Can I still do well at Martial Arts if I'm pigeon toed?

Question

I know a lot of martial arts require a certain degree of flexibility. I can do most kicks, but their are certain positions I just can do. I can't even sit Indian style and I cannot turn my feet outward at all.. I can make them straight but its not comfortable

Answer 1

Yes, absolutely.

I've been training and teaching for a long time, everyone has different advantages and disadvantage, you'll learn to adapt things to suit your body.

Lot's of really famous martial artists had disabilities of some sort, just a matter of adapting rather then looking at what you can't do.

Answer 2

I have a few students with problems similar to yours and they have some difficulty with executing some things although your problem sounds pretty severe. When I started karate my instructor wanted the rear foot straight to the front in a forward stance. It took me some time to develop the ability and flexibility to do that but after a year or so I could. He would always politely correct and urge me to turn it straighter and it was through his positive approach and my increased flexibility and motility that I was eventually able to do it and can still do it today.

A good instructor will work with you to overcome some of this as you build your flexibility and ability to do so and not over worry about that which you can't. Also you may find that some of the problem may be minimized but you won't know until you try. Also students come in all shapes and sizes and are not always great athletes with amazing skills and natural ability. Look for a mature, good instructor that has students, that in spite of their limitations or age, has made them into knowledgeable, confident, skilled martial artists and I think you will do fine.

Answer 3

IQ fitness made a great point. i studied jeet kune do, among other arts, and learning the basics of wing chun (or ''wing tsun,'' or ''wing chun kuen'') was part of my training. in wing chun, the stances are pigeon toed, and in jeet kune do, the bai zhang stance also is. sometimes a jkd or wing chun sidekick can go as high as your opponent's hip, but generally, instructors teach their students to go after the knees. when you stand pigeon toed, your knees are turned slightly inward to protect your groin (not that it would matter to YOU, really. lol). anyway, studying wing chun kung fu would probably be great for you. it was, after all, created by a woman, and was the art bruce lee started out practicing, under sifu yip man. some of the training drills (chi sao and lap sao) in wing chun are the best i've seen as far as training yourself how to react when your opponents hands/ arms are in different positions, plus when you advance far enough, you get to learn dim mak, a pressure point fighting system that's sometimes called ''death touch.'' try wing chun or jeet kune do. you'll love it, and being pigeon toed won't slow you down a bit. you could also try pananjakman and panantukan, if you can find a school that teaches those (and most jkd schools do). pananjakman is a filipino kicking art, which uses only low-line (below the waist) kicks, and is usually combined with panantukan, filipino boxing, which also employs hammerfists, elbows, and finger jabs. the two combined together look a lot like muay thai, except the kicks are lower and slightly less circular.

Answer 4

Being pigeon-toed, or suffering from in-toeing (the medical term is torsional deformity), is a curable disorder that is primarily genetic. Speak to your local orthopedist for evaluation and treatment. Then you can practice any style of martial art you want. I study Tae Kwon Do (a high-kicking, high-impact martial art) despite suffering from constant ruptures in my limbs (genetic disorder). It's painful, but there is treatment available, so I can continue practising. Don't let people say you can't do this or do that just because you're suffering from such a condition. With medical treatment, you can beat it, and do whatever you want. (Don't take the easy route and study a style just because it seems easier!)

Answer 5

MA focus on mind body and spirit and yes you can do MA if you desire. I'm somewhat overweight and not very flexible and thought that that would hold me back. I do struggle with a few things, like the bow we use called seiza, but I do what I can and I am progressing. There are many chinese MA that use a stance that you would feel more comfortable with. I don't know where you live but check out my myspace profile cause I have los of martial artist friends on there...add me if you want. www.myspace.com/allstarmats or www.ninjaseishin.com. Have fun!!!

Answer 6

Try Wing Chun, their stance is pigeon toed so you'll have a natural advantage in this style...

It also only kicks below the waist so flexibility is not a major concern.

Answer 7

I went to a tournament once and a guy was doing karate in a wheelchair so I don't think your flexibility will be a problem. I think over time you will pick and choose whats comfortable. Eventually you will end up with your own personal bag of tricks that work for you.

Answer 8

If there's a will there's a way!! It's a question of adapting your mind and turn your body as a weapon, what's important is that you give your best and at least try....Don't submit!!

Answer 9

yes I am pigoen toed and represented igh level in two arts.