MA training without kicking is easy

[Xue Sheng]

If anybody can stand in the golden-rooster stance with the lifting knee this close to his chest, he should give himself a 100 score.

If your knee can point upward (instead of pointing forward), you can kick high. People can try it. It's not easy.

I know, I use to train that on a heavy bag to see if it could be done, only reason I did it was Dr Yang’s book cover…. just saying it could happen

 

[JowGaWolf]

Here's what I learned. If I want good kick endurance then I practice lifting the leg I do not practice kicking.

However, if I want good kicking technique then I practice kicking but not lifting the legs. I train students this way and they get the biggest improvement in kicking.

My kicking isn't what it used to be so I have to get back to this type of training while my mind is calm and has patience for it.

 

[Kung Fu Wang]

I know, I use to train that on a heavy bag to see if it could be done, only reason I did it was Dr Yang’s book cover…. just saying it could happen

After stretching, I always hold my lower leg and let my knee to touch my chest. It's one of the long fist basic stretching exercises. IMO, to maintain the flexibility during old age, the long fist system has more work than most systems.

When Chinese talk about "退功 (Tui Gong) - lose ability", a young guy may not understand what it is. Assume you can do forward-backward split when you were young. One day you start to feel it gets harder and harder to do it. If you still want to maintain this flexibility during old age, it can be very painful.

 

[Xue Sheng]

After stretching, I always hold my lower leg and let my knee to touch my chest. It's one of the long fist basic stretching exercises. IMO, to maintain the flexibility during old age, the long fist system has more work than most systems.

Oh, I would not do any of that now.. I was in my 20s and 30s when I was doing things long fist

 

[skribs]

Kicks require more energy than punches. You heard it here first, folks!

 

[Kung Fu Wang]

Oh, I would not do any of that now.. I was in my 20s and 30s when I was doing things long fist

I'm the opposite. The long fist training makes me to feel young, healthy, and strong. As long as I can swing my leg over my head, I'm happy.

 

[Xue Sheng]

I'm the opposite. The long fist training makes me to feel young, healthy, and strong. As long as I can swing my leg over my head, I'm happy.

Arthritis and knee surgery and eye surgery kind of made a difference

 

[Stuarto]

If I do 200 kicks, next morning I'll feel tired. But if I only do 1000 punches, next morning I don't feel tired at all. It seems to me that the amount of energy that you may spend on kicking can be 3 times or even 5 times more that you do on punching. When you are young, you may not notice the difference. One day when you get old, you will feel big difference.

Also, only when you kick, you can realize your flexibility and balance. You don't need any stretching for punching. But you do need stretching for kicking. You don't need single leg balance for punching. You do need single leg balance for kicking.

Do you share the same experience? What's your opinion on this?

I have to agree with your statement. It takes a lot more effort and energy for me to do a proper kick. Now, most of the kicks we do in my Kenpo class are at the waist and below but there are a few that are more challenging. I actually pulled my hamstring this week doing a back kick during one of the self-defense techs. This was after a good amount of stretching too. The punching is much easier in opinion but I'm sure you could overextend during a punch too. I am 37 but I sometimes forget I am 37. Yes, I am okay, just a bit of a sore hammy and pride.

 

[HighKick]

If I do 200 kicks, next morning I'll feel tired. But if I only do 1000 punches, next morning I don't feel tired at all. It seems to me that the amount of energy that you may spend on kicking can be 3 times or even 5 times more that you do on punching. When you are young, you may not notice the difference. One day when you get old, you will feel big difference.

Also, only when you kick, you can realize your flexibility and balance. You don't need any stretching for punching. But you do need stretching for kicking. You don't need single leg balance for punching. You do need single leg balance for kicking.

Do you share the same experience? What's your opinion on this?

A Lot more of the body and musculature are used during most kicks. The basic rear front kick is an exception.