kind of lift my leg and not a strong person doing a kick. Has anyone else had this problem? Any suggestions about working on form or is it just one of those things that will happen with time. Thanks.

Karin

 

[andtckrtoo]

*chuckles* My kids accuse me of looking like a dog peeing when I kick... And I have take Tae Kwon Do so I do know proper form.

Side kicks are tough and take time to get right. I think it helps to think of the movement in three steps. You have your chamber, the kick and the recoil. For a side kick:

First bring your knee up with the foot aimed to the side, but keep the leg as close to the body as possible (the foot on the ground is pointed the direction opposite of the kick - or you'll hurt your knee).

Second shoot the leg out and aim with the heel.

Third bring your foot back to the first position before lowering it.

A round house is completely different actually -

1. Bring your leg up parallel (or as close to parallel as possible) to the floor, knee bent.

2. With toes pointed, swing your foot out in a kick.

3. Bring your foot back - leg still parallel - the lower it to the floor.


A roundhouse is not as powerful - you're using only your legs from the knee down (in this - there are ways to get the whole leg involved, but they are way more than you need to know lol). A side kick - you're using your entire leg. If you're on the other end, it's kind of like being kicked by a small shetland pony if done right.

I hope this makes sense.

 

[kathryn]

Karin, it sounds like maybe your aren't doing the chamber (the first and last part of the kick, when the leg is bent in preparation to go out). Make sure to make the kick a 4-part move: chamber, kick, chamber, down. And it may help to think of the side kick as a 'stomp' to the side (Aaron Lankford teaches the side kick by having you stomp first to the floor, then higher and higher to the side--always remembering that chamber). Also, the side kick actually involves the glutes more than a straight-to-the-side leg lift would. You turn away from the kick a bit, so the power comes through the glutes (rather than through the side of the leg).

Start by keeping your kicks lower (power is more important that height) to work on form and power. Then, as you progress, you can go higher with the kick with good form and power.

HTH