Trouble with holding front kick, how can I improve?

Question

I've been having some trouble with my front kicks...we practise slow motion front kicks, so holding the leg straight up in front, feet flexed. Im higher than parallel to the floor but I cant seem to get higher after ages trying. I do yoga and stretching every day and martial arts too.
Most of my body is very flexable but just the back of my thighs and pelvis seem to be too tight. Sometimes when doing forward bend I have some pain in the back of one of my legs, sometimes my chest is on my knees-no problems.
What can I do everyday to make my front kick higher and to loosen up the backs of my legs? My legs just seem to heavy for me to lift any higher ad it's quite frustraiting!!
Is there any vitamins that can help with maintaining flexability or keeping the muscles more relaxed? I, mean like oils or something?
What do you think.
Thanks.

Answer 1

Find something head high and put your foot on it and lean in towards your knee. Hold that position for about a minute on each leg. I would think you already do this, but if not, that's what works for me. I'm thirty four and have been stretching like that since I was thirteen and I can still deliver head shots with my kicks quite easily.

Answer 2

One way, without stretching, is to bend your back leg!!! Really, it'll alow you to get your kicks higher because you are lower. Most people often do their slow-mo kicks with their back leg bent and this will cause them to not be able to get their kicks high. So, first just try that. If that doesn't work, then try doing leg swings. Everyday, before practice, we do the leg swings. All you do is go like your going to do a kick but all you are really doing is just swinging your leg forward and back. The reason for your pain could be because you stretch to much. Stretching causes damage to the tenden. You need to give it sometime to heal and that may take the pain away.

Hope that helps.

Answer 3

Practicing kicks slow is mostly for balance and to strengthen your muscles when you hold the kick. As far as your flexibility you sound pretty flexible. If you are having pain in the back of your legs try warming up more before class. Your muscles are like rubber bands they stretch and contract, when you stretch you pull on the tendon that hold your muscle to the bone when you feel that burning sensation your pulling muscle tissue which means you are stretching the muscle beyond it's normal range.the more you push the pain the more you pull. If you know the old saying no pain no gain thats kind of what there talking about.As far as getting your kicks higher try doing axe kicks, taking your foot straight up to your shoulder or as high as you can keeping the leg straight start slow then progress higher, when you don't feel any pain in the leg go faster,pulling your leg up as fast as you can as it reaches it's highest point pull it down as fast as you can making sure you don't slam your heel on the ground.when you can kick your shoulder with your knee you are pretty flexiable.Make sure you try this with both legs Hope this helps

Answer 4

There's your problem, you're not supposed to lift your leg, You're supposed to project it forward (or upward or diagonally depending on the situation) not lift it straight up. If you fight against gravity, you'll lose. Try raising your leg with knees bent then slowly stretch your foot out and forward as if you're pushing something away from you instead of lifting something up with your foot stiff legged. Inhale as you are raising your knees and exhale as you are pushing your foot out. In order to hold that position, try to keep pushing your foot forward as long as you can while breathing in and out in a long and steady pace. Try not to tense up and just relax your ankle muscles, ideally only your foot, glutes and abs should be tensed to hold the position. Never hold your breathe as this will make you tense up thereby cramping your muscles. Imagine that your whole leg from waist to toe is a giant hose and a jet stream of water is gushing out from your torso thru your leg and out your foot towards an imaginary target. If you can visualize this and be able to hold it, you'll probably be able to hold your position up longer. Just keep practicing, you'll get it right sooner or later. But don't worry too much about it, unless you're into forms competition, holding your foot in position after kicking in a fight is actually not a good idea as this gives your opponent time to grab it, most kicks are thrown then pulled back into a ready position as soon as it hits the target to prevent this from happening. It's all about timing.

Answer 5

you want to increase your flexibilty? well, i stretch a lot... but it's for cheerleading. you could try some of the stretches tog et your splits - that should help loosen your leg muscles. idk if you have already done some of these but they work for me.
one stretch is in the runners position, with front knee over front foot, back leg extended, and then hold it. if that's not enough of a stretch, place your elbows on the floor. another is just to hold your splits =] with your hands on your hips. painful, but effective. another is to sit in the 'butterfly' position , bring your feet in as far as possible, take your elbows, put them on your knees and push down while grabbing your ankles, and lean in.

Answer 6

okay! i know this one! the stretch that stretches the back of your thighs is getting is a horse ridding position and stretching one leg all the way to the side and vise versa. you could also use a wall and push a back kik up an up

hope i helped

Answer 7

try stretching in a sauna ...... really try it!
you'll thank me later.
if you can't use a sauna take hot shower and stretch