6 Tips to Learn How to Kick Harder and Higher

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Last Updated on August 22, 2024 by Paul Clayton

6 Tips to Learn How to Kick Harder and Higher

Picture this: You’re walking down a dimly lit street surrounded by darkness and uncertainty. Suddenly, you sense danger lurking nearby. Fear starts to creep in, but you take a deep breath and remember the powerful self-defense moves you’ve learned. It’s time to kick things up a notch, literally!

Key Takeaways

1. 1. Basics First: Start with fundamental martial arts techniques to build a strong foundation before attempting higher and stronger kicks.
   2. Proper Technique: Focus on correct form and technique to avoid injuries and maximize kick efficiency.
   3. Flexibility: Regular static and dynamic stretching is essential for improving the height and strength of kicks.
   4. Practice: Consistent practice, including bag kicks and holding kicks at maximum height, is crucial for improvement.
   5. Knee Position: Raising your knees high is important for executing higher kicks.
   6. Strength Training: Engage in exercises that strengthen the muscles involved in kicking and improve balance.

Imagine your leg turning into a lightning-fast, unstoppable force fueled by adrenaline. Your knee comes up, and your foot launches forward like a rocket, aiming for your attacker’s gut with a fierce front kick. BOOM! The impact is like a wrecking ball hitting a brick wall – you can almost feel the power reverberate through your body.

But you don’t stop there. You pivot on your planted foot and unleash a devastating roundhouse kick, sweeping across like a spinning tornado. Your foot connects with your opponent’s side, delivering a bone-crushing blow that reels them. It’s like something out of a Hollywood action movie, only this time, you’re the show’s star!

High kicks are a deadly asset in a self-defense situation. Unfortunately, executing a stronger and higher kick is difficult, if not impossible, for most people. Even with their years of training and enjoying the kicks and sweeps, most martial arts enthusiasts still find their range of high kicks with power quite limited.

In this guide, however, I’ll share some tricks and tips you can employ to get better at throwing high and stronger kicks. I’ll share the drills and practice tips I’ve used to improve at high kicks.

How to Work on Getting Your Kicks Higher and Stronger 

1) Learn The Basics

If you’re a beginner, just starting on martial arts, or assuming you’ve not been doing any activity before this that engages your hips, I suggest you focus on learning the basics first.

You can do exercises, but the most important thing is to learn the fundamentals of martial arts. Establishing a solid foundation for your kicks can take anywhere between 6 months and a few years.

So, start by training the fundamentals, stretch when warmed, and you’ll be more flexible with time. High-kick techniques come afterward.

2) Learn the Proper Kicking Technique

Assuming you are already past the fundamental stages, it’s time to master your kicking technique. I see many beginners make the mistake of thinking that just kicking without proper form will get them there. Unfortunately, you always need to worry about form.

Poor form combined with lots of effort is a recipe for knee/groin injury. It also ingrains terrible habits that you’ll eventually need to unlearn.

The first step in learning to perform a high kick correctly is fully pivoting the plant foot 180 degrees. The base or foot remaining on the ground should be pointed away from the target or backward. This opens the hips up, allowing for greater movement.

Another key aspect of learning to throw a proper technique is pivoting on the ball of your supporting feet. This helps you pivot more explosively while raising the kick to be higher. The higher your kick, the further around it goes until it ultimately points backward.

Also, don’t be afraid of leaning back. With time, you should be able to learn to throw the high kicks without leaning, but when starting, it’s okay to lean a little to help your leg get higher. Leaning back while kicking gives some height and puts more power on the kick than standing up straight for head kicks.

3) Stretches for Flexibility

Getting your kicks higher, faster, and stronger primarily revolves around flexibility. And there’s no better way to make your body more flexible than leveraging the power of stretches.

I see way too many people focus on stretching the hamstrings and abductors muscles only and calling daily. Instead, I suggest that you work on stretching the quads, hamstrings, hips, adductors, calf muscles, and ankle. One of the main stretches you should particularly focus on is opening your hip flexors.

The two primary forms of stretching that will help with your flexibility are static training (split) and dynamic stretching.

Static stretching usually improves overall flexibility when relaxed and calm, while dynamic training improves flexibility even when muscles are contracted.

A good stretch for the inner thighs is to lie on your stomach, then stretch your knees far apart with the toes pointing outwards. Crawl backward on your lower arms with the knees in position. Crawl back until you feel a good stretch.

For a great dynamic stretch to target your adductors, find a stable surface and use both hands for support. Raise one leg and transfer your weight to the other leg. Swing the raised leg, crisscrossing the leg on the ground until you get a stretch.

If you have partners and need to increase the kicking height, put one leg on their shoulder and get them to raise the leg as high as possible. While at it, ensure the leg on the ground isn’t bent.

These are not the only stretching techniques to improve your kicking flexibility; numerous other techniques exist.

When to Stretch

Knowing when to stretch is as important as stretching techniques.

Stretching for kicking improvement and flexibility shouldn’t be done right after a training session. See, when you train, muscles tend to contract and shorten, and if you stretch right then, it gets harder, and you risk injuring yourself. Plus, you’re not likely to feel pain because you’re high on adrenaline, so it’s easy to push yourself past the pain threshold and injure yourself.

In my opinion, if you need to stretch after training, let it be a light session. Hard stretching should be done cold before a session or after showering when your muscles are relaxed.

4) Train on your Kicks

There’s no secret here; if you want to get better at kicking high, you must kick often. Every time you walk into the training ground, take precious minutes to do a set of kicks as high as possible. Of course, using the proper technique and form is important.

The bag kick is awesome for improving your kicks. Try to kick the bag as high as possible without throwing yourself off balance. Meanwhile, if you have a sparring partner, aim for their head.

However, you could train your middle kicks if you’re still uncomfortable with the higher ones. The more comfortable you are with hip engagement in the middle range, the easier it is to take your kicks higher.

Another important aspect of kick training is aiming to kick and hold a kick at maximum height for a few seconds. This is a fantastic way of increasing the strength needed to control higher kicks.

5) Bring your Knees Up

While stretching and flexibility are remarkably the best drills for getting better at higher kicks, one thing people ignore is bringing their knees up when they kick.

A good chamber, lifting your knees to an appropriate height, will go a long way. The higher your knee level is, the higher the leg extends out. Generally, if you can bring your knees to the height of your chest, it’s easy to execute a headshot.

6) Exercise

Finally, I wouldn’t want to add that getting high kicks involves developing muscles. High kicks are more than just mobility; you must also engage in exercises that strengthen your muscles.

Another helpful exercise is learning the basics of balancing on your toes. Balance is critical as you go higher.

Throwing Higher Tips

Generally, practicing the tips I’ve mentioned above will surely increase your ability to kick higher. If you’re consistent, you’ll find it much easier to progress from kicking stomach height to being able to execute headshots.

• Know your Limits

But beyond this advice, I also need you to understand that our bodies are different and that there are huge inequalities in innate flexibility. Some people can kick headshots after a year of practice, while others require years of hard work. Therefore, it’s perfectly fine if you can never reach higher.

Flexibility is largely determined by the amount of collagen in one’s body, and little can be done to change that. So, telling someone who is naturally stiff to stretch isn’t helpful.

• Higher Kicks Aren’t for Self-Defense

The other thing to remember is that head kicks are more of a sport. High kicks are oriented more toward athletics and less toward traditional or self-defense. I know high kicks are a part of the popular presentation of modern karate, but I can assure you they don’t matter much in real life.

High kicks can be lethal, but most martial arts experts advise against kicking any higher than the waist. Higher kicks are easier to grab and block. On the other hand, a low kick can be devastating or highly disruptive if executed properly.

Also, high kicks usually expose you to your opponent. You give them your balance, and the positioning is stuck until the kick is over, so it is very easy to get punished.

• Be Patient

Finally, understand that this isn’t a quick fix. Increasing flexibility takes a long time and will take years of putting time to stretch on the mat.

Even if you’re naturally flexible, learning to kick high takes time. The more you train, the more your hips will unlock.

While at it, I suggest you don’t worry much about the height as much as technique and form; Height will come over time as your muscles strengthen.

This video has been included to clarify the topic. Credit goes to Metrolina Martial Arts

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Wrap Up

Learning to throw higher and stronger kicks is an important aspect of your martial arts journey. While you’ll hardly need a high kick for self-defense, it can be a handy and lethal asset if you know how to execute it.

The trick to learning how to throw high kicks is to get more flexible through stretches, train your kicks, and learn the proper technique. Of course, keeping physically fit is also important. It would be best to be patient and consistent in your training efforts.

Mastering kicking harder and higher for self-defense is like unlocking a secret superpower within yourself. Just imagine being able to defend yourself like a seasoned martial arts master, effortlessly fending off any threat that dares to cross your path.

Think about it – you’re walking down a dimly lit alley and sense trouble lurking around the corner. But instead of fear taking over, you stand tall and ready, knowing that your kicks are your ultimate shield. Your confidence shines like a beacon, deterring potential attackers before they even think of making a move.

And it’s not just about the physical aspect; it’s about the mental transformation too. You become more disciplined, focused, and self-assured as you hone your kicking skills. You carry yourself differently – with a newfound aura of strength and determination that others can’t help but notice.

Imagine the peace of mind that comes with knowing you can protect yourself and your loved ones from harm. It’s like having a personal bodyguard by your side, ready to spring into action whenever needed.

But it all starts with practice—dedicating yourself to learning the techniques, building your leg strength, and honing your form. It may not happen overnight, but with consistent effort, you’ll see your kicks evolve from timid to tenacious.

So, whether you’re a martial arts enthusiast or someone looking to boost their self-defense skills, remember that Your kicks can be a game-changer. Embrace the journey, embrace the power within you, and watch as you become a force to be reckoned with.

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