i'm having trouble finding my range for my kicks. front kicks usually wind up falling at the very end of their range and miss their power. roundhouses, while getting better (instead of instep their falling on my ankle, and consequently i've lightly sprained my damn ankle again). i don't have nay problem with my range working on the bag, but with a partner it's different, and my kicks seem to be slightly short, even though i'm within touching distance of my opponent. my hammies are kinda tight, so i'm inclined to believe it's a flexibility issue. but given that i can work the bag without trouble, i don't know.

any suggestions?

Spar more. 'Alive' sparring is the only true teacher.

What you could do is practice taking a short step before you kick.

Say, what stance are you usually in? Orthodox or southpaw?

Anyway, the trouble recently has been many gyms are teaching to kick without stepping in as they so count on the opponent being the one going to rush in, so you don't need to step forward while kicking. This however is wrong. Practice kicking with stepping forward every time you kick.

For example; you're in orthodox, take a step forward with your rear leg and kick with your lead leg. Another one is to step a little with your lead leg and deliver a "stronger" kick with your rear leg. Understand now?

The only weakness to this is that people who are counter-fighters, are very prone to stop-hit you while you're advancing. But don't be afraid, I believe you've got enough skills to set it up well.

-Taison out

May also be a timing issue. Are you kicking before or after using your hands? Are you kicking as the opponents retreats or comes forward? As Taison stated, do you "launch" yourself forward with the kick, or kick in-place?

Some things to consider.

i generally take a half step to kick, and land it below my opponents leg, especially on inside of their lead leg. my hands are doing various things which are specific to the CMA i train, so sometimes they're striking, other times they're doing other stuff i won't get into.

i usually spend about 50/50 in left or right lead stance. left leg leading is my habitual inclination, but i started working the right lead because i wanted the left roundhouse to be available if i could get a shot at my opponents liver.

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left leg leading is my habitual inclination, but i started working the right lead because i wanted the left roundhouse to be available if i could get a shot at my opponents liver.

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Go read my post "Let's go technical pt2". It teaches you how to kick from orthodox without needing to change stance.

-Taison out

cool mang, thanx! actually the trouble is with my right leg.

You southpaw?

-Taison out

Hmm, the only time I stand square to my opponent is when I'm in full-contact karate, and I'm beating the bejesus out of his chest and abs (no face punches). During that time, I rarely kick, maybe once or two to 'check' him if his legs are weakening, then I trip him.

I wouldn't recommend standing square to anyone if you're in long-range fighting. Squaring off is better to do when you're inside where kicks are very ineffective.

Hmm, I'm not really proficient in Wing Chun, need to ask Tezza about this and how your body mechanics work.

I'm more of a free-form fighter, except my guard and blocks are all from muay thai.

-Taison out

it's not wing chun. it's i liq chuan.

Oh, sorry, all the talk about wing chun and squaring off, got me a bit confused.

Hmm.. Don't know how to help when you don't have a lead leg.

-Taison out

AHH!!

Ok, ok.

If your left leg is in the front, then you're in orthodox. If your right leg you're in southpaw.

So what's wrong with the right leg? How come you can't kick with it? Not developed?

-Taison out

actually, to simplify the issue, i just need to train more kicks.

ILC is primarily a hand based art, so up until recently i've spent 99.5% of my time training everything above the waist.

Oh! I see your trouble now.

Hmm.. I'd advice you to talk with Tezza about stretching, or Chen. They'll help you with leg flexibility, as well as reading "dynamic stretching" by Tom Kurz. It's not to make you able to kick high, but to be able to kick.

Then I'd recommend you practice kicking more on a sandbag. No need to go full-power, just so you get the mechanics right and get a "feel" what it's like to hit something instead of kicking the air.

Go with simple kicks at first, front kick, side kick and roundhouse. And you're set for life.

-Taison out

good advice!