Kickboxing head / body kick

[Wiesel]

So I have been doing bjj for around 6 months. At my school we also have a kickboxing class.

Now I can throw low kicks to the legs just fine. But if I try a roundhouse kick to the head or body I have problems.

If I am facing you, I can lift my leg pretty high and my knee can touch my nose.

BUT, if I am in orthodox stance, and pivot on my left foot and try to do a body kick / head kick then I cant lift my leg up very high at all. It actually hurts if I try to force it.

Anyone ever dealth with this before?

[lfthk1]

Your trying to have your legs do a very un natural movement. Its a stretching thing, from what it sounds. Not many people can start up a kickboxing class and start blasting out head kicks without issues...I haven't kicked in years and recently worked out adding kicks and had trouble...be that as it may,master your low kicks first, that Bruce Lee stuff is for the movies and isn't gonna help you...often times you will fall flat on your face when the ground gives out and your on one leg, if your not used to it...and remember land with the shin, not the foot!

[Wiesel]

Thank you sir.

Yeah, i knew to land with the shin.

[Techfall]

yeah. Stretching.

[Xerces]

This may sound off but if you are doing standard thai style head kicks you do need to be really flexible.

But...I adapted to an American karate style headkick (The rest of my stand up is thai and american boxing with other assorted randomness.

Basically your shin travels at a slight 45 degree angle instead of coming down hard thai style. Think how your hips move for a freestanding knee then launch your foot up.

I can still head kick this way without stretching at will. it always helps to stretch and warm up though.

Youtube Ernesto hoost he does it both ways.