Kubi kakeru
Jumbi Undō 23¶
1. Name of exercise¶
Kubi no ushiro ni kakeru
(Leg behind the neck stretch)
2. Romaji instruction¶
Hai, ashi o kakete.
Atama no ushiro ni.
Ichi, ni, san, shi, go, roku, shichi, hachi, kyū, jū.
3. Translation¶
Lift the leg and place it.
Behind the head.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
4. Counting¶
Ichi – Ni – San – Shi – Go – Roku – Shichi – Hachi – Kyū – Jū
5. Short description¶
The practitioner remains seated with the left leg extended forward. The right leg is lifted using the hands.
The leg is brought over the shoulder so that the foot is placed behind the head or neck. The position is stabilized by holding the leg with the hands.
Once in position, the upper body leans slightly forward, and small controlled pulses are performed in rhythm with the count.
The spine is kept as long as possible, and the movement is initiated from the hip, not by pulling with the arms.
The focus is on relaxation, breathing, and gradual deepening of the stretch.
After completing the count, the exercise is repeated with the opposite leg.
6. Purpose¶
The exercise aims to:
- develop extreme hip flexibility
- stretch hamstrings and glute muscles
- improve the ability to raise the leg high in kicks
- increase flexibility in the hip and lower back
- prepare the body for techniques requiring large ranges of motion
In Kyokushin training, hip mobility is essential for techniques such as jōdan mae geri, mawashi geri, and ushiro geri.
This deep stretch helps develop height, control, and precision in kicks, while preparing the body for advanced movements.