Karateka who can only kick midsection?

Prototype · Green Belt

Despite training for 2 years and putting all the stretching hours in, I am still only able to perform correct mawashi geris at midsection. I had a buddy of mine film me and as soon as I went for head level my leg gets bent.

I am 27 years of age, had the exact same flexibility problems with my hips when I started training age 15 and then layed off. I know the proper mechanics but my hips just aren't flexible enough beyond a very limited point.

Am a legit karateka if I can only perform techniques correctly at midsection in your opinion?

This question relates to forms only.

JR 137 · Black Belt

You are absolutely horrible, and should leave the dojo in shame. Any good instructor would have kicked you out a long time ago, so shame on him/her too.

Now for the serious part...

Kick where you can, and strive to improve. Personally, I'm not a big fan of kicking head height anyway. I think a kick to the outside of the thigh, side of the knee or the groin would be far more effective, efficient, and less risky than kicking higher, but that's just me. Don't get me wrong, there's a time and a place for everything, but there's not nearly enough correct times to head kick as people do when sparring IMO.

No one's body does exactly what their brain tells it to do. All anyone can do is keep working at it.

Prototype · Green Belt

I feel like a failure. Blue belt and 2 years of dedicated training, fullY aware of the proper mechanics, nice explosiveness, and still... I can only hold it extended for like 1 second, midsection.

catlike · Yellow Belt

Have you discussed with your Sensei? I'd have thought they might be able to tell you what you need to do to get your kicks higher - and indeed IF you need them to be.

ashworth · Brown Belt

You are still a karate-ka regardless, not being able to do a certain kick head don't make you any less of a karate-ka, karate is about striving to be the best you can be and that is different for everyone.

Don't feel disheartened, it will come just be patient, speak to your instructor about various exercises that can improve your flexibility for this technique, and remember that it wont happen overnight.

I have a student that had a similar issue, was flexible enough to easily kick head level with a front kick, but side and round kick couldn't, wasn't until around his brown belt grades that we saw significant improvement with those kicks.
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Kusotare · Purple Belt

Wastelander · KF Sensei

I can kick the head--and have knocked people out doing so--and yet I rarely throw head kicks, unless I'm doing them the old-school way: https://www.instagram.com/p/BLjbWcjDkuN/

In all seriousness, though, you do not need to be able to kick high to be a karateka. If you do want to be able to kick that high, then that's fine. Without seeing you kick, it's hard for me to say whether it is truly a flexibility issue, or whether it is a mechanical issue.
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sensei8 · KF Sensei

Yeah, as you've been advised here already, I'd speak with your CI (Chief Instructor) about your concerns. Making sure that you mention any physical as well as medical limitations, if you're comfortable to do that.

If your style is TKD, high kicks are dominate, and required. If your style isn't TKD, then perhaps, kicks above the waist/stomach are not required, but just your desire to do so. I understand that because when I was a JBB (Junior Black Belt) in Shindokan, an Okinawan style, and our kicks are waist/stomach down, never high, I wanted to learn other kicks, both offensive as well as defensive, so I took one year of TKD in my high school days. However, the CI determines any adjustments allowed within the student. In short, it's the CI's call across the board.

You're a MAist, through and through, and the inability to execute any type of high kicks doesn't change the fact that you are first and foremost...a Martial Artist (MA)!! That's within your heart, and not within what your limitations might and/or might not be.

If this deeply troubles you, then again, seek out your CI for his/her advice and support in this matter at your nearest opportunity. His/Her advice is paramount over mine/ours.

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JR 137 · Black Belt

I lack flexibility. Sometimes in sparring I can surprise myself and roundhouse kick a standing opponent's head. It's honestly when I'm not trying too hard to do so.

But there's a far easier way to kick someone in the head... sweep them first.

Nidan Melbourne · KF Sempai

I've trained for 15 Years and a Nidan! And i absolutely suck at kicking anywhere above the mid-section. But i am still working on it and to find how to get there whilst maintaining my balance.

Although me trying to work on it has only happened for the last 4 years.

As JR said sweep the leg to bring them down to size.

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