knee injury ...

[pamiro]

since 3 weeks i have an aching right knee... i guess wheni attack , i am doing my step ins (i dont know the technical term) too strong and a bit vertical that gives all the impact direcly to my knee ...
how can one improve the right method of stepping in whlie attack?
which is the right way to step? should i just push myself forward while sliding with my feet without taking them off the floor? or what should be the distance between the floor and the sole while stepping forward?


i hope its clear
thank you .

[Miyu]

Sounds like you're putting too much weight and force on your stomps downward into the ground rather than propelling yourself forward. If your body is leaning forward or when you stomp you push all your force into landing your right foot, then all your momentum goes to the floor, which has the potential to injure your knee cause you're putting too much pressure on it.

When you stomp, you want to think about pushing off mainly with the left foot and the right foot is there to catch your body as it glides forward. Let your momentum and force go forward with your body upright. That will help lessen the pressure that is placed on your knee. Another thing to think about is if your head had a pen attached to it and you drew a line in mid-air while leaping, you should ideally be drawing a fairly straight line that's parrallel to the ground. If you draw a peak, then you're putting too much force with your feet by going up.

Remember, the right foot always stays forward before and during the fumikomi and most of the power comes from the left foot. It's like regular sliding step, but with a larger leap added in the middle, but you still slide after you make your stomp. I hope all of that helps!

[Neil Gendzwill]

Miyu's advice is good. I would add that you should relax your right ankle, and lift your foot no more than 2" off the ground. Ideally your foot should land slightly ahead of your knee (maybe half the length of your foot) and then your knee should move overtop of your foot. This is easier on your knee than landing with your foot directly below your knee. It also gives you a little more distance in your step.

Finally remember that the purpose is not to make a sound - the purpose is to propel your body forward and down so that you cover ground quickly and translate body motion into cutting power. If you're deliberately stomping in order to make a sound, stop that. Just step onto the foot, the nice sound will come later.

[pamiro]

thanks alot for the help ...
ill be thinking of these when i practice tomorrow...