Coaching Headkicks always blocked by opponent's shoulder

[freezer]

I have a really tight hip, which has always been my Achilles' heel. As a result, I can't throw good headkicks. I'm 6 foot (181cm), not a short guy, but I can never lift my foot to the level of my own head. The highest I can kick with a roundhouse kick is about my own shoulder level. Besides, I can't throw them in a big circular trojectory. They always go up on a more or less straight path, and I can hardly turn my hip over. As a result, my headkicks are almost always blocked by my opponents' shoulders. I have never landed a clean headkick, which frustrates me a lot. Is it at all possible for someone like me with such poor hip flexibility to land headkicks?

I watched some tutorial videos, and one said that I could lean my body to one side to kick higher. Problem is, when I lean my body to the side, I can't pivot on my foot or elevate my center of mass with the supporting foot, and I end up kicking even lower lmao.

 

[SandisLL]

Maybe if it isn't KK you even might be successesful without high kicks. Plus to use them in MMA is very risky if you will fail. KB doesn't pays well too and even there not all guys uses high kicks.

 

[noc]

You need a sports physical therapist

 

[milliniar]

Fight short people

 

[freezer]

Fight short people

Short people just get close and throw haymakers at my face, while I struggle to maintain balance on one leg.

 

[NadaRekowski]

You need to open your hips and stretch. A lot. There are plenty of very good tutorials on youtube by professionals who will explain the exercises.

Flexibility can be learned obviously with some limitations based on body build.

But if you aren't extremely short legged with a torso like Reyes you should be good.

Stretch that shit and open them damn hips.

 

[NadaRekowski]

 

[Trabaho]

Why are your hips tight ? How often did you practice high kicks ? Is it a genetical limit ?

If not then throw 100 high kicks a week and do 10 minutes stretching after every practice.

 

[Frode Falch]

Are you talking fight or sparring?

 

[freezer]

You need to open your hips and stretch. A lot. There are plenty of very good tutorials on youtube by professionals who will explain the exercises.

Flexibility can be learned obviously with some limitations based on body build.

But if you aren't extremely short legged with a torso like Reyes you should be good.

Stretch that shit and open them damn hips.

I've been stretching consistently every training session in the past two years, to no effect. I guess hip flexibility, unlike virginity, doesn't grow back as one gets older.

 

[freezer]

Why are your hips tight ? How often did you practice high kicks ? Is it a genetical limit ?

If not then throw 100 high kicks a week and do 10 minutes stretching after every practice.

I guess it's because I'm getting old. When I was in my 20s, I practiced taekwondo for a year and got promoted to yellow belt. I don't recall having any flexibility problem back then.

I throw at least 200 "high" kicks a week, that's if they can be considered "high" lol.

 

[freezer]

Are you talking fight or sparring?

Sparring.

 

[Intermission]

I have a really tight hip, which has always been my Achilles' heel. As a result, I can't throw good headkicks. I'm 6 foot (181cm), not a short guy, but I can never lift my foot to the level of my own head. The highest I can kick with a roundhouse kick is about my own shoulder level. Besides, I can't throw them in a big circular trojectory. They always go up on a more or less straight path, and I can hardly turn my hip over. As a result, my headkicks are almost always blocked by my opponents' shoulders. I have never landed a clean headkick, which frustrates me a lot. Is it at all possible for someone like me with such poor hip flexibility to land headkicks?

I watched some tutorial videos, and one said that I could lean my body to one side to kick higher. Problem is, when I lean my body to the side, I can't pivot on my foot or elevate my center of mass with the supporting foot, and I end up kicking even lower lmao.

It can take years to get to an open hip for someone in your position, but it's a matter of when, not if..

 

[NadaRekowski]

I've been stretching consistently every training session in the past two years, to no effect. I guess hip flexibility, unlike virginity, doesn't grow back as one gets older.

I'm 43 at 185cm and relearned to highkick on my headlevel.

If you are stretching for 2 years regularly, like atleast twice a week you should get way more flexible.

If not you're doing it wrong.

 

[freezer]

I'm 43 at 185cm and relearned to highkick on my headlevel.

If you are stretching for 2 years regularly, like atleast twice a week you should get way more flexible.

If not you're doing it wrong.

I train three times a week, and I stretch the same way everybody else does, you know, horizontal stretching followed by vertical. Each posture is maintained for at least 1 min. But I see no observable improvement in terms of flexibility. Another guy in my class is in the same situation. He even uses a machine to open up his hips by force, which looks a lot like torture to me. But his hip flexibility is just as bad as mine. I don't know why.

 

[Intermission]

Don't do static stretching. It's an outdated form of learning that just won't go away. You will just tire your ligaments. Everything should be with circular motion.

 

[freezer]

Don't do static stretching. It's an outdated form of learning that just won't go away. You will just tire your ligaments. Everything should be with circular motion.

Can you elaborate, please?

 

[Intermission]

Can you elaborate, please?

it just isnt an effective way for stiff people to get flexible. lie down and do hook kicks with your legs. and make that circle wider and wider.

Static stretching will give you height on your kicks later . but you want to open your hips first. kicking high with closed hips means you will bang into elbows.

 

[freezer]

it just isnt an effective way for stiff people to get flexible. lie down and do hook kicks with your legs. and make that circle wider and wider.

Static stretching will give you height on your kicks later . but you want to open your hips first. kicking high with closed hips means you will bang into elbows.

Thank you, sir.

 

[Intermission]

Thank you, sir.

No problem. the injury risk isn't worth it. stick with dynamic and add in static stretching very briefly for range of motion. once you have open hips the amount of static stretching needed to get higher kicks is minimal.