What muscles need to be flexible to kick high for martial arts?

What muscles need to be flexible to kick high for martial arts? The martial art I do is Muay Thai and I want to be able to do a roundhouse to the neck… What muscles need to me flexible and what are some stretches?

It kinda depends on the kick a little.
For the common snap or front kick, the gluteus maximus (butt) and Biceps femoris (hamstring) are the most important for gaining height. To stretch your glutes you can do the stretch seen here:

http://www.apta.org/AM/Images/APTAIMAGES/ContentImages/PatientEducation/cyclingstretches/glute.jpg

For your biceps femoris the common hurdler’s or figure four stretch work well.

For a side or roundhouse kick. those same muscles need to be flexible but you also need to have flexible adductor muscles: the pectineus, adductor brevis, adductor longus, adductor magnus, and gracilis. To simplify, its all the musces that are stationed on the inside of your leg. This will help to achieve a solid split to get your leg high in the air. The common split is a perfect stretch to become more flexible in this area. as well as the butterfly stretch.

Hope this helps. But remember. never sacrifice power for flash, another person’s head is so high.

by admin on January 30th, 2010 | RSS | trackback

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8 Responses to “What muscles need to be flexible to kick high for martial arts?”

  1. January 31, 2010

    sdave616

    The hamstrings, really. But the whole leg should be flexible in order to create better reach and agility.
    References :
    My school
    http://www.columbusninjutsuclub.com/articles/conflict.html

  2. January 31, 2010

    Tank

    Your whole leg is needed to be flexed, but i would say the hamstring would be important if you wanted height in your kicks but at the same time would it have power? so you need to flex out your entire leg. " PUT YOUR HIPS INTO IT "
    References :

  3. January 31, 2010

    Luke

    It kinda depends on the kick a little.
    For the common snap or front kick, the gluteus maximus (butt) and Biceps femoris (hamstring) are the most important for gaining height. To stretch your glutes you can do the stretch seen here:
    http://www.apta.org/AM/Images/APTAIMAGES/ContentImages/PatientEducation/cyclingstretches/glute.jpg

    For your biceps femoris the common hurdler’s or figure four stretch work well.

    For a side or roundhouse kick. those same muscles need to be flexible but you also need to have flexible adductor muscles: the pectineus, adductor brevis, adductor longus, adductor magnus, and gracilis. To simplify, its all the musces that are stationed on the inside of your leg. This will help to achieve a solid split to get your leg high in the air. The common split is a perfect stretch to become more flexible in this area. as well as the butterfly stretch.

    Hope this helps. But remember. never sacrifice power for flash, another person’s head is so high.
    References :
    20+ years of Traditional and mixed martial arts experience.
    The Men’s Health Book of Muscle written by Ian King and Lou Schuler

  4. January 31, 2010

    jarrodanderson1229

    groin, and hips.
    References :

  5. January 31, 2010

    cachivache

    In addition to flexibility and strength in your leg muscles, you need strong abs. That’s the muscle that gets your leg up so high. Go do some sit ups.
    References :
    Taekwondo practitioner

  6. January 31, 2010

    Cesar

    groin muscle but be careful not to pull any thing.
    References :

  7. January 31, 2010

    zgoakland

    there are a lot out there.
    http://www.muaythaikickboxingtraining.com/muay_thai_flexibility.html
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vk8ncwiFTU4&feature=related
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl4o8xn0SLE&feature=related
    References :
    i just looked.

  8. January 31, 2010

    Ricky

    You need your hip, groin and hamstrings.
    References :

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