2024-01-22
Teaching my regular classes at the Ross Farnsworth - East Valley YMCA.
The youth class spent some time working on yoko-geri kekomi tonight. We have the benefit of working out in a group exercise studio with a ballet barre on one wall. That makes it easy to form a line with everyone holding the barre for balance while practicing a kick with the opposite leg. For side-thrust kick, we began with four counts:
- Chamber the leg with the knee up, in front, just like chambering for a front kick.
- From there, push the leg out to the side, heel out and heel higher than toes, and hold.
- Return to position #1.
- Put the foot down.
We repeated this several times, and then transitioned to a two-step drill by combining steps from the four-step drill. Counts 1 and 2 became a single count, as did steps 3 and 4. After several repititions, we moved to a single count, performing the entire kick.
In the adult class we did something similar with mawashi-geri, using a chair for balance. Facing the mirror, with a chair placed to our left side, and our left hand on the back of the chair for support, we practiced a right-legged roundhouse kick in several counts:
- Still facing the mirror, lift the right leg off the floor, making sure that the lower leg was held parallel to the floor.
- Pivot 90° on the supporting foot, towards the chair.
- Snap the kicking leg out and back.
- Pivot 90° on the supporting foot, back to where you starated.
- Put the kicking foot back on the floor.
Lots of people wanted to pivot on the supporting foot too early, while lifing the kicking leg as part of count #1, so I had to encourage them to wait for count #2 (for now).
After we had the five-step drill working, we reduced it to three steps.
- Same as #1 above. (Lift the leg.)
- Combine #2 and #3 above. (Pivot and kick.)
- Combine #4 and #5 above. (Pivot back and put your foot down.)
The worst thing you can do is try to kick too high before your flexibility and strength will allow it. Start low - knee height if necessary - and get the mechanics down. Then, and only then, add height. Once your toes rise above your heel, stop again and work on flexibility, then start over.
None of us is this guy …
