Why Flexible People Can't Kick Hard...

Can flexible people have power? Can they kick hard? Why or why not? That's what we'll be discussing in today's video!
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Hi everyone! My name is Donavan Barrett and I'm a 4th Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo. Martial Arts have changed me not only physically, but also mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I want to spread my love for Taekwondo as well as inspire confidence and spread love around the world!
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[@erzascarlet9167]

You watch 3 videos and think ur an expert. Literally so true 😂😂😂

[@donavantkd]

And their accounts are always private xD

[@sdaniel123]

Erza Sama!!!

[@ericagoehring1089]

Haha! Had to laugh at "you'll just be a ballet dance." People just don't know! Ballet dancers are CRAZY powerful. Strength and flexibility are the perfect pair! Thanks for this.

[@donavantkd]

Right?! I'd love to have the strength of a ballet dancer!

[@cswalker21]

When I was 13 or so, my best friend's older brother was a quite prominent ballet dancer in our medium-sized town. Once we were roughhousing and wrestling around in their back yard, and I grabbed him (I was big for my age and a pretty strong kid) and yeah, he just manhandled me like a rag doll. He said, "don't mess with me, I'm a ballet dancer!" I said, I know I shouldn't laugh and you are really strong, but that just doesn't sound threatening!" We all had a good laugh. But, yeah, dancers are legit powerhouses.

[@gonderage]

I used to dance ballet before itf tkd. Ballet is a demanding art, just like martial arts

[@genes6703]

Erica, were you disagreeing with Donavan about the ballet comment?

[@ericagoehring1089]

@@genes6703 Oh, not at all. When Donavan made the ballet comment in the video, he was mimicking the misconceptions of people who don't understand the balance between strength and flexibility. He was being "tongue in cheek." Ballet dancers are powerful, and Donavan seems to recognize that.

[@jonathantorhjelm1902]

I absolutelyagree with everything you said, I like how you talked about wing chun I actually have been studying it online as best as I can, I've had a few guys teach me muy thai for a few months and it makes a big difference. Even just a book has so much to teach if you have some background in martial arts, especially when you get different perspectives on the same fighting style!

[@henriquefrancisco300]

I love the breathing and engaging the correct muscles plus technique. Beautiful

[@tefstepho]

Thank you. My kicks are stronger the more flexible I am

[@cswalker21]

Great topic, and great video. There's a lot of misinformation going around about flexibility. Thanks for setting the record straight. I almost fell out of my chair at "I need to be caffeinated for this." LOL!

[@TwisstedSage]

Hey Donavan, really enjoy your videos especially your humor which brings out the joy in martial arts. Just wanted to add the point that training for flexibility IS training for strength, its just gaining strength in the extended range of whatever joint your working with. Your video on gaining greater flexibility is a perfect example. Your going to the extremity of stretch for the hip flexor (psoas) & hamstring for side splits or the adductor group for straddle splits and then flexing the muscle Isometrically. The fastest way to build strength is flexing muscles for somewhat extended periods, isometrically. So. stretching (especially as you've demonstrated) is strength, or power training.Power must be enhanced by all the things you've mentioned in this video plus weight training or other exercises to bring strength=power to the full range of the movement of the limb, that can then be focused on the point of impact. Wish I could add a picture of a muscle cell, so I could illustrate how stretching builds longer stronger muscles on a cellular level because its really amazing and inspiring when you know what's happening inside your body. Keep up the great work and I'll try and keep up with your great lessons. Hugs!

[@onedivine11]

Thank u somuch for Ur wonderful tips. I am frm India. Newly started to learn MMA . Ur kicks r really amazing. U r my inspiration.

[@donavantkd]

That means the world. Thanks so much!

[@laurahicks9558]

Excellent! I live in a small town with not a lot in the way of QUALITY martial arts schools, at least not by my measure, mostly " two years from white belt to black" schools, which I have no interest in. The school where I got my start has pretty much crumbled. Your videos have helped me a lot. Keep me motivated and pushing myself.

[@donavantkd]

Don't feel bad. Even in big cities it's a struggle finding a good school. There's just a lot of bad instructin out there. That's why I do what I do. Can't wait to launch my E courses for y'all soon!

[@Docinaplane]

When I learned kicks, once I could do the kick, I worked to get them higher, then I worked to add power.

[@wittytalk]

I believe strength must be trained separately like you said, but obviously if you have control over your posture (balance) that requires a lot of strength! in the torso and the supporting leg, (as I've come to realize since I started to practice your exercises) so I think that will definitely increase my overall strength or power in the kick or at least that's my expectation. Thanks again for sharing your tips!

[@donavantkd]

Glad my vids are helping you! I'm trying to debunk all the false information out there! :)

[@seanmolloy9422]

agreed sir. my muscles clinch up at the end of my flexibility range limiting power. kinetic chain technique is key. as you said, engaging supporting muscle systems like core, glutes...not brute strength but technique. thank you. sir

[@donavantkd]

Glad you enjoyed. Thanks so much for watching!

[@One1Raptor]

Most thai fighters have tremendous power in they're kicks and are very flexible in their hips. They are able to do head kicks from very short distance.

[@donavantkd]

Absolutely!

[@jestfullgremblim8002]

Yep

[@caitlinpowrie7050]

omg thank you, finally someone has common sense.

[@anjandas8055]

I have known and seen ppl and some actirs Without any sort flexibility and they kick real low. Like they are good at shin level kicks or thighs at best but tht's it. So flexibility really helps and you an train yourself to add speed and power as u improve ur technique. with efforts, time and practice it all falls in place.

[@donavantkd]

Flexibility literally makes everything easier. There's so much wrong information out there about obtaining flexibility and it's sad because most people will go their whole lives thinking it has to be some miserable painful experience when it can actually be SUPER fun! That's one thing I really want to bring to light when I create my functional flexibility e course.

[@anjandas8055]

@@donavantkd thanks for pointing tht out i m one of those fools who was just a JCVD fan so i used to try his spin kicks and splits without proper progression and i did do splits for quite sometime. But one day, no warm up no proper stretching and i suffered an injury while showing off bcoz of tht. Lolz, i cudn't walk straight for couple of months due to injury. But i learned my lesson and m slowly working on my flexibility to get there.

[@sipuliperuna]

I think its interesting to have a strong legs full range of motion. Its a bit strange that this type of training is not more common. I mean usually people train their arms in full range of motion. Some people can do 500lbs Deadlifts, but can’t do splits, the body is completely weak there and will break from trying. Its a rare thing to see people do horse squats, even cossack squats or weighted splits.

[@donavantkd]

Absolutely! You really don't have to sacrifice one to have the other if you just train properly :)

[@seuncampbell3585]

Thank you l for the public “STFU” to who it belongs to lol And good analogy

[@donavantkd]

They know who they are! LOL

[@seuncampbell3585]

Hahahah of course they do

[@kimberlynguyen7370]

I want know how to kick flexible because I can’t do kick higher

[@donavantkd]

You may want to check out my Functional Flexibility course! It goes in depth on how to develop flexibility specifically for martial arts. Definitely worth the investment if you really want an in depth breakdown on how to train properly so that you can kick higher

[@kimberlynguyen7370]

Donavan Barrett thank you and this so helpful from you

[@billypiper7390]

holy crap, to be a black belt is one thing but did he say 4th degree? impressive, i never got past yellow belt.

[@potatius6421]

take a chill pill, everybody is amazing until they get kicked in the face

[@Dragon34th]

The worse thing to have is lack of flexibility. Once you got flexibility, then it's easy to get conditioning. If you do not have flexible, you don't have reach, range or anything to offer. Where are you gonna generate power if you can't lift your foot high enough to touch your opponent's head? There you go - if you can't touch the target, you definitely cannot make a case of power. Flexibility is power because it's the key to power.

[@Kamingo170]

I've never heard being flexible would hinder your kicking power

[@ritabanbhattacharya9038]

"WHY FLEXIBLE PEOPLE CANT KICK VERY HARD" destroys the moon with the kick

[@sssszz319]

LMAO

[@michaeldsimpson4203]

Moo duk Kwon ...yes.

[@geo_neo9]

Strength in kicks come from core.

[@Gabriel_Flor]

Ay watch 2 videos

[@vidarknuds3954]

Hello master don! I train wushu (novice-level) and if you'd be so kind to show me how to train for balanced wheel kicks, stance and execution i''d be a very happy little swede =] /JVK*

[@optimusc8060]

I can kick head level with good power i started young and was already kinda really flexible

[@stephaniewitmer8108]

I am really flexible and I can kick hard

[@donavantkd]

Exactly! As long as you train properly, flexibility won’t take away from your strength

[@TheMdub27]

Spoiler, increasing flexibility increseases power and speed especially on your high kicks because there is less resistance kicking when you extend

[@dannyjuskus1043]

Striking power comes primarily from technique, period, everything else just helps

[@dannyjuskus1043]

Technique is complemented by flexibility, ur kicks look savage

[@jestfullgremblim8002]

Yup

[@gaibrielsimpson7124]

Flexible people kick WAYYYY harder. I used to be flexible and I could kick WAYYY harder than I can now.

[@lauraduffy9055]

I certainly would never tell a Shaolin Monk he can't kick hard because he's flexible! How stupid can folks be?

[@cindymananzalamartinez6679]

Flexible people can kick high, too

[@Pinky-kc8go]

I'm late sorry😂

[@donavantkd]

You aren't late sis! The video is here when you're ready :)

[@Pinky-kc8go]

@@donavantkd aww your so cute😂💙♥️

[@thenbenagcz3931]

Flexible people can kick harder

[@user-qq5hi6jq3f]

Who tell that nonsense? Power its very individually per physical issue, per training issue, if you have strong punches or kicks so you have it, flexibility can help you to be sharp and faster then one who less flexibility, so again who tell that nonsense because you are flexible you can't hit hard? So nonsense.....

[@donavantkd]

People on Instagram...LOL

[@saaramohamed8921]

Lol imagine if rythmic gymnasts thought that... or ballet dancers they are the strongest and the most flexible

[@chickenchicken6008]

I’m flexible and I can kick hard still tho

[@donavantkd]

Exactly! If you train properly, you can do both :)

[@spslayer9113]

Johnny: Kick that pansy in the face 💪🏽

[@brucele2776]

Your right leg is stronger than your left.