Tom Kurz throws high roundhouse kicks without any warm-up

[chugginhemlock]

dr. kurz, do you recommend against any particular martial art practice or maneuvers while using your materials to develop the split?

in advance, your advice is greatly appreciated.

thank you dr. kurz

[ThomasKurz]

@chugginhemlock

Many. See my articles at stadion.com.

[JordyBT]

I can do that when i wake up.

[Goldtube19]

Actually, it looks like in all your pics in your articles, your kicking leg appears to be maximally extended. Why is that? I mean it looks like you yourself seem to be risking hyperextension in your own knees. Then again, if you didn't maximally extend your kicking leg, then wouldn't you be reducing your kicking power as opposed to kicking with maximal extension, regardless of any type of kick you use? I am confused. Thanks again!

[Goldtube19]

(continued post)....you warned to us, in your articles and book, not to completely straighten the leg when doing a side kick, leg raise to the side, or roundhouse kick as it could risk or lead to hyperextension of one's knee (especially when kicking "the air"). With this confusion in mind, I would appreciate it if you could enlighten me or clarify to me as to why you yourself doing the roundhouse kicks with your kicking leg completely extended, in the pics and the video is okay.

[Goldtube19]

(...Continued post). Also, I practice a martial art called Hapkido, a Korean eclectic martial art, consisting of not only jujutsu like joint locks, many types of kicks like Taekwondo, but also rolling, many throws, and breakfalls like Judo. Since you explained in your book that you should avoid relaxed lower back stretches in a standing position, then wouldn't practicing rolls and and flip breakfalls, especially from the start of a roll or a flip risk overstretching ones spinal ligaments?

[ThomasKurz]

@Goldtube19

Your question shows that you don't practice really.

[Goldtube19]

@ThomasKurz I have been practicing Hapkido for almost 4 years, and I know how to roll and breakfall well. I am just a little concerned as to whether or not consistently practicing rolls and breakfalls (especially advanced flip breakfalls), regardless of how good you perform or execute each of them, could still risk the likelihood one ruining one's spinal ligaments. Thank you for your responses.

[Goldtube19]

When using or throwing any type kicking, I know that your supposed to slightly bent the knee when doing dynamic leg raises to the side, but then how come with your roundhouse kicks in both this video and in a couple of different pictures, of you doing a roundhouse kick to "the air" the while wearing a suit, your kicking leg is fully extended or appear to have your knees locked?

[ThomasKurz]

@Goldtube19

Roundhouse kicks (mawashi geri) are not dynamic leg raises to the side (yoko keage). Ponder this.

[Goldtube19]

@ThomasKurz No, I understand that the mechanics of a roundhouse kick are different from those of a side kick or a dynamic leg raise to the side, but they each end up at impact in the same body position (except for the foot positions). What I am trying to get at, is that it looks like you were completely extending your kicking leg straight during those roundhouse kicks in the pics and in this video which hyperextension of your knee (especially when kicking in the air), despite the fact that...

[Goldtube19]

Mr. Kurz, I have to say that your book, Stretching Scientifically, has not only been most informative book that I have ever read on flexibility, but also I find it to have the most specific and clearest information on how to precisely structure your stretching exercises for optimal flexibility. Though, I have some questions relating to martial art. (continued onto next post due to too many characters within these following questions).

[DavySigfusson]

I find it more painful to stretch when I have been stretching a lot in the past week but when I take a brake from the martial arts thingy, it doesn't hurt to stretch or even kicking as high as I can...

[ThomasKurz]

@DavySigfusson

That tells a lot about the quality of your instructor, doesn't it?

[DavySigfusson]

@ThomasKurz

I bet your gonna say you're better but..

None of the other people I practice with feel the same and the pain isn't in the muscles themselves but closer to the joints.

[ThomasKurz]

"I bet your gonna say you're better but..

"None of the other people I practice with feel the same and the pain isn't in the muscles themselves but closer to the joints."

@DavySigfusson

Competent instructors individualize their instruction....

[DavySigfusson]

@ThomasKurz

Well, you're right about that... :)

[kylescotternest]

thats exactly how i throw a high kick and ive been doing it sience i was a kid.

[Fingyfin]

Kinda funny cause it's easy to do a kick that high without having to warm up even with average level of stretching ability.

As long as it's fast though.

Whats hard is doing it really slow or leaving your leg there, that's hard.

When doing it slow I can't even get it near head height :(

[lawman1971b]

the last one he did had good power.

[DavySigfusson]

The only trick here is to be flexible...

[hakuboshi1]

man his form is kinda ehh like on the last one but hes blastin out great power for random form.

[Dararith]

The kick definitely demonstrates his flexibility amazingly well, though doing Taekwondo myself makes me shudder at his poor form. Still a good high kick though.

[bqureshi390]

i think if he did karate, i think they dont snap their leg..tkd roundhouse kick has snap, especially for the high section kicks, faster kick and faster recovery, a bit less powerful, but in tkd roundhouse to body can be either snap or power

[deejin25]

@bqureshi390 Karate doesn't snap their leg? You are willing to say this in public?

[etreke]

u can notice that after he kicks, his leg stays in the air for a while before it comes down

its not becz he's keepin it there, but becz the location of his center of gravity is preventin him from retractin it with speed

his body...umm..."falls back" a bit too much

but seriously, that guy is pure awesome

kickin so high without stretchin...and in a suit too~

haha

[thehomefront]

them kicks dont work in a real fight

[Geomegamario]

@thehomefront why not? is just a roundhouse kick, of course is useful! and besides it's just a demonstration, in a real fight you kick faser because of the adrenalin.

I've use the roundhouse kick alot in real combat. It's much more useful than a punch if you know how to do it.

[electrobussterr]

Fighting with a suite looks cool.

[badassforever]

is kurz really answering the questions here? well i ve been a big fan of his for his exceptional flexibility and kicking...i am trying hard to regain my flexibility what i had about 8 years ago...will get thr

[mmatazo]

beh... cro cop can kick 100000 times better

[proflexstretch]

I like the video! i've owned and operated some successful martial schools (600 active students). Tom gives some great tips. I've found that being able to measure progress is key, especially for the baby boomer through senior market. Pro athletes as well. Keep up the great work!

[waterswind]

it isn't that tough to throw a high roundhouse or turn kick as it's also known without first stretching mostly due to it being a fast kick that can gain hyper flexibility from the sheer force of the kick although it would be tough to do with a suit on

[newmanto03]

too bad he is using his back leg to throw the kick instead of his front leg

[senos64]

why? there is more power in the back leg

[racrx32]

yes

[StL33T]

good, that means he can control the power with that amazing flexibility as well then.

[goldtube20]

If you yourself are a martial artist who can throw a very high roundhouse kick Tom, then, how come you do the full splits? I thought you said that static stretches like the splits are detrimental to one's dynamic flexibility or kicking.

[ThomasKurz]

You thought wrong. I said no such thing. It is not doing splits per se that is detrimental to one's kicking, but rather "when" they are done. It is not just "what" you do, but "when" and "how."

[goldtube20]

I see, thank you for clarifying that for me. Also, what if your goal is to kick at head height and you do only dynamic stretches but never do any static stretches at all? Can one kick at head height while having poor or average static flexibility?

[ThomasKurz]

Passive static ROM determines dynamic ROM. I have explained relationships among all six kinds of flexibility in my book Stretching Scientifically.

[ridicule401]

@goldtube20 splits you dont need to do the splits to for a high kick you high round house me i go under that leg take out your other leg then stomp on your head basic and simple

[1994Leah1994]

Hi im 13 go freesyle kickboxing and a roundhouse kick has ment to cum up and to one side or from the side up to center ??strage lol

[noobsaboot1]

You have most likely been shown a karate style round kick where as this is more taekwondo style. Every style does it a bit differently

[jarmo58]

lol yeah. He kinda looks tough too with that suit on:)

[ahmednabil]

actually he is tough. 50 year old ideal athelete

[TrondC]

shit, I'd kick harder than that when warm, but with no warm up I'd probably destroy my leg in the process.. ouch!! How can one gain that kind of flexibility? just lots and lots and lots of stretching? I'd love to do high kicks without warmup...

[ThomasKurz]

See stretching DOT info

Duh!

[Newtmaster]

Wait, so now fifty is considered to be a "geezer" age?

[godzillaislarge]

i agree, this is why people arent living past there 80s, i plant to live past a 1000. when im fifty, im still going to have even more flexibility and energy than ever before

[thehymner]

cool old geezer

[25500]

so what

[gpj]

i'd like to see that kick on someone's face lol

[BaJoRo]

Mucho kudos for Tom Kurz.

[Augenatic]

Haha. You are damned cool for the age you are! Much better than many 20-30 year blackbelts i know!