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on December 30th, 2019 in Muay Thai Have you been working hard to improve your foot techniques but are feeling stuck while trying to kick higher? Many new MMA fighters find that kicking higher is difficult and struggle with improving upon this skill. Though there will always be some physical limits to your ability to kick higher you should be able to improve your kick height by working with a qualified coach or personal trainer.
For help with finding the right personal trainer to help you with your goals see our previous article “What Makes a Good Personal Trainer?”. If you are working on improving your skills on your own, see our tips below. By following the tips below, we can help you learn how to kick higher MMA, taekwondo or kickboxing, we can help!
What Can I Do to Kick Higher?
In order to meet your full potential in kicking higher there are a few things that you can do. But the main area of focus when improving the height of your kicks is improving flexibility. With improved flexibility you will be able to kick higher and reduce your chances of injury while doing so. The following tips provide action steps to help you improve your flexibility and ultimately kick higher.
Stretch
improving your flexibility will ultimately allow you to kick higher. They best way to improve your flexibility is to stretch. Start making stretching a regular part of your fitness routine. Focus on stretching in your inner thigh area by doing exercises such as the splits. You don’t need to be able to do a full split to kick high. But gradually working towards more flexibility in your hips and inner thigh will allow you to extend further while kicking.
Warm Up
In our previous article we answered the question, how does warming up prevent injury. But warming up is important for more than just injury prevention. A proper warm up can also help you to kick higher as your muscles are already loose and ready to move. Without a warmup you may find that attempting to kick high hurts, and it could even leave you with an injury. We suggest that when working on kicking higher you should always be fully warmed up. You may even wish to consider practicing higher kicks mid workout in order to prevent injury and engage your full potential.
Build Core Strength & Balance
Building your core strength and balance is ideal for working on kicking higher, especially if you are already very flexible. In order to kick high you must balance on one leg while holding your core tight. Improving upon these skills will help you to push the limits and reach higher when you kick. Practice your balance by doing simple activities like standing on one foot with your eyes closed. Strengthen your core in any way you like. Consider adding core strengthening to your regular fitness routine. A stronger core will help with balance but achieving this will take time and effort.
Improve Technique
Along with our other tips, improving your technique should help you to achieve a higher kick. Always ensure that you are focusing on proper technique when practicing. Using poor form in order to reach higher will not serve you well and may eventually lead to injury. Ask you coach for help in showing you proper techniques and leading you in perfecting your form. Proper form is not only good for improving the height of your kicks but it can also aid in injury prevention.
Who Can Help?
A qualified coach is your best bet for improving the height of your kicks. If you are not already working with a coach or personal trainer consider doing so. Whether you do Taekwondo, Kick Boxing or MMA, you should be able to kick higher
Grants MMA is the MMA gym Toronto residents trust. Book a free class today and let us help you reach your goals and push your kick height to the limit today.
