Although raises to the front and back are straightforward, I've struggled with side raises for some time. However I think i cracked them last week. After watching a video on the trickstutorial forum I modified the way I do side raises. They now feel good and I've seen an increase in the height substantially. I will try to explain:
Instead of doing them as shown by kurz, where you stand with your feet together and raise the leg to the side. Start in a back stance, side stance whatever your art calls it and then draw the back leg forward turning in the opposite direction as you do (as you would when you do e.g. a side kick) but keep the leg straight or slightly bent. The leg then sort of rises up from the floor into the position it would be when you are fully extended in a roundhouse. I suppose you could say it is a raising side kick from a back stance. If you are stretching your right leg, then use your right hand to touh against your knee to stop the stretch becoming ballistic.
You can rotate your back foot slightly, you may need to practice this to get the angle right. This dynamic stretch mimics the position of your body when you actually perform the kick at the point of impact so I feel it is particularly useful.
If thats not very clear ask me and I will try and explain.
