Okay, so I’ve been meaning to get back into some serious kicking practice, you know, for fitness and just to feel awesome. I decided to revisit “High Kick 2,” which I vaguely remember being a thing years ago. Not gonna lie, I probably saw a few clips online and thought, “Yeah, I can do that.” Spoiler alert: It’s harder than it looks.
Getting Started (and Failing a Little)
First thing I did was try to find some decent tutorials. My search history is now a mix of “high kick tutorial,” “taekwondo basics,” and “how to not pull a hamstring.” Found a few videos, some better than others. The ones that were all slow-motion and super serious? Skipped those. I needed something a bit more… relatable.
I cleared out some space in my living room – moved the coffee table, pushed the sofa back. Gotta have room to swing my legs around, right? I even put on some workout clothes, just to feel official.
Started with some basic stretches. You know, the usual stuff: touching my toes (or at least trying to), some leg swings, arm circles. I even did a few of those weird hip-opening stretches that make you look like a frog. Gotta be flexible, or I’m pretty sure I’ll end up on the floor in pain.
The Actual Kicking
Okay, time for the main event. I started with some low kicks, just to get a feel for the motion. These felt pretty good, actually. I was picturing myself as some kind of action movie star, even though I probably looked more like a confused penguin flapping its wings.
Then I tried to go higher. And… yeah. It’s a lot harder to keep your balance when your leg is flying up towards your head. I wobbled. I flailed. I almost took out a lamp. Several times.
I spent a good chunk of time just trying to get the technique right. Keeping my supporting leg straight (ish), pivoting on the ball of my foot, aiming with my hips. It’s like, a whole-body thing, not just swinging your leg and hoping for the best.
- Balance: This is key. I realized I was leaning back way too much, which throws everything off.
- Hip Rotation: This is where the power comes from. It’s not just about leg strength, you gotta twist your hips into it.
- Flexibility: Ouch. Yeah, I need to work on this. My hamstrings were definitely complaining.
Progress (Slowly but Surely)
I’m not gonna lie, I didn’t magically become a high-kicking master in one session. But, I did start to feel a little bit more comfortable with the movement. My kicks got a little bit higher. My balance got a little bit better.
I definitely need to keep practicing. A lot. But hey, it’s a fun workout, and it’s kind of satisfying when you actually manage to get your foot up there without falling over. I’m still a long way from looking graceful, but at least I’m not endangering the furniture anymore. Mostly.
I’ll probably keep messing around with this, maybe try to find some more specific drills. And definitely keep stretching. My future self (the one who can kick without pulling a muscle) will thank me.