Two techniques I am struggling with

[Peder]

Hi all,

I started Kyokushin in September, after a 20 year karate break , and it's been great. I can feel my condition, strength and flexibility slowly improving. But there are some techniques I feel that I am not improving much, if at all, despite practicing them at home as well.

1) Seiken Shita Tsuki - I have trouble getting proper kime into this strike. With 'norma' tsuki, like Chudan Tsuki I can use my hips and try to relax my muscles to get speed into the technique before tense at 'impact'. However, with Seiken Shita Tsuki the non-linear movement feels awkward and I have trouble getting proper speed and power into it. Also the final position of the arm is one I find hard to 'tense' - not the best way to put it, but english is not my first language, I hope the meaning is clear. It almost feels like my Higite (spelling is probably wrong) is much stronger than the strike itself.

2) Chudan Mae Geri - I have trouble keep the right foot position for this kick. I know how my foot is supposed to be, but it seems impossible for me to achieve it during the kick. I have tried as exercise to form the foot position with the leg pointing down towards the ground and then raising the leg stretched upwards (like fully stretched kicks - I can't remember the name of these), but I find that I cannot raise my leg much higher than 45 degrees and keep the foot position. Is there some exercise I can do to improve the flexibility of my foot?

I will try talking to my instructor about this as well, but wondered if there was anyone here with advice on these two techniques.

[tmd]

Originally Posted by Peder

Hi all,

I started Kyokushin in September, after a 20 year karate break , and it's been great. I can feel my condition, strength and flexibility slowly improving. But there are some techniques I feel that I am not improving much, if at all, despite practicing them at home as well.

1) Seiken Shita Tsuki - I have trouble getting proper kime into this strike. With 'norma' tsuki, like Chudan Tsuki I can use my hips and try to relax my muscles to get speed into the technique before tense at 'impact'. However, with Seiken Shita Tsuki the non-linear movement feels awkward and I have trouble getting proper speed and power into it. Also the final position of the arm is one I find hard to 'tense' - not the best way to put it, but english is not my first language, I hope the meaning is clear. It almost feels like my Higite (spelling is probably wrong) is much stronger than the strike itself.

The angle of attack is very different to any other strike and I understand is difficult to mimic when doing kihon, to get this right (for fighting) try using a punching bag or training partner. As you make contact you want your whole body to be moving in the same direction as the strike, slightly forward and slightly upwards, you should soften your knees prior to throwing the strike to allow you to come up into it, at the same time twist your hips toward the striking zone and the arm should follow a natural path as if swinging freely without any tension in the shoulders. To me it is not how it looks but how effective it is that is important, yes in kihon it needs to look right, but perfection is for Kata tournaments, Shita Tsuki is for knockdown. I find this one of my strongest techniques and have seen many fights finished by the power of this blow striking the floating ribs so it's worth getting right.

2) Chudan Mae Geri - I have trouble keep the right foot position for this kick. I know how my foot is supposed to be, but it seems impossible for me to achieve it during the kick. I have tried as exercise to form the foot position with the leg pointing down towards the ground and then raising the leg stretched upwards (like fully stretched kicks - I can't remember the name of these), but I find that I cannot raise my leg much higher than 45 degrees and keep the foot position. Is there some exercise I can do to improve the flexibility of my foot?

I think the stretching techniques you are refuring to are the straight leg dynamic stretches know as Kiagi kicks. I'm not sure these will help you with Mae Geri. For my part I would remember the complete mechanics of the kick, first you raise your knee as high as possible as with Hiza Ganmen Geri, then you strike out in a straight line for the opponents chest, as you strike out you turn on the ball of your foot (the grounded foot) so that the heal points toward the opponent, this adds momentum and power to all kicks, remember to snap the kick out, it is a strike not a push. With regards to foot position try standing and moving in Niko Ashi Datchi as this uses the same foot position.

I will try talking to my instructor about this as well, but wondered if there was anyone here with advice on these two techniques.

This is always the best route as only your instructor knows if you are struggling or a perfectionist

[jcbel]

Further to the above post, from Neko Ashi Dachi raise your front foot and kick to practice keeping your foot in the correct position. This helped me a lot!

[Azimuth]

For your Mae geri i would try to go back to basics and do the 4 count exercise where you split up the movement .
Than at every count check your position of the toes .
1st - raise the knee - check your toes
2nd- straighten the leg - check your toes
3rd - pull back your leg to position 1 - check your toes
4th place your foot back on the floor - relax your toes

If that works make it a 2 count exercise , and so on

[BigAl]

Shita tsuki is one of my favorite techniques and I have a decent one, so I can try giving you some advice on it, though without seeing you do it, I don't think anyone will really see it aside from your sensei.

Do you find it difficult to use in kihon, your kumite stance, or both? In kihon, I like to keep the feeling of just doing a regular seiken chudan tsuki. I try to make it brush VERY lightly on my side and, rather than turning the fist, I keep it palm up. This is a more linear way of using it, I guess, but still pretty effective. I've also had some success with just turning the fist into a tate tsuki if they have a tight guard. For your kumite stance, it's actually a bit easier I think. From your normal defensive guard (I'll base this off of a boxing one since that's close to what I use), you simply turn the palm in and throw the punch, rotating on the heel and using the hips. Kind of like tossing something underhand, I guess.

Hope some of that makes sense and helps you out. Your sensei is the best person to ask though, since he sees you on a regular basis.

[Peder]

Thank you all for your advice.

It is in Kihon I have the most trouble with both of these. When there is something physical to hit and I can move more freely they are much easier to me.

The main issue with Mae Geri is the 2nd part of Azimuth's 4 point list. I am unable to fully extend my leg and keep it there. I can do it as part of a snap-like motion, but I find I cannot keep my foot position correct then. So I guess stretching of the lower leg is the way to go.

Again thanks for the advice. Osu!