People come to me for fitness first, not MA so don't have any words of wisdom there.
But yes, getting people to use their hips can be very challenging. Teaching a hip pivot to someone that literally has been immobilized for years is no small feat. In those cases often I'll start with DLs or RDLs, even bodyweight only movement so they get the motion down. Glute activation stuff too of course.
Sometimes with guys I tell them to move their hips as if Jessica Biel is in front of them. It usually clicks then

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