Mechanics and Analysis

To produce the correct technique in kicking it is important to watch your foot and whole leg movement. Corrections to poor technique may be possible by stretching particular muscles. Remember if certain muscles are tight or shorter than others then it may be impossible or hazardous to perform some kicks correctly.

It is not enough to just know how a kick is executed, you must also have the right muscle length and strength to do it properly and without injury.

The following two examples are only described to illustrate the type of thinking used to examine any kicking technique.

Axe Kick

Consider an axe kick. Short hamstring muscles and the hip extensors (antagonists to hip flexors) at the maximum height of the kick become very taut (prestretched) but are not involved in getting the leg to the raised position, the hip flexors do this. The gluteus medius and gluteus minimus are the two main muscles involved in the upward movement controlling the abduction of the leg if an outward kick or the adductors if inwards across the body. The leg is taken up by the hip flexors (iliacus and psoas major) working in conjunction with this inward or outward direction. The sartorius muscle is used in the inward axe kick (in/up) with more involvement towards the top of the movement. This can result in an uncontrolled hamstring/gluteus maximus muscle group contraction from the prestretched state for the downward movement. The hamstring should not be involved but is involved because it has been prestretched. The axe kick is executed with excessive force and potentially serious injury could be caused simply through a lack of stretching of the hamstrings. In the sparring point scoring axe kick, partial knee flexion can involve the hamstring. A sudden forceful contraction of the hip flexors to stop the downward movement of the axe kick could cause damage if the muscles are not strong. The leg momentum generated in full flight will need considerable power in these muscles to stop a kick. Tight leg muscles (hamstrings and/or hip extensors) can easily be detected by attempting to lift someone's leg in the front leg raise. Considerable downward force is exerted against the upward push. A well stretched person has a leg which offers little resistance to the upward movement. Such a leg is easily held aloft.

Turning Kick

Well stretched leg muscles without sufficient strength can also lead to excessive and uncontrolled techniques. A turning kick may appear to be executed correctly. The hip abductors and flexors are implicated in the initial movement to raise the leg to the side and upward while the adductors are relaxed. The next phase of the kick is inwards again using the hip flexors but now beginning to use a quadriceps muscle group contraction to straighten the leg. If hip flexor strength is poor the leg motion cannot be arrested and the kick is effectively uncontrolled due to the initial inertia and the subsequent momentum generated being too great. Muscular strength in this instance can be used to slow the leg quickly for control or accelerate if necessary for maximum force. A sudden forceful contraction of the hip extensors (gluteus maximus) to arrest the motion of a turning kick in its last phase could cause damage if the muscles are not strong. The leg momentum generated in full flight will need considerable power in these muscles to stop a kick. Conversely, lack of flexibility in some areas around the hip will impair the execution of a turning kick. Sometimes the combination of muscles will affect the kick. The hip abductors (glutei medius/minimus) may be strong enough to raise the leg in an outwardly direction but as the kick moves forward as a result of the hip flexors (iliopsoas) operating any inflexibility in the hip extensor (gluteus maximus) will prevent a smooth transfer of movement. Nearly all kicks require the partial transfer or involvement of other muscles as the technique develops.