Trying Out That Michael Jai White Kick
Okay, so I was scrolling through some clips the other day, you know how it is, and I landed on some Michael Jai White stuff. Man, that guy moves! And there was this one kick… I don’t even know the proper name for it, maybe it’s a spin hook or something fancy, but you see him do it and it just looks powerful. So, I thought, hey, why not give it a shot? Looked cool enough.
First thing’s first, I stood up in my living room. Cleared some space, didn’t want to kick the lamp or anything. Tried to just… do it. Yeah, right. Almost fell on my butt immediately. It’s one thing seeing it on screen, totally different trying to make your body copy it. Felt like a tangled puppet.
Realized pretty quick I had to break it down. Watched the clip again, slower this time. Okay, there’s a turn, then the leg comes up, whips around… easier said than done. Stretching became key. My hips felt like rusty hinges. Spent a good chunk of time just doing basic leg swings, hip openers, trying to get looser. Forget the actual kick for a minute, just getting the flexibility felt like step one.
The Nitty-Gritty Practice
So, the routine started. Every couple of days, I’d dedicate maybe 20-30 minutes.
- Started with warming up and stretching. Lots of stretching.
- Then, worked on the turn. Just spinning on the ball of my foot, trying not to get dizzy.
- Next, bringing the knee up high during the turn – the chamber, I guess? That took coordination.
- Finally, trying to snap the leg out and back.
Honestly, most of the time I probably looked ridiculous. Lots of wobbling. Kicked the air way lower than he does. Sometimes my supporting leg would just give up. It was frustrating, not gonna lie. There were days I felt like I wasn’t getting anywhere. You see these guys do it effortlessly, but man, the work behind it…
Slowly, very slowly, it started to feel a tiny bit more natural. The turn got smoother. I could bring my knee up a little higher without losing balance every time. The ‘whip’ part is still the trickiest bit for me, getting that snap and power. Mine’s more like a slow-motion wave right now.
Where I’m At Now
So, can I do the “Michael Jai White kick” perfectly? Nope. Not even close, if I’m being real. But can I do my version of it? Yeah, kinda. It’s recognizable, maybe? I can get the spin and the leg out without falling over most times now. The height isn’t there, the power isn’t there, the style definitely isn’t there. But it’s progress.
It’s funny, you start trying to learn one specific move, and you end up learning more about patience and just sticking with something, even when it feels awkward or you’re not seeing huge results right away. It’s a good reminder that stuff takes time and consistent effort. Still practicing, still trying to get that leg a bit higher, a bit faster. We’ll see how it goes.
