Hardball

What do you believe or what is your philosophy?

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The Way of the Warrior is Practice. Daily practice, accumulate practice minute by minute, hour by hour and day by day. {Book of 5 Rings} Mike Brewers 2008 Sit up challenge 37,000/100,000 running balance.(Crunches) Kicks 6,300/100,000

seanyseanybean

personaly, i use my instep for kidneys, solar plexus, face and head. I would use shin for leg kicks.
I'm not saying this is the way to do it, but its just the way i choose to.
I'd be too scared of breaking my toes to use the ball.

kuk sool won

I would say mainly with my shin, its always a good striking area

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Piston

I prefer to use the instep, but when I become better I hope using the ball of the foot will become second nature. As for the shin perhaps only if I'm gonna throw out a turning kick at close range which would not be too often.

seppuku

shin, always. but then, ive got long legs, kicking people in the head with my shin is only a problem if they're lots taller than me or my clothing gets in the way. plus shin is solid bone and damn sharp

im about 6 foot 2... so if someone is that much taller than me im better off kickign their legs in then runnign anyway

Xtschneider

I go with depends on the situation

I've never done it with a ball foot
Instep on pretty much anything but a shin and an elbow
Shin with closer ranges where the instep won't work, as well as with shin on shin contact/shin on elbow contact

CLM

I agree with seanyseanybean more or less. The way i was taught is that if you have shoes/gear on, use the instep, else use the ball of your toes. The problem, as mentioned, is the fear of break your toes. Depending on my angle and the level of contact, I've used the balls, but I tend to go with the instep myself.

muaythaiguy15

Shins defintily. Ive found that in sparring its okay to use the instep, however, in a real or sport situation where youre not using instep guards, its quite easy to break something. IF you properly condition your shins, its a lot safer and a harder surface for the roundhouse.

kuk sool won

the IF can also apply to the instep aswell...no?

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muaythaiguy15

Technically, yes. But there are smaller bones in the foot which are easier to break. Thai roundhouses always use the shin, its just what im used to. I know many guys, pro and amateur who get problems from kicks with the instep. However, it is usually due to distance problems when the kick is thrown. Good point Kuk.

Sagacious Lu

I voted for shins, because that's what I prefer, but I'm also comfortable using my instep so in the end I think it depends on the situation.

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Hardball

Since this thread is hot and getting a lot of views--let me ask this? How do you use your roundhouse kick best? Do you use it as a suprise weapon? A finish off move? Or other? Please explain. I am a JJJ man with a keen interest in kicking even though I am not a particulary great kicker.

__________________
The Way of the Warrior is Practice. Daily practice, accumulate practice minute by minute, hour by hour and day by day. {Book of 5 Rings} Mike Brewers 2008 Sit up challenge 37,000/100,000 running balance.(Crunches) Kicks 6,300/100,000

Hardball

Also, how difficult is it to learn the spin kick and how are the mechanics different or similar to the roundhouse?

__________________
The Way of the Warrior is Practice. Daily practice, accumulate practice minute by minute, hour by hour and day by day. {Book of 5 Rings} Mike Brewers 2008 Sit up challenge 37,000/100,000 running balance.(Crunches) Kicks 6,300/100,000

muaythaiguy15

Spin kick? If youre talking about the spinning back kick its totally different. Ask some TKD or karate guys around you to teach you because telling you over the net could lead to some mishaps with a kind of technical kick.

As far as roundhouses go, there are a few kinds. Front low, middle, high and rear low, middle, high.

Rear kicks have more power while the front roundhouse can be delivered quickly. Low kicks are effective and dropping or weakening opponents, not for finishing. Mid kicks are used to drop, wind, break rips, etc. High kicks are usually delivered to the head but can also be used on the shoulder or neck, used for knockout.

I like to use the low roundhouse to really take the fight out of someone, weaken them up, decrease the power in thier kicks and shoots. Mid kicks are easy to catch so I usually dont throw them unless I fake someone out by throwing a few lows first so they dont expect it.

http://www.combateffective.com/Impro...ouse_kicks.htm
http://stickgrappler.tripod.com/mt/kk1.html

foofies

It depend. Sparring in a dojang, or on the street.

When sparring double round house kick could be used to suprise weapon. Or as defensive kick.

on the street, I use it as finshing move--knock out--- . After throwing some punches and my FV kick SIDE KICK.