Flexibility in Kicking

[Mickythemaniac]

Hey,

I know its a subjective thing but Im obsessed with kicking to head height and I want to know how long it might take. Ive been practising kicking for about 6 weeks now. The four basics, Side Kick, Front Kick, Round House, and the Semi Circular (half round house). Im 6ft 1 and looking in the mirror the tip of my toes would just about hit my chin on the front kick. I could actually hit someones face with my crescent kick. But my roundhouse and sidekick needs to be higher. Even when Im warmed up Im only hitting my kneck height. I stretch for about 15 minutes before I start. Im 24 and Im worried that I might just never reach head height. I use Kwonkickers (Youtube) stretching routine and some that I learnt when I went to a kickboxing class.

I know there are more important things than kicking head height, technique and strength for starters. I also know that you dont have to reach head height for a kick to be effective. Its much better for me to keep the side kick at body height and learn it correctly than striving to hit head height and diminishing all power. But I want my round house about 6 inches higher.

Does anybody have any advice? Does anybody have experience of coming into MA later in life? How long did it take for the flexibility to come to you?

 

[ssdd]

In sparring or hitting a bag, the kick might come out sloppier, but if you can hit kneck high while shadow boxing then you can probably hit someone in the head already. It's easier when a target is in front of you. This should probably be in the standup forum too

 

[Im so Moldy]

Work on your hip mobility so you can do a full squat, work on your hamstring flexibility, hip flexor stretches, and of course the split. I'm only 18 but I've improved my flexibility pretty drastically over the last few months. I can usually head kick without a warmup. Also just keep practicing and throw high kicks, the more you throw, the more your body will get used to the movement pattern and will be more flexible in it.

 

[TeddyRoosevelt]

I have terrible flexibility. I only gained the flexibility for head kicks by:

A. Working on my kicking technique.

B. Working on progressively kicking higher.