Ha_ari

I'm not sure any system is 100% complete, JohnJay. If there were, the system would be closed and complete, and the essence of KM is that it is open, evolving, and always adding and incorporating anything that works. I'd call it a highly effective self-defense system, though no system is perfect, of course. (BB--the groundwork gets more extensive as you continue to train, and you're right on about Imi).

KM does incorporate all manner of kicks: groin, defensive front, offensive front, side, back, round.

My instructors have just recently begun to illustrate sweeps and other 'soft' defenses. However, I'd add that the reason those are the 'advanced' techniques is b/c KM, as a street self-defense, and IMO, is first and foremost an aggressive combat system in which one tries to learn how to disarm and disable any attacker by swiftly inflicting severe and debilitating pain. As such, it's better to learn how to take out a threat 'hard' at the outset. Once the 'hard' techniques are learned, it's 'safer' to train in some of the 'soft' techniques, like sweeps.

However, JJ, I tend to think throws are a limited part of the KM curriculum, though I obviously could be wrong on this point.

BTW, I've heard mixed reviews on the video set. If y'all are interested in some KM videos, wait a month. Amir Perets, a serious bad@ss of a KM instructor, is about to release a double DVD set of KM conditioning, weapons/choke defenses, along with some groundfighting (I think). His website is at www.amirperets.com, and I think the DVDs are set to release at the end of August. I had the good fortune to train with him and Bas Rutten in a seminar last weekend, and after seeing what Amir can do, I am planning to purchase the DVDs the second they become available.