Kicking - self defense

[brad2]

"Kicking is VERY overrated for self defense. I'd just like to point that out. Legs are better used for mobility."

RyanHall recently said that. I fully agree, but could you (or anyone else) explain the reasoning behind that statement?

thank you.

[Szczepankiewicz]

I don't know where this was posted, but I would have to disagree. It also depends on the context of the diatribe. I have a feeling that this may have been taken 'out of context' from Ryan's post.

With that:

If you only have one tool in the toolbox, you're going to become predictable. Kicking is very useful. As is upper body striking, grappling and freakin' running away...

Footstomps, lower kicks to the shin, ankle or knee can be used efficiently and effectively AND are really good for setting up an escape, throw, or upper body strike.

In my opinion, lower body kicks are very useful. Upper body targets are flashy and impressive yet inefficient and dangerous.

Ifn' I wanna kick you in the head, I'll take you down first, then, when you're looking at my knee cap, I'll PUNT!

Spanky

[eXcessiveForce]

it was posted to one of cogito's stupid posts. Cogito started talking about 540 jump spin kicks.


I agree mostly, Kicks are just a tool. Don't kick at that time unless it is the best thing to do at that time. overreliance on any technique will get you hurt over time.

Try groundfighting in a pool. or a 100lbs person trying to take down a fit 300lbs with just about anything. Life sucks in situations like those.


And the dream of every kicker is to get an attacker bent over and looking at the ground and get to blast them to oblivion with a kick to the head.

[YeLLa-TiGeR]

No argument here, the two poster above are very correct!

Also kicking on ice would not be a great idea either.

ryanhall is also correct as most people cant kick that well either, not to mention it is more of a risky technique than a punch.

[robertlee]

When I was a teen ager and if you kicked some people thought you were fighting dirty. But kicking helped win the fight. Spin kicks high kicks are not as good in some fights. If you can use your tools punching kicking and ground then they are good for you. Several jujitsu fighters are lousy kickers. some boxers can not kick well. And some kickers can not use there hands well. The person has tool learn and use the tools they intend to have, Legs can be taken fast in a fight. But that does not mean never kick. Just kick smart. test the water on what works. A fighter who wont kick is just in part of the game. 4 good trained kicks is a very workable set for kicking 5 good hands and 6 good ground tools . NOT much but makes for a good fighter. Alot gives more a little gets the job done.

[CHOKE UK]

Kicking is one of the most visually attractive strikes,
but in real life, standard kicking does not play a big part and infact can be a liability.

I blame my "pet- hate" KARATE and the likes for this misconception.

They insist that you must kick and kicks score higher,.... WHY ?
(because it looks pretty?. Like their pretty coloured belts).

A few simple factors to be taken into acount , in a real fight.

Shoes, trousers, surface, leg being caught,losing balance etc,etc


And as for the fancy jumping kicks, they are for show only.
They look good in kata, but use them at your peril in a real fight.

However kicking can be used in a controlled situation.
When the opportunity presents itself, but to think its a realistic weapon and to train in being a great kicker is by enlarge a waste of time, unless you do some kind of kicking martial art, which is sport oriented.

The best real life fighters that i have ever seen, didnt even know how to do a simple front kick.

Karate type sport has a lot to learn.

[ryanhall]

The quote was taken a little out of context, but I stand by it for the most part. As was mentioned above, low kicking, when used properly can be a very effetive tool to have in your arsenal. It has its place, along with a number of other skills. Low kicks are powerful, deceptive, and can be difficult for an opponent to see. The knee and thigh are excellent targets, as we all know. In addition, simple low kicks do not take too long to learn, do not require stretching, and are generally safer and much more effective than high kicks (only used by fools out of the ring). High kicks are for impressing chicks and looking cool, not surviving and protecting yourself in the most effieient manner possible.

That said, kicking is overrated by many. Range is often a major factor that disqualifies kicks. Most fights start with an encroachment of some kind, which brings your opponent into CQC range--I can think of about two kicks that can be thrown there. Secondly and more importantly, they compromise your balance. With one leg up in the air--even if it's only a little--you are more prone to falling, tackles, takedowns. That's why I feel that arts that focus primarily on kicking (especially high kicking) are not very helpful, if they aid you at all. Kicks are useful tools, but are just a means to an end--that's why I like the way combatives types use them. In my opinion, there are various stomps and scrapes that look horrendous but are every bit as good as a standard kick, if not better. If it's there, do it. Just don't hang on a technique.

[Szczepankiewicz]

Kicks are as useful and applicable as any grappling or upper body strike. But, like all other techniques, there is a time and a place.

My old boss once said that 'if they get past my kicks, the fight's over anyway.' It was all I could do not to thrash his ignorant ass right there.

I can and do use kicks regularly standing and from the ground while sparring. Every kick I have been taught IS taught from the standing position and from various ground positions.

Is this my only tool? Hell no. It is a good tool? Hell yes, but only in the proper context. Just like every other tool in my toolbox.

Be wary the preaching of fools most clever
Mistreating idioms: always or never.
--Szczepankiewicz

[jesse7]

I have seen people use kicks in real fights ... usually it goes .. one guy kicks and lands a nice kick .. this pisses the other dude off and he rushes in on the other guy and its turned into a ground fight or .. hug fest with the odd slug :P.

Only time I have ever kicked someone was when I was running shit scared from someone but they were faster than me because I had steel caps on, as he got close I stopped and ramped my foot into his guts. We both fell over but I wasnt hurt .. he was so i kept on running .. unfortunatly I didnt hit him with the steel part!

[Szczepankiewicz]

What do they call those male sheep in New Zealand? Rams is it?

I bet you stayed out of that field for awhile.

Spanky

[akja]

Kicking is a part of the stand up game. If understood you can beat a kicker but people who don't understand certain techniques are always going to say it dosen't work.

When you work your ranges there is a place for kicking. I wouldn't kick high and definately no jump kicks. I'd love to have somebody come flying at me!

If your talking a real fight, there are targets that a kick is more effecient and combined with your hands, they are very effective.
If your worried about him catching your leg and taking you down then you have to impose your fight on him. He wants to grapple.

You don't box a boxer and you don't grapple a grappler!

You just have to be well rounded in all ranges and kicking has its place, its been proven over and over! Its just not for everyone!
No technique works for everyone!

[jesse7]

Yeh that was one ANGRY farmer I tell ya what!

[Szczepankiewicz]

Ya gotta be sneaky mate.

[Bau13]

I've learnt one thing from this thread...

about 90% of the people that wrote here cant kick to save their lives!!! jk...

no really.. I think kicks are underrated as a technique...
Most people bash kicks just cos they never learned how to use them well and effectively...

Although they are risky to pull off in a street situation - if you ask me, anything you do in a street fight is risky anyways..
If youre a good kicker and you see the opening... KICK dAMMIT!

just be smart with what you use.....quite simple really..

szczepankiewicz has it down....there is a time and place for every technique

[Great Sage]

For the most part, you are all correct: kicking is effective when used properly. Someone with lightning kicks and devastating power is more likely to utilize more kicking. Kicking overall is VERY effective in my opinion. I've used various kicks, including high kicks, in fights. Here are a few things I've learned about the different kicks:

Low kicks: Good as a stopper for advancing opponents. Has the element of surprise because they're quick. Safest kicks, but has the shortest distance. Against a quick opponent, low kicks are hard to land with any real power.

Medium kicks: Most powerful kicks because you use the full range of your hips. Good against hand techniques because they are harder to block and get inside. Also, you recover pretty good. However, medium kicks are the easy to avoid because they are telegraphed easily. Good against multiple assailants.

High kicks: Least favorable against a skilled opponent. Lends itself to various counters. Doesn’t have as much power as one believes. Can be devastating against a puncher if developed properly. Has the ability to knock out an opponent if it landed. The head is your primary target where solft spots are vulnerable: eyes, nose, ears and temple.