Harry

I have a question, now, im sure most (if not all) on this board agree that in a street situation, Muay Thai is superior to almost anything and I agree with this statement, Muay Thai in my opinion would be hideously effective in a street fight.

But what about American Kickboxing?
Can that 'cut' it on the street? Will it give you any extra fight benefits other than increased speed and stamina?
I know that there is no chance it can compare to Muay Thai in a street fight, but can it be effective? Can you use the kicks of American kickboxing to defend yourself?

I am in two minds about this, firstly, even the 14 year old at my club who has been going the same time as me (11 weeks) can kick hard enough to stun someone pretty badly if it hit their face.

Having said this however, I have never even got into a single fight in my life, so I am by no means qualified to comment on the effectivness in a street fight, now last friday, I was shown some close combat moves, starting with basic elbows and hooks, then moving up to moves such as inverted crescent kicks, you bring your back leg up across your body, then flick the bottom of the leg up high, hitting the opponent in the side of the eye with the side of your foot.
Does this have any advantage in a fight?

Now, I know you cannot just ask "will x work in a fight" because of the factors involved.

So, we shall assume that it is a fairly open place, a street, enough room for roundhouses, both fighters are the same height, age and strength.
The kickboxer has been training for about a year shall we say, has had a couple of ring fights and plently of class sparring, the other fighter is your average street punk looking for a brawl.

Now, who do you think would win in theory?
American Kickboxing kicks to the leg won't bring someone down like MT will, so will the kickboxing techniques make any difference in the fight?
Can a well timed roundhouse to the side make a difference, or does kickboxing lack the kicking power for a real confrontation?

Thanks
Harry

Python

Harry,

Good question, but I think, by the way you referred back to MT, that you already have formed an opinion, and probably the right one. There is no clear cut yes or no answer, because yes, it does depend on the fighter and of course, the situation.

Other than the speed and stamina, a boxer, kickboxer(american or thai) has good cover against the head shots. The only kick, in my opinion, from American Kickboxing, that will work on the street is the front kick, because it can go to the groin or the gut and can be fast and powerful. Do not, I repeat, do not, attempt head kicks on the street. The average street brawler looking to have the kickboxer for lunch will kill him if he does that. The high kick to the head leaves the groin wide open, and the take down, not to mention the sweep of the base leg, which makes for a hard landing on the hard ground.

Any kind of crescent kicks are also a waste of time on the street, in my opinion. I didn't even throw them when competing in the ring. Chuck Norris makes it look easy and effective because it is TV. There is not enough power to stop a brawler on the street.

Even with a year of kickboxing training, isnt necessarrily enough. I have witnessed 4 to 5 yr black belts get whooped on the street by brawlers. It goes back to the mindset of the fighters. Almost every fight goes to the clinch and eventually to the ground. To be totally effective, you need clinch training and grappling training. Thai and BJJ or Shooto will give you that. Consider this as well, "Savat" the french kickboxing is a shoe art, meaning they train with shoes on, so some toe kicks are employed which can be very effective on the street, and afterall, you will be wearing shoes on the street.

Sorry to make the reply so long and drawn out Harry, it is just that I feel there is more to it than just, can an American kickboxer be effective on the street. It is what the fighter does with the style, not how the style utilizes the fighter, anyone can win at any given time, regardless of style, but bottom line, is the fighter needs to be prepared with the most effective tools to do the job....I believe that American Kickboxing leaves alot to be desired on the street.

HOpe this helps, Peace, Pete

eXcessiveForce

i've knocked out people with a crescent kick. So they are useful if you throw them right.

Round kicks are nice too have put people down with those too.
Front kick isn't bad, And you gotta love the side kick.

all the basics. They work if you train them to work.

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Python

Hey man, not arguing with you or anything, but with your crescent kick KO, was that in the ring or on the street. I agree with the front and side kicks, and the round kick if it is to the leg, in the ring the head is great. I saw my partner's son throw a spinning heel hook to a kids head(the back of it) in the ring and it knocked him out cold, but I don't think it would have worked on the street.

On the street, the opponent is not standing waiting to see what you throw so he can counter it, instead he is rushing you with arms swinging and adrenaline rushing and pouring out...with that pressure anything circular is hard to pull off on the street. Not impossible, but damn hard.

Just my opinion, Peace!

Thai Bri

Harry - theres many different kinds of kick boxing, ranging from people waving their legs about to hard training on bags and in the ring. The second kind should see you OK in most fights against the untrained, physically speaking.

But there are many more factors in street fights. Go here for a whole new approach

www.geoffthompsom.com

The guy was a Bouncer for 9 years in one of our worst cities. He's got the behavioural and psychological factors down to a tee. Theres a forum too if you fancy having a look.