roundhouse kick

[michele29]

Hello mates two questions:
- Reading (http://www.stadion.com/column_stretch4.html) I am not quite sure why is the front split that leads to the roundhouse kick and not the side split??. Someone has a better view than mine??
- Looking at Secrets of Stretching (video): the final position for the roundhouse kick (warm up section) is a little bit to much rotating!! You may show you back to the enemy and can loose contact , especially if you miss the target! I receive a lot of complains by karate instructors!
(The karate, maybe because never reach high kick, has the target more in front of you.).


Could I conclude that:
- the Power High Kicks with No Warm-Up by Mac Mierzejewski style are for sport fighting and Thomas Kurz kick style are for real life???
- If I kick at my head level (roundhouse) do I need the complete rotation??

I think there are more then two question!!!

ciao

[dragon]

Hi,
As shown in the picture in that article,during a high roundhouse kick or side kick the supporting leg is rotated out more than the kicking leg.This is also the case with the front split.The side split has both legs/feet in the same position.

There are many different styles of throwing kicks(particularly the roundhouse).It isn't for me to say what the "right way" is.I'm sure each style has it's own arguments for and against.The answer to your question may be the one given in article 6 though...

"The problem was that the body alignment that worked for a given kick when it was aimed low (as in original Okinawan karate) did not work when the kick was aimed high—did not work, that is, unless one had an extraordinary range of motion in the hips and lower back joints...."

To your conclusions:-

-My personal opinion is that high kicks are only for sport/displays,not for "real life".I can't think of a scenario or example where i'd need to use a high kick to the head because no other technique could be used.In my opinion there are much safer techniques to use first.
-You need a rotation of the hips,but you don't need a full rotation of the body.i.e-spinning all the way around.

Hope this helps,

Dragon.

[michele29]

many thanks,
dragon