- Joined
- Sep 15, 2012
- Messages
- 6,714
- Reaction score
- 1,903
Never in my entire life, after over 20 years in martial arts, 2 black belts, god knows how many styles, have I ever heard of anyone suggesting getting as high as possible on the ball of your kicking foot was a thing you would do until this video. I'm so confused.
Easier for me to make contact with headkicks if I'm high up on the ball of my foot. Not stretchy enough to land shins on faces while flat footed.
My thought is you get enough on the ball of your foot to eliminate the friction. I'm not sure what benefit you get from going any higher than that. Basically hover your heel off the ground, but not tip-toes.
I guess the one exception would be where you're spinning so much that you need some leeway because you're going to be minusculely off balance. Multiple roundhouses fall into that category, you want to be higher because if you're as low a possible, your balance check may put you flat footed. Edit: Maybe a better way to put it, the sloppier your kick, the higher you go up.
Easier for me to make contact with headkicks if I'm high up on the ball of my foot. Not stretchy enough to land shins on faces while flat footed.
For the roundhouse, I am almost always on the high method. I think I'm only flat if i go for a power low kick with a step in, or a sweep low.
I'm also high for the teep if it's an offensive one, and flat only if its a front leg defensive one...
@fluffball
Another think that may play a part, is how my stance is.
I have a heavy back footed balance. The front foot is almost on the toes, very light. So its faster for me to just rotate from there, without putting it down any more than it's already is.
I getting old and my hips give me shit so I have different foot positions for different kick.@fluffball
I just tried some kicks to have a better feel of what we are talking about.
I'm not sure i will be able to explain properly, but here it is:
Lets say that we have 3 positions of the pivoting foot.
Flat
45°
90°
With no movement:
-When i am flat, i feel the force of my weight been distributed between my heel and the ball of the foot.
-When in 45, the main force pushing down is at the ball obviously, but i can still feel a force pushing down at my heel, because my body is aligned above it. That force makes me want to step fully down, to be flat footed.
-At 90 the force is only at the ball of the foot, because now, the heel, and the rest of the leg is aligned above that point. The force pushing down is already at the point of contact.
With rotation:
-Flat: no need to discuss.
-45. When I raise my foot to a 45°, stop, then try to rotate, i find it very difficult. I have to help it with my shoulders and hips.
-90. When I raise my foot at 90, stop then try to rotate, i find it a lot easier. I feel like the toes/ball, ankle, and leg are locked in a straight line, making it a lot easier to rotate. I just need a little help from the hips.
I don't know if that make any sense to you, or even if its understandable the way i describe it. But dont forget that i'm always right.
In before j123 comments on the balls...
I'm the. Same way... I was taught to sideways be on your toes in thai boxingFor the roundhouse, I am almost always on the high method. I think I'm only flat if i go for a power low kick with a step in, or a sweep low.
I'm also high for the teep if it's an offensive one, and flat only if its a front leg defensive one...
I made it 40 sec into the video. Why should we listen to a very stoned person. Who is that?
Anyway. There are as many was to kick a round kick, as there are different ways to do a left hook in boxing.
That being said. It wont hurt to have a little spring in your foot.