Stretching for Mawashi geri

Kiwi Tony · Post by **Kiwi Tony** » Mar 13, 2004 01:39

Hi

I'm told in our karate club that the side or front split isn't really the stretch for mawashi geri (compact kick to opponent's side - the body is more upright and forward facing than the kick boxing roundhouse kick). We stretch by kneeling, moving our feet apart to sit on the floor between our feet and trruning our feet out to the sides. I am 45 years old and I have trouble with this. It feels as though my hip joints are at the limit of their movement and my knees feel over strained.

I have been training in a style of Kempo Karate for 4 years, now. I recently bought Stretching Scientifically and I am looking forward to improving my high kicks. However, I don't see our kind of stretch mentioned.

Is it a sensible stretch for this kind of kick?

Any comments would be appreciated.

Tony

UKfightfreak · Post by **UKfightfreak** » Jul 01, 2004 15:03

If you perform a side split in the way Tom Kurz performs it, the foot of the rear leg is pointing side ways (so the arch of the foot is close to the floor) unlike some gymnastic splits that you may see where the top of foot is on the floor.

This position is a round house position, imagine the foot that is on the floor is your supporting leg and your rear leg is the kicking leg, this mimics the exact position you should be in for a high round house.

Aside: If you want to kick high do dynamic stretches before you workout and static at the end of the workout as static stretches won't help you kick high.

UKfightfreak · Post by **UKfightfreak** » Jul 01, 2004 15:07

I didn't notice that you have been doing your art for 4 years.

I really think you need to question the validity of the exercises you are performing, even at 45 it should be a matter of months before your dynamic stretching enables you to do high kicks.

Read the book and especially pay attention to dynamic stretching.