Questions about legs

Salt · Post by **Salt** » 03 Apr 2006 14:31

Well, I've been circle kicking for about 3-4 years on and off, and I've naturally developed a huge bias on my right foot, I can't even do a consistent inside kick with my left.

Does anyone have any suggestions for improving with my left foot? I was thinking of trying to remember to start off my sessions with the left and using it consciously more than my right.

Also, I've got fairly skinny and relatively unworked (not really a sports person) legs. Could anyone suggest some basic stretching/strength exercises that I could do? I'm going to start doing leglifts before school each day, and some stretches before the walk (jog) to school.

Any help is appreciated, and anyone from the Ottawa area should give me a shout.

junkyardjew · Post by **junkyardjew** » 03 Apr 2006 14:49

most of the good stretches are demonstrated here

the only other one I'd suggest is sitting and putting your left ankle on your right knee, holding onto your right leg (which is extended) and lying back. with your legs up in the air like that, use your left elbow to push on your left (bent) leg. repeat on each side. this stretches out your outer ass muscles really well, and trust me, you'll need it. (anybody have a pic of this stretch or a better way to describe it?)

As for both sidedness, you should devote a couple of sessions a week to just working your left leg until its so sore you can't move it. consecutive toe stalls and inside stalls and kicks etc. are really important for balance and accuracy. you spent three years working just one leg, you can devote a couple of intensive weeks to just the other one - you'll thank yourself later on.

edit: i forgot to mention - in terms of exercising, just playing footbag will beef up your legs like crazy. if you want to push it when you're not doing footbag, skipping rope is good for conditioning and hindu squats and wall sits are good for strength.

Salt · Post by **Salt** » 03 Apr 2006 15:05

I get what you mean for the ass stretch, I had done something similar for the right leg.

Iron Clad Ben · Post by **Iron Clad Ben** » 03 Apr 2006 15:45

Also, consecutive kicks with the left foot. In the beginning it will be extremely frustrating but just keep forcing yourself to do it. Glad you are thinking about developing both-sidedness, better to get it taken care of now than after your game has developed a lot.

Salt · Post by **Salt** » 03 Apr 2006 15:48

Yeah, definetly a good idea. I'm gonna get myself down to the garage and start working on my left leg.

Cheers.

Muffinman · Post by **Muffinman** » 07 Apr 2006 13:29

Yeah, I had the same problem.
I started out as a really one-sided player.
So later on when I forced myself to become completely ambidextrous I would start every session with consecutive inside kicks -- it feels SOOOO good later when you're capable of doing everything both sides, and if you're really into it then the basic inside kicks will feel SUPER satisfying and make you want to keep becomingmore and more bothsided.

This is totally what happened with me.

I also made up drills since flip inside kicks/stalls were one of my biggest problems -- I could clipper, but not inside (the fundamental in developing clippers...).
Some drills I made up were, like:
-alternating inside kicks
-outside kick > toe kick > inside kick > op inside kick > toe kick > outside kick [repeat...] (this also schooled my flip outside kick which was equally incompetant)

-alternating inside stalls
-clipper > same foot inside stall > op foot inside stall > same foot clipper [repeat...]

Make up some drills for yourself.
I amde up other drills for other components that were difficult for me on my flipside, but as soon as I developed a general sense of bothsidedness every new trick that I learned from that point on become absolutely even on both sides! Very cool

Salt · Post by **Salt** » 07 Apr 2006 14:12

Yeah I know how satisfying it is to be able to hit with both sides, I'm slowing getting better at it. This next week things will start picking up, as I'll get my sandbags + lavers.

cammel · Post by **cammel** » 07 Apr 2006 15:33

when i realized i had to force myself to learn to use my right side i would go into sessions with only my right laver

Salt · Post by **Salt** » 07 Apr 2006 16:51

that actually sorta makes sense, I should stop wearing my right shoe.

hackeysnacker · Post by **hackeysnacker** » 07 Apr 2006 16:56

I should stop wearing my right shoe.

that will totally throw u off balance once u play w/ shoes on both feet

just pay close attention to ur good leg and try to conciously apply what your good leg is doing to your bad/weak/flip leg.. although; since it's the only leg you've really ever used you'll need to build up a lot of the muscles that ur good leg has developed so practice extreme patience, and let it rest when it's sore.[/quote]

siy · Post by **siy** » 08 Apr 2006 12:17

everything these guys have said is extremely important as i'm sure you already know. I did the same thing you did. I was a circle kicker for a long time, and didn't see the importance in training my flipside, but once i got into freestyle it REALLY killed me. At first, i couldn't do sh*t with my left inside or right toe, but after hours and hours of frustrating practice, it slowly-but-surly developed.... I'm still not where i need to be, but it's SO much better than it was! Just keep at it bro.

Salt · Post by **Salt** » 09 Apr 2006 16:59

For sure. Just yesterday I shredded with Seath and Riaz, and from the hour and a half I was there I actually got noticably better, it was nuts.

sniper4life · Post by **sniper4life** » 12 Apr 2006 15:34

I started off right leg only until a friend of mine said we needed to be able to do our left. So to learn kicking I would hit two right for ever one left or something like that at the beginning. Also practicing with no shoes really helped my coordination when first starting.

crazylegs32 · Post by **crazylegs32** » 05 Sep 2006 20:59

Do bicycling with clip in pedals so you can both push down AND pullup on the pedal each stroke.

Spontaneous Spaz · Post by **Spontaneous Spaz** » 06 Sep 2006 11:24

crazylegs32 wrote:Do bicycling with clip in pedals so you can both push down AND pullup on the pedal each stroke.

omg that sounds like a kickass excercise! i'ma go try it out right now!!!

gangsta · Post by **gangsta** » 08 Sep 2006 19:23

Ergonomically speaking.... Pushing is better than pulling. The key to pedaling really fast is to concentrate on lifting your knee(s), so the pedaling (pushing down) leg has less work to do. Just be sure your chain isn't going to pop off

On topic: Just practice your flipside alot/only/mostly! There was a time when I skooled my flipside pixies only, for about a week (it still kind of sucks compared to my strong side)

beenjammin · Post by **beenjammin** » 06 Dec 2006 14:39

You should buy a dutchmaster, that should fix all of your problems!

calemccoy · Post by **calemccoy** » 07 Aug 2007 19:48

both-sided-ness is definitley a worthy goal. i have just recently been schooling my flipside moves, and its nice being able to do a opp butterfly instead of always going right. also, if all your tricka=s are on one side, youll end up like that guy in "lady in the water" with one HUGE calf and another weak one lol.

cale

Grove · Post by **Grove** » 08 Aug 2007 06:50

Hey Cory if you feel your legs really need some work, I could take the time to type up an excellent plyometric (squats and jumps) workout that will certainly get them up to snuff. It would take about an hour to do the whole workout, but if ya do it 3 times a week you'll quickly notice improved strength and balance.

And if you're not that into cross training, simply footbagging is fine, but you might want to devote a good 10-15 minutes every shred to just work on your clipper form, as in just standing there balancing the bag. It helps with your form, flexibilty and balance.