Is your foot dorsi-flexed or plantar-flexed? I was taught for years to dorsi-flex when checking kicks. This foot positioning bled into my clinch kneeing. When I switched gyms a few months back, I was told to plantar-flex when kneeing in the clinch. I understand the necessity for dorsi-flexion when checking kicks but does it make a difference when you're kneeing in the clinch?
This is way too much for a main thread on the UG. Should be in a technical forum.
You are dealing with 98% adolescent brains that don't actually train in here...
Mods, please move to the appropriate forum for this question, thanks.
That seems to be the prevailing wisdom but if I raise it while kneeing, am I putting myself in any trouble?
You mean you can generate more power with a pointed foot? It didn't feel any more or less powerful to me. I'll have to test it.
Ghengiseanie - I've always had foot raised for checking and pointed for attacking knees.
This is your best answer right here, pointing your toe helps with giving momentum, consciously raising your foot, will detract from your form
gavinknowles -That's just it, I don't consciously raise my toe. If anything, I would have to make a conscious effort to lower it. Also, I don't feel a lack of power when throwing the knee with it raised.Ghengiseanie - I've always had foot raised for checking and pointed for attacking knees.This is your best answer right here, pointing your toe helps with giving momentum, consciously raising your foot, will detract from your form
when i throw knees i point my toes and when i check kicks i usually keep my foot relaxed/neutral
98lbweakling -gavinknowles -That's just it, I don't consciously raise my toe. If anything, I would have to make a conscious effort to lower it. Also, I don't feel a lack of power when throwing the knee with it raised.Ghengiseanie - I've always had foot raised for checking and pointed for attacking knees.This is your best answer right here, pointing your toe helps with giving momentum, consciously raising your foot, will detract from your form
Well if it's not conscious then it's not a distraction, but that muscle being tense draws from the energy flow you try to get with 'stepping through' your knees, if it's not hindering you don't stress about it, try to throw knees with your foot relaxed, almost in a skipping motion and see if it feels any better/worse for you
With offensive knees, you want to point your toes. This creates a spring-like action due to the rapid contractiontion of the calf, and gives more speed and latent force.
Checking, I like to have my foot parallel to the ground, as this firms the muscle running along your shin bone, and decreases damage if you catch it slightly off the bone and on the muscle. It's like taking a leg kick to your thigh - you'd rather have tension in the quad than have it relaxed.
I do the same. Dorsi-flex when I'm checking to tense the muscles on the sides of my shin and to create a more solid block, and plantar-flex when I knee. Plantar-flexing allows you to get more extension with your hip, and also drives the momentum through your knee more directly.
I was taught to have a relaxed foot when checking, it gives you a chance to scoop the kick with your foot a bit... Plus if your foot is pointed while checking, there's a chance of you breaking it depending on how the kick lands(if it hits your foot for example).
Tyler Toner - I do the same. Dorsi-flex when I'm checking to tense the muscles on the sides of my shin and to create a more solid block, and plantar-flex when I knee. Plantar-flexing allows you to get more extension with your hip, and also drives the momentum through your knee more directly.
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Leghound -x3 Correctamundo.Tyler Toner - I do the same. Dorsi-flex when I'm checking to tense the muscles on the sides of my shin and to create a more solid block, and plantar-flex when I knee. Plantar-flexing allows you to get more extension with your hip, and also drives the momentum through your knee more directly.
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I agree with all the reasoning here.
I also remember being told years ago by my karate instructor that pointing the toes down when kneeing also prevented your toes being caught up in the other person's gi in sparring or pants in a self defense situation.
Toes down when attacking, foot flexed upwards when checking.
The latter prevents a low kick hitting a non-flexed foot that is just dangling below your leg.
Tyler Toner - I do the same. Dorsi-flex when I'm checking to tense the muscles on the sides of my shin and to create a more solid block, and plantar-flex when I knee. Plantar-flexing allows you to get more extension with your hip, and also drives the momentum through your knee more directly.
Ghengiseanie - I've always had foot raised for checking and pointed for attacking knees.
Same here, makes it easy to throw a side or front kick quicker
98lbweakling - You mean you can generate more power with a pointed foot? It didn't feel any more or less powerful to me. I'll have to test it.
I don't know if it's necessarily more power, but more for hip extension and drive - though those two things can lead to more power.
I broke my big toe years ago and it hasn't fully healed, so I'm worried about a kick accidentally hitting it straight-on, so I keep it pointed while checking.
I never thought about kneeing, but it turns out that I point it then too. Not doing it consciously, so I guess it feels more comfortable. Which means that not pointing it takes effort....