Practicing kicks especially round and side I find it difficult keeping my balance as I go through the steps slowly, it does improve as I speed up but I want to develop control as it looks a little ungainly hopping around on one leg! Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Have your supporting leg slightly bent.

Also you can practice by using the back of a chair to help with balance, progress to having the support nearby but not actually holding on to it. From there with time you shouldn't need any assistance.

That's the short version


Mick

I can think of two possible things that could be a problem:

1. Keep your arms under control. Flailing arms are just that ... flailing. I see a lot of newcomers try to twist themselves into a roundhouse kick with their arms, as if they're grabbing for something to hold on to - all this does is slow you down (picture an ice skater - do their arms flail about when they spin fast? No!). Therefore, keep your arms in closer to your body for control, speed of rotation, and some protection.

2. "Unravel" your kicking leg. All the basic kicks unravel - if you unravel them prematurely, you tend to lose balance and look a bit "ungainly" (as you put it!). Example: a front kick looks like the Can-can dance if it doesn't unravel - it should start with the foot positioned below the knee (ravelled) and you progressively extend the leg, then the foot (unravel). It should like a party blower - you know, the ones that have the horn and the paper tube that uncoils?

Hope this helps! :thumbwink:

Craig.

Practice

Thanks Deano I never thought of that!

pick a spot...
any spot...

practise balance at every possible chance (during a class or not)
balance is something ive always had a problem with my self.
trust me.. karate is the best thing for it.

work on balance during leg raises, warm up, stretching, slow pace and 4 stage kicks, stances (cat stance for example) etc etc etc.

the more you work on stationary balance the more it will help during activity such as kicks or sparring...

hope my jibbering helps a little.

Thanks for the tips Susan I'm sure they will not only help me but other people as well. You can "jibber" all you like when it's positive feedback,thanks

Thom, you might have heard this before. For a start, you should focus at one point during balancing, after awhile your body will adapt itself, then you might want to try more challenge balancing yourself by closing your eyes.

Or if you are taking a bus to work or anywhere, try to stand without holding your hand to anything, especially when the bus is stopping is when the fun begins

My Pilates instructor says it's all in the abs....... Switch 'em on she says! Personally I think it's a lot to do with 'focus'

Jo
I'm a big fan of cross training, can you tell me how your Pilates helps/hinders your karate?

a regional manager once gave me this pearl of information, when brushing your teeth in the morning get into whatever kicking stance you want to improve and brush your teeth while in this stance, the benifit is you can see yourself in the mirror and this helps you stand up straighter in the stance, or it will in the long run and it is while you are doing something you only need to use one leg to do aswell. one tip though if you feel yourself over balancing try not to swollow the toothbrush it would be painful on the way out i'd say.

I used to be hopeless at balancing, but I got into doing simple little things like holding one knee up to my chest and standing on one foot for as long as I could, then bringing it up behind, and then bringing it up to the side like the start of Mawashi Geri and holding it for as long as I could.

Just try to hold each '4-part' of each kick for as long as you can, so you're doing the kick properly, and training yourself to stay up right and balanced at the same time.