How to Increase the Height of a Tae Kwon Do Side Kick

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By LilHumminbird
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Article Rating: (18 Ratings)

Aha! Now here's a subject I know something about. I took Tae Kwon Do for about 3 1/2 years. My side kick was my best kick. I was about 5' and I could kick over my dad's head easily...and he's about 6' 1" tall.

You too can kick learn to kick someone much taller than you.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Vigilance

Step 1

You need to stretch. Every day. Stretching your muscles will make it easier for you to get your leg up. Sit on the ground, legs spread to the sides as far as you can get them. Lean over and try to touch your toes, without bending your knees. Don't get discouraged if you can't touch them. It took me a while before I could grab them. If you can't grab your toes, grab your ankles. Hold that position for 10-15 seconds. Release and sit back up. Repeat about 5 times. Then sit up and put your legs together straight out in front of you. Again, try to touch your toes. Remember to lie as flat as you can. This not only stretches your legs, but your back. Repeat about 5 times.
Step 2

Stand up and spread your legs as far apart as you can, trying to get as close to a split as possible. If you feel like your legs are stretching and straining, that's ok. In this position, pick a leg then take both hands and lean over, trying to touch your feet and lay your body alongside that leg. Hold for 10 seconds, then switch legs. Still in this position, lean forward (but not to where you fall over) and try to touch the ground. If you can't, get as close to the ground as possible. Hold for 10 seconds, then "walk" your hands out as far as you can while keeping your feet flat on the ground. Hold for 10, then walk them back as far behind you as you can without losing your balance. Hold for 10 again, then stand up.
Step 3

Another stretch is the butterfly. Sit down on the floor. Put the soles of your feet together in front of you. Pull your legs in as close to your body as you can. Your knees will be to either side of your body. Hold onto your feet, then lean down while trying to touch your nose to your feet. Hold for 10-20 seconds, then sit up and bounce your legs (like a butterfly fluttering it's wings). Do this 5 times.
Step 4

One strech I learned really helped me get my leg up higher and helped me work on my kick. You can do this anywhere. Go up to a wall and, imitating the last step of your kick, place one leg as high up on the wall as you can, putting the sole of your foot against the wall. You should feel a stretch in your inner thighs. Then lean towards the leg on the wall, trying to touch your toes and lay your body flat on your leg. Hold for 10-20 seconds, then lean back, keeping your leg on the wall. Repeat a few times, then switch legs. Eventually, you'll be able to get your leg higher and higher up on the wall, possibly to the point where you're doing a split against the wall.

Comments

Rockney said

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on 11/24/2008 Very interestng stuff! thanks for the article!

favefive said

on 1/1/2008 Excellent article. It does make sense :)

TigressCalliope said

on 10/18/2007 Great article! One of the things we used to do in class to practice was a pretend kick, where we put our lower hand on the ground at the moment the kick went highest. Helped with balance--so when we did real kicks, we could lean over really far, without using our hands.

revisitingnixon said

on 8/29/2007 Congrats on having this article be picked as the winner for the "Top Written Requested How to Article!" Check out the forums and see which other winners we have this week. Check it out at:

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-Rich