Ideal height?

[Sebastian]

Once I read that height is an important aspect in Kyokushin Karate, however what is the ideal height for practicing Kyokushinkai?

And how tall are you Karate-ka (I think that's the word) on here?

I'm 5 ft and 11 inches myself.

[Bloke]

The short answer is that there is no ideal height - I have fought tall and short and each pose their own problems to me and then only in the context of Kumite.

[kakatootoshi]

Dear Sebastian,
Yes you can call us karate-ka.
5 ft and 11 inches is around 180 cm.
You are 4 cm taller than Kiyama and 5 cm taller than Matsui and they are both world champions. 180 cm is pretty okay as long as you are not too skinny.
Some japanese dojos provide speical discounts/gifts to giant students and they are aiming for big tournament. But most champions are not made, but make themselves.
At the end of the day, kyokushin is about how hard you train and how far you are willing to go

OSU!

[Shokei Marcsui]

I'm about 5'6 and I have problems with people that are taller than me because it's a lot easier for them to do a kick to the head than it is for me.

[Fire!]

Yer. I think open tournament can be hard for smaller/shorter people. osu

[ibuki]

It depends. I am 186 and I have fought with short and strong opponents that were difficult for me and with tall and again strong that were easy...Marcsui your problem is that maybe you are seeking the KO only in the Jodan techniques...it can be found in many other places, pal

p.s. I am back and soon you will see a new review on my blog...and then a whole new bunch of reviews
Just wait and see
OSU!

[vapor]

I am 192 cm, and sometimes am amazed at the speed and agility of others who are smaller than me...

I would trade heigth in a heartbeat, if I could instantly gain speed and agility!

vapor

[Ant]

holy crap you are tall vapor. Are you japanese?

[satanclaws]

whoa 192 cms is tall
I'm only 184cms
I find that it is harder for me to fight short people than it is for me to fight taller ones as the target area is so much smaller

[Slayer]

well, I'm 1,58 and I'm a begginer. But I hope that this heigth thing not to be a big issue, you can see why
I dont expect to fight 1,92cm male fighters in competition, but if someday I need to fight to protect myself, I wouldnt like to think that I would fail just because I'm short.

[Slayer]

But you're probably not talking about small women fighting for their lives
you're talking about competitions.
Now, honestly, I think you can compensate anything. If you're short, than you'll have to be quick and accurate, you know?

[sas]

I'm 1.90, and 75 kg and feel great . For some I'a freak, but I can see them change the attitude when they meet my hizas and mae-geris.

[kyofighter]

From my experience ideal for a fighter (guys) is to match your height : for example if you are 190cm you should be 90kg , I'm 183cm but I'm only 78kg...I was 83kg and I felt awesome , but it's hard to me to maintain that weight...

[Lucy]

Thats definately for a man fighters prospective ie 190 = 90kgs. Lol im 165cms but i wouldnt want to be 65 kgs! lol. Interesting theory there though kyofighter

[sas]

And I'm pretty skinny a?! (1.90--75kg) )

[Lucy]

sas

Well according to the boffins that created the BMI (body mass index) then you are within the normal range for an adult of your height so dont worry he he!

[sas]

Dear Lucy,
lol, probably the lowest average but I have no complexes, I generally look at the full side of the glass, don't you? (hope you understand 'full side of the glass', I'm sure it's not correct but anyway :P

[Ultimate_Truth]

I agree with the point of Bloke's first post and will add that a medium-tall individual who is a big, burly, and physically powerful and strong seem to make the best candidates for a Kyokushin fighters. However, we all have strenghts and weaknesses and some fighters who aren't blessed with the 'ideal' physiques have learned to use other strengths (i.e. sheer speed, better technique, even being naturally gifted at sparring and fighting, etc.) they have and trump the best Kyokushin thoroughbreds out there.

[blackdog]

I am the perfect height.

I am exactly as tall as the top of my head.

Seriously, i don't think it matters. I am 190 cm and 100 kgs, I have been kicked in the head by many people shorter and slighter then me, and i have also had my ribs badly bruised by someone nearly half my weight.

I do struggle with short women though, with my 'angle of attack' its a little hard to find places to punch them , i tend to kick a lot with them.

Pros & Cons for both, bottom line, deal with what you have got, work with your strengths and know your weaknesses.

Bren

[L.K]

There is no ideal hight. Each fighter just has to develop different strenghts. Midori and Filho has both won the WC - considering their different physiques neither hight nor strenght has to be important (even though being big seldom is a bad thing )