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

By: Ricky

Ricky — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 11:55:59 +0000

You need your hip, groin and hamstrings.
References :

By: zgoakland

zgoakland — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 11:43:59 +0000

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.

By: Cesar

Cesar — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 11:29:59 +0000

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

cachivache — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 11:06:59 +0000

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

By: jarrodanderson1229

jarrodanderson1229 — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 11:00:59 +0000

groin, and hips.
References :

By: Luke

Luke — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 10:22:59 +0000

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

By: Tank

Tank — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 09:46:59 +0000

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 "
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By: sdave616

sdave616 — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 09:20:59 +0000

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