Improving my kicking power

hazeleyes202 · Yellow Belt

I have just started Wado-Ryu Karate and was wondering, how do I make my kicks stronger/faster? (My left is stronger than my right)
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“When another person makes you suffer, it is because he suffers deeply within himself, and his suffering is spilling over. He does not need punishment; he needs help. That's the message he is sending.” - Thich Nhat Hanh

Evil Dave · Orange Belt

Welcome to KarateForums.

If your just starting out, stick with your Karate programming. You don't want to add too much too soon. Basically, practice your kicks and balance. Once your ready you will need to start some conditioning work in the gym. Look into the heavy lifts {squats, deadlifts, etc}, oly lifts {clean & jerk, snatch}, kettlebell work, plyometrics, etc. Please notice that I am moving you away from isolation exercises.

Kuma · Black Belt

At your level - practice the kicks as you learn them and get in the dojo as much as possible.

Cobra_Kai · Yellow Belt

To increase power and establish muscle memory, I highly suggest kick bands.
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I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.
~ Bruce Lee

JusticeZero · Black Belt

Practice your kicks. Veeeeery veeeery slooowly. Paying close attention to proper form.
Do "Alphabets". Stand on one foot. With the other foot, start writing the alphabet in the air in front of you. "A B C D E F G...". Chamber between each letter. Don't put your foot down until you finish or you lose balance. Once you have that down, draw it with your toe on a wall in front of you that you will have to reach a bit for.
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"Anything worth doing is worth doing badly." - Baleia

Kuma · Black Belt

Harkon72 · Black Belt

For speed and power there is one key - to be as relaxed as possible; learn the technique well, then have total relaxation in the execution of it. Do a kick like you're listening to rock music before going out for the evening, just let it happen. You will be surprised at the result.
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sensei8 · KF Sensei

Practice your kicks in the swimming pool; water is a natural resistant that will aide in giving you the power you desire because you'll be trying to move a lot of water, i.e. weight.

Still keep your focus and form solid!!

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**Proof is on the floor!!!

Wastelander · KF Sensei

Well, my left kick is stronger than my right because I made it that way--I'm naturally right-sided, so it took some doing! The biggest key to fast, powerful kicks is having proper form--your sensei can help you with that, and then you can practice on your own (JZ's suggestion of slow motion kicks is great for this, as is Sensei8's suggestion of kicking underwater). After that, you'll need to do some serious impact training. Kicking pads will help you develop speed and accuracy, and kicking shields will help you start to develop power. From there, spend a lot of time on a heavy bag (at least 100lbs, in my opinion) to really get a feel for slamming a full-speed, full-power kick into a body-sized/weighted target. Jumping lunges and barbell squats have also helped me improve my power, but I've never bothered with resistance bands.
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Nevinyrral · Blue Belt

Also try to get as stretched and relaxed as possible. Its hard to make a good kich when you are all tensed up. And as with everything it all takes time, practie and experience.

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