How come side-kicks aren't used?

[Sircnay]

Originally Posted by SamuraiGuy

Hmmm.. back to the original subject....

today in class we did both side and roundhouse kicks...

I'd honestly rather take 20 side kicks than one roundhouse kick... the roundhouse is so much faster, and hard.. soo soo much harder... (my aching legs)

Wha..? I don't know if it's because of the TKD background... but I'd MUCH rather take 20 roundhouses over 1 side-kick. Sidekicks have way better grounding and much more power than a roundhouse. And besides, sidekicks are the natural predators of roundhouses.

My sidekicks and roundhouses are about the same speed, I think my side-kicks are better because I can do a stronger front leg sidekick over a front leg roundhouse.

Front leg sidekicks > rear leg sidekicks.

Rear leg roundhouses > front leg roundhouses.

[Tom Yum]

Originally Posted by Sircnay

Wha..? I don't know if it's because of the TKD background... but I'd MUCH rather take 20 roundhouses over 1 side-kick.

Can i throw 20 thai round kicks at you full blast?

Just kidding.

[Blue Wave Gym]

the only thing you need concern yourself with as far as using kicks in fighting is, is it fast and does it hurt, that's it, btw still not gonna use high kicks in mma though

[SamuraiGuy]

I've had people thai kick me in the leg, and collapse my leg, so that I fell over.... and I had a huge shield blocking my leg, I also had a good base... and even made a forward push motion into the kick (just a bit), and he still knocked me off my feet....

I've never even had to re adjust footing when getting like 25 side kicks in a row...

Also a guy who trains one of the instructors at my school in Muay Thai has kicked through 4 baseball bats at once.... I'm never letting him kick me... I need my femur...

[Tom Yum]

Originally Posted by SamuraiGuy

I've had people thai kick me in the leg, and collapse my leg, so that I fell over.... and I had a huge shield blocking my leg,

Have we trained before?

Originally Posted by SamuraiGuy

Also a guy who trains one of the instructors at my school in Muay Thai has kicked through 4 baseball bats at once.... I'm never letting him kick me... I need my femur...

Awesome.

You're tempting me now; my favorite drill is to kick pads packed with sand, where it settles and makes the lower half of the pad rock solid. Each one weighs like 20-30 lbs and give the holder one helluva shoulder workout.

Anyhow, kicking those things full blast and rocking your pad holder is not too shabby.

[Sircnay]

Sure Tom, if you let me kick you in the head 20 times with a side kick.


But yeah, my question is, why aren't they used? I mean they're just as effective if not more than a roundhouse. Plus I think they're more versatile.

[SamuraiGuy]

Originally Posted by Sircnay

Sure Tom, if you let me kick you in the head 20 times with a side kick.


But yeah, my question is, why aren't they used? I mean they're just as effective if not more than a roundhouse. Plus I think they're more versatile.

I think you are missing the point, they arent more effective, and they arent more versatile then the roundhouse, the roundhouse is quicker, and hurts a hell of alot more...

and no Tom Yum I dont think we ever trained before, unless your a huge 6'5 250 pound man named Ricardo in real life.

[ncaltruist]

I've seen a few spinning back kicks, which seem to be the same as a side kick as far as the type of impact is causes. Pride 5 with Kazushi Sakuraba and Victor Belfort is a good example. Also I think Chuck Liddell hit somebody with a SBK once. It seems like they are slow, but kind of hard to block. When I sparr with my friend I always throw them(side kicks) and they seem to work good. Of coarse I'm not striking full power with my friend, but I think they would be okay if you lead into it with a punch or something to open the lower abdominal area.

If you watch regular American kickboxing matches, (no leg kicks) you'll see quite a few side kicks, and lots of times those will knock the guy down.

[Tom Yum]

Originally Posted by SamuraiGuy

and no Tom Yum I dont think we ever trained before, unless your a huge 6'5 250 pound man named Ricardo in real life.

nope.

case closed.

[Tom Yum]

Originally Posted by Sircnay

Sure Tom, if you let me kick you in the head 20 times with a side kick.


But yeah, my question is, why aren't they used? I mean they're just as effective if not more than a roundhouse. Plus I think they're more versatile.

Hey, you said you'd rather take 20 round kicks over one side kick. I merely offered to throw 20 muay thai style round kicks, not lead leg snap round house....

The side kick is pretty good. I agree with you. The thing is that the side kick HAS to land and have enough power to do bad intentions.

If you lead with a lead leg side kick for example, and your man has great footwork & timing, rides the kick and gets your back or your inside your at risk.

If he goes to your back and you're a great kicker, sure you can quickly follow up with a spinning back or wheel kick and possibly save yourself.

If he gets to your inside, your legs will be square to him, your balance gone and your butt quickly on the floor.

The idea would be to throw that side kick defensively at his ribs/solar plexus/knee when he is hunting your head with his fists. If it has power, it'll stagger him well.

[EmptyneSs]

i like to use a lead leg sidekick somtimes after i miss with my roundhouses. its a great defense, especially if opponent is advancing to hit u. just make sure u hit em were it counts and put power into it. snap that shit out with force into his solar plexus or ribs. even his face if u can do it hard, fast and accurately enough. just smash through his guard and take his head out. they are also great for knee shots.

[Blue Wave Gym]

my fmr trainer broke a guy's eye socket with a side or roundhouse in a championship pro kb fight

[JkD187]

nick diaz threw a side kick at koji oishi n also veron white threw a few against marvin eastman n of course theres shonie carter and thas all off the top of my head but yea i agree 100000% with every1 bout the thai kicks bein harder n faster.