How come side-kicks aren't used?

[Sircnay]

How come nobody ever uses side-kicks in MMA cage matches? They're probably the most useful and versatile kicks. They have a longer reach than a roundhouse and it's harder to shoot for, plus they have displacement qualities and can be used for the legs, body and the head.

[SamuraiGuy]

Hmm possibly because theres a bit more of a risk... with a roundhouse kick and that , if they catch it they can take you down pretty much at will.... then they end up hopefully in your gaurd...

With a side kick, if they catch it, it would be quite easy for them to spin you around, or slam you while turning you onto your stomach... then they have your back....

[Garland]

A thai round kick is MUCH harder than a sidekick, much quicker, and much, much more economical.
As for sidekicks, I HAVE seen them thrown in both MMA and muay thai matches...
but they're even better in a real no-rules fight...just aim them right at the patella. Snap-Crackle-Pop.

[cakegirl]

Most people take too long to turn their hip over to do a side kick - and without turning the hip over, the kick will be very weak.

[Nick]

...

The problem with the side kick is, although extremely powerful, is inherently slow. Of course, with lots of hard training, you can learn to throw a fast side kick worthy of using in an actual fight, but why waste the time and energy on that when the round and front kicks are high percentage to begin with?

[SamuraiGuy]

Plus kicking people in the side of the leg with the thai kick softens em up so nicely for the takedown, .... then its GNP and submission... sure a sidekick can be used, but in MMA its an inferior technique....

*note to all the sidekick nutthugers, I said in MMA...

[jubaji]

How come nobody ever uses side-kicks in MMA cage matches? :

I don't think you're allowed to bring anyone else in the cage with you to help.

[Sircnay]

But Robin is there whenever I need him.

[Blue Wave Gym]

well

I've seen alot of really bad back kicks/turning side kicks(stephen boner comes to mind) in mma fights and since I've probably forgot more about kicking in full contact fighting than anyone on here will ever know, the answer is rear leg side kicks are too dam slow that's why all you have to do is develop a very powerfull front leg side kick using at least a 200 lb. bag filled with gravel and then you too will be able to ko someone with a body shot via front leg side kick like I did tee hee, don't do it in mma though cause you'll probably get taken down a straight up raped LOL but then again people use the ol' spinning back fist in mma which I veiw as a> please have my back and rear naked choke me LOL but but theory and putting a move into action are often 2 different things so use what works.

[Tom Yum]

But Robin is there whenever I need him.

You callin 1-900 numbers late at night again?

[jubaji]

You callin 1-900 numbers late at night again?

Yeah, knock it off! I gotta sleep sometime!

[Sircnay]

But you talk so dirty and do it so well.

[cakegirl]

Koko kokkoko?

[Blue Wave Gym]

who needs 900 numbers

You callin 1-900 numbers late at night again?

When you have adult friend finder.com or find sex in your area web sites, if you want to be a non-sleeze about it then hot or not.com or yahoo personals may help you LOL but for goodness sake stay off the phone or you'll go blind at the rate your going(just assuming)

[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)