Kihon Improvement Tips...

[MMX]

A place to post tips for better Kihon.

I myself am trying to make my Yoko Geri and Ushiro Geri better in hope that it will also improve my Ushiro Mawashi Geri.

Working the heavy bag seems to be helping along with facing a wall and with one hand above and one below you do the ushiro geri.

Any other Kihon tips?

[gotapex]

I find for improving yoko geri and ushiro geri, it really helps to practice with one hand on the wall bar. This takes balance out of the equation, and allows you to concentrate on hip and knee movement. It also helps to start very low, with the kick at knee level. Get a feel for that thrusting motion of the kicking leg. Then, slowly bring it up to the level you're targetting.

For ushiro mawashi geri, are you folks practicing with the foot pointed or retracted?

[powerof0ne]

May 12, 2011 16:22:25 GMT -5 gotapex said:

For ushiro mawashi geri, are you folks practicing with the foot pointed or retracted?

I practice both but usually go for the foot retracted if I'm understanding you right.
Osu!

[meguro]

May 12, 2011 11:48:55 GMT -5 MMX said:

I myself am trying to make my Yoko Geri and Ushiro Geri better in hope that it will also improve my Ushiro Mawashi Geri.

I throw, in my estimation, a pretty ushiro mawashi geri. I wouldn't call it my tokui waza, as I haven't knocked out anyone with it- just slaps in the face with the front part of my foot. I can't imagine spinning my heel into anyone's shnoz. Anyway, I would break the kick down into discrete parts.

1) front leg hook kick- requires speed and flexibility (gyaku seiza helps loosen the hips)
2) turning-pivot lead leg till heel of is facing target (make sure to turn head and not drop chin)
3) use ushiro geri to gain confidence with the spinning
4) uncoil hook kick about a foot away from target and continue the rotation to complete the ushiro mawashi geri

There's no need to muscle this kick. All the power comes from the rotation.

[powerof0ne]

I like "crescent kicks" a lot...I use them to trick people by mixing them with tiips and kakatootoshi type of kicks and I'll do a ura mawashi and a "mae mawashi" to trick people with them. Going inside or outside. Lots of variations with it IMHO. I can also do an inside crescent to gedan mawashi geri or MT style dtae, etc.

However, I find lots of success with using it to sneak a front push kick in more times then not.
Osu!

[senshido]

For Yoko geri, I tend to teach it back to front, hold the finished kick out, maybe resting on the back of a chair so that I can tweek the foot position etc, then pull back to the tsuru ashi dachi using the hips, once they have the finish position its easier to throw it

[GJEC]

I struggle most with the kids. Most just don't understand delayed rewards. What we're basically saying is, "Do this right and in 4 months you MAY test to the next belt". Not very enticing for kids ...

I'm thinking (always thinking) of ways to give a quicker feedback. At this stage the kid that tries hardest/does the best is likely to get a small reward at the end of the month, hence bringing forward the gratification and encouraging more focus on doing things well.

I'll let you know if it works ...

For adults delayed gratification is better understood and the benefits of doing things right are already there. Not getting mullered being one of the more obvious advantages

Gary

[gotapex]

May 16, 2011 10:45:41 GMT -5 GJEC said:

I struggle most with the kids. Most just don't understand delayed rewards. What we're basically saying is, "Do this right and in 4 months you MAY test to the next belt". Not very enticing for kids ...

I'm thinking (always thinking) of ways to give a quicker feedback. At this stage the kid that tries hardest/does the best is likely to get a small reward at the end of the month, hence bringing forward the gratification and encouraging more focus on doing things well.

I'll let you know if it works ...

For adults delayed gratification is better understood and the benefits of doing things right are already there. Not getting mullered being one of the more obvious advantages

Gary

Gary:

One of the things that I've seen work well is stripes for proficiencies between belts.

For instance, let's say for the test, you require a kid to become proficient to a certain degree in kata, kihon, kumite, and have a certain number of class hours. You would take 4 colored tape rolls (1 per requirement), and when a student becomes proficient enough for test eligibility in that specific area, he would get one tape stripe on his belt. When he earns all 4, he's eligible to test.

This is a relatively inexpensive way to motivate kids with short term rewards for their efforts/achievements. It also helps your instructors keep track of what the kids have learned and what they still need to work on at a glance.

Gabe

[GJEC]

Thanks Gabe

I tried the '3 points for good effort, 2 for average, 1 for poor' last night, with the promise that I'd be sending a report to their financial backers (parents) at the end of the month so they can see if their investment is being taken seriously.

Wow!

The difference was night and day. Sweat flowed, kiai shook the windows. Kids who normally mess about were square jawed and steely eyed. Let's hope it lasts!!

Gary

[gotapex]

Nice! Always good when things work as planned.

[MMX]

This kicking drill seems to be making the kicks better but also my form.

Maybe it is because I have been doing it a lot after class. Anyway.

Start with Mae Geri-Mawashi Geri-Step Behind for Yoko Geri and then to Ushiro Geri. You should now be in the opposite foot forward stance and repeat.