Most beginners feel the need to contort their body when picking up the knee; so, try picking up your heel, as you point the knee. It works on some people.
Yes, isolating parts of the body is difficult for me, but it is good practice to be aware. I am discovering that mind and body are inseparable in Karate. I think of many movements like the 'rubbing your head and patting your belly' saying. Being aware in mind and body in multiple places at once.
All good points above. In the beginning stages stances and movement are just as important as the techniques themselves.
You can check your stance by starting out with your feet shoulder-width apart. Stepping back with either foot and kneeling down, your knee should be in line with your front heel. Learning to transfer your weight to your front foot is crucial and is part of the principles that you are beginning to learn.
Also by allowing your body to rise up when you kick, you in fact, lose your route footing and is why you go off balance. I have studied Okinawa GoJu for many years and there is a saying that says, "battles are won and lost within the transition of our stances".
Generally speaking in Okinawa when a sensei corrects you he will do it only once and generally not take any questions during the class. It sounds harsh but basically he is telling you all you need to know to make it happen.
Good luck on your Okinawan Goju experience it is an awesome art, stick with it listen well and you will do fine.
While observing a class for very young students, I saw them kneel down exactly as you describe. I just knelt down to measure myself this way and the distance is perfect. I also measure by making sure my forward knee is covering my toes as I look down. My Sensei taught me to measure also with my feet, heel to toe.
I have a tendency to stand too narrow. I am still learning my own shoulder width while moving into different stances. Things I never took into account before beginning Karate.
Stances were the first thing my Sensei taught me. While my classmates practice Kata, he has me only move in stances. He tells me that everything I am learning now is the foundation and every movement has a purpose. I take this to heart and I am happy to focus on the stances.
I will stick with it! I love it. Thanks.
Personally, I think there's a lot of value in training these sorts of kicks in slow motion when trying to correct details of form.
To the OP - raising up while kicking is a pretty common problem for beginners. Without seeing you move, it's hard to pinpoint where exactly the issue is. It might be a problem with core strength, hip flexibility, balance, or just a matter of not having developed the correct habits yet. Practicing the kick in slow motion won't be easier (it'll probably be harder), but it may allow you to spot where exactly you are having problems.
Another possibility - get in your stance and have a friend hold a yardstick horizontally just above your head. Practice your kick and figure out what you have to do to avoid raising up and bumping your head on the yardstick. This sort of feedback is useful because it lets you know the moment you start to raise your level.
Training slowly is what I was doing before I made this thread, I wanted to get the form correct (especially the ball of the foot), but I felt I was straggling behind for testing day my focusing too much on details and neglecting the kick as a whole. This thread is helping me, and I am grateful for the insightful responses.
I believe my rising problem is a matter of poor habit and moving my body in a way that it has never had to do before. My Sensei corrects me whenever he spots this rising error (in kicking or sliding forward), and demonstrates for me how to do it properly. What he recommended once is that I be aware that my belt is always level, facing forward, never rising or falling. I like your yardstick idea!
It's going to sound counter-intuitive -- but as you kick, sink down into your stance. The natural tendency is to rise as you raise the kicking leg; to straighten the supporting leg and to either rise up or lean to maintain your balance. Sinking slightly onto the supporting leg will help to counter this tendency.
Practicing this a dozen or so times, and sinking very subtly, I did notice improvement. I did it a few more times and was even more subtle in my 'sink', and had better results. Your idea worked in practice and your insight about balance is insightful, I recognizing why I rise and this is very helpful. Thank you.
It is good to hear these things, and I have put your advices into real practice with improving results. Thanks to all of you. My Sensei is always available for questions and clarification, and he has repeatedly and patiently demonstrated correct movements. The problem is my slow learning - and that is okay, because I am here for the long run and I take inspiration from my patient Sensei, my classmates, and your postings.
P.S. Belt testing is today! 3 hours until I'm in the dojo. I am going to relax now and clear my mind. I know it will be all good, poor kicks or no.
