Leg raises

CrazyBoy · Post by **CrazyBoy** » Jan 12, 2006 07:48

Okay, just another question and that's that! I shall put an end to my stupid questions

!
I just got the side leg raises video from www.tricktutorials.com. I know what mr Kurz said about the demonstration there. Just this:
I've noticed that the demonstrator, at a moment, side steps to perform the yoko keage. Is it wrong to do so?
For example, I use a support to raise my legs higher, but side-stepping?

dragon · Post by **dragon** » Jan 12, 2006 07:59

Not actually seen the video in question(can't find it in that link).The guy may be side stepping to either gain momentum or to help with balance(moving in the same direction as he's kicking).

Dragon.

wynnema · Post by **wynnema** » Jan 12, 2006 08:26

dragon wrote:Not actually seen the video in question(can't find it in that link).The guy may be side stepping to either gain momentum or to help with balance(moving in the same direction as he's kicking).

Dragon.

thats exactly it, but I think it is mainly to help him drive the leg up. As Kurz points out this guy is into tricking and has no martial arts experience. His flexiblity info is very good and comprehensive, and is based on Kurz methods. trickstutorials.com

CrazyBoy · Post by **CrazyBoy** » Jan 13, 2006 08:43

But wouldn't this be a ballistic stretch?

dragon · Post by **dragon** » Jan 13, 2006 10:09

I supose that would depend if there was a pause(which would make the step pretty pointless) or not.

I'd say it would be ballistic.

Dragon.

CrazyBoy · Post by **CrazyBoy** » Feb 12, 2006 08:25

Another question about side leg raises: whenever I do the side raises I find that I can't form the foot properly, as mr Kurz suggests. It's something between foot parallel to the floor and toes up, if you understand. Eventhough now I can raise both legs much higher than before, I can't figure out why I can't form my sokuto. ANy suggestions?

wynnema · Post by **wynnema** » Feb 12, 2006 14:43

here is Kurz answer to a similar question:

Answer: Both the leg raises to the side--toes up and toes forward--stretch inner thigh. The toes up raise is shown by Mac on the video “Power High Kicks with No Warm-Up!” (http://www.stretching.info/power.html ) and the toes forward (edge of foot parallel to the floor) is shown on “Secrets of Stretching”
(http://www.stretching.info/power.html ). The one with the foot parallel to the floor transfers better to side kicks done with the edge of the foot. So, if this type of side kicks is what you want, I suggest you focus more. Copy the form of side raises shown on “Secrets of Stretching.” If you can't, do not despair--dancers do nearly only side raises with toes up, but eventually can move their legs any way they please--even with toes pointing forward. If you reach great enough range of motion with toes up you will be able to do a respectable side raise with toes forward.

CrazyBoy · Post by **CrazyBoy** » Feb 14, 2006 08:20

Thanx for the reply Wynnema. Yes, I mean the side raises with foot parallel to the ground. Since 1st january current year, I've been doing morning dinamic stretches and in the afternoon and I found progress very quickly. I can raise my leg much higher since then. But I wanted some advices for this problem. Well, it's not a problem actually.
Are both raises usefull for martial artists? I know someone said that Mac only did with toes pointing up. I ask you this because when I told my students that I don't care how they perform the side leg raises in the warm-up, a student was very confused.
I use the front & side leg raises as warm-up for the main-part of the training and not as preparation for the side kick.

mat · Post by **mat** » Feb 14, 2006 09:11

CrazyBoy wrote:Are both raises usefull for martial artists?

I believe so. It would depend what artform you practise, but I believe most arts would have different types of kick that would benefit from different ways of doing the side leg raise.

For example, in my art we have a side kick very similar to a taekwondo side kick, which benefits from practising side leg raises with feet parallel to the ground. However, we also have another type of kick that benefits more from practising side leg raises with toes pointing up.

Ultimately, both ways stretch the same muscles so it shouldn't really matter which you practise. I think the biggest benefit of practising both types of leg raise is that you learn to coordinate and position your body for different types of kick, if you see what I mean.

Cheers,
Mat

CrazyBoy · Post by **CrazyBoy** » Feb 16, 2006 08:50

Thanks Mat for the reply. I understand your point of view very well. Thanx once again.