Leg Targets

[Uchiha_Anbu]

I'd like to hear what people think the most effective targets on the legs are. Also any comment on the timing and technique best suited for the target mentioned would be greatly appreciated. I haven't trained ina school for 3-4 years and just spar with friends. None of which have any trained skills. But they still kick my ass, somtimes. Anyways I only use a lead side kick to the area just above the knee when they come in swinging. When I'm circling and trading blows, I like a rear TKD snap round kick to the area 6-7 inchs above the knee and 3-4 inchs below the hip on the side of the thigh.. That seems to hurt people. And in the same circling situation a lead step slide round to the knee or the area above it. closes the distance good for me. It also puts me in the punching range with them usually distracted. I've been experimenting with the heel hook kick recently. I've found that after the round kick(rear and lead) I'm able to comfortable pull my hips the opposite direction and get power ina high heel hook kick. If anyone knows any good combos following or proceeding a low kick tell me please.

Thanks

[Damian Mavis]

Yikes, you kick with the instep to your opponents leg? I've hurt myself several times trying that, does your opponent know how to shield?

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD

[Uchiha_Anbu]

Nope, they dont know how to block with there shins. I like to stop hit there knee or shin before they can put up a kick. I think its called a stop hit. You block by stepping on there leg basically. I've been working my shins on the heavy bag lately though. Im gonna revamp my style probably. I want to learn some take downs. San Chou seems like a good style for that sorta thing. I haven't been able to find a school here, but theres probably one just outside of town or somthing.

[Damian Mavis]

Ahh ya, you can get away with alot against people that can't block with the shin... I know because when I first joined Muay Thai I was one of those people that couldn't block with their shin to save their life!

Anyway the thigh is a great target for a heavy kick to the leg, I've seen people get totally disabled and unable to walk let alone fight, it's a huge charlie horse that renders you helpless.

"Stop hit" is good but I like to do it higher on the leg because down by the knee is a harder target for me to hit, I have more success doing it up by the hip when they try to kick, and I do it with front kick.

In Muay Thai we have a forward stance so sidekick isn't really an option as an opener or counter... I use it as a follow up to roundhouse when I've turned sideways from throwing that kick. Used it twice on my opponent in Thailand pretty successfully too! Kicked him in the head twice and both times he tried to come at me (obviously didn't hit him hard enough...) right away so when my kicing leg dropped to the ground I bounce off the matt and slam in the sidekick to keep him off and it sent him back out of range. Good defensive kick.

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD

[Uchiha_Anbu]

Could you elaborate on what you meant when you said.

Used it twice on my opponent in Thailand pretty successfully too! Kicked him in the head twice and both times he tried to come at me (obviously didn't hit him hard enough...) right away so when my kicing leg dropped to the ground I bounce off the matt and slam in the sidekick to keep him off and it sent him back out of range.

Was it a double head level kick or one after another? What I really want to know is what went on after you dropped your leg the second time. You say you bounced off the matt and slammed in the sidekick? I like the step slide side kick alot and know three ways to do it. With one of them, I jump off the kicking leg before I fire it. This came from practicing the version where you kick your kicking foot forward with your rear. Yea so, was it somthing like that, that you did after the second kick failed to stop him? Jumping off your kicking leg, but stationary I mean. Anyways, thanks for all the good info Damian. I hope you dont mind this newb asking you all these questions. You've soly answerd 3-4 now, I think.
Mutch appreciation

[Damian Mavis]

Basically I have waaaay too much time on my hands these days heh. So I don't mind answering all kinds of questions. I injured myself so have taken some time off of serious training plus I've toned down alot of my activities since I'm moving to Thailand in less than 4 weeks and have lost alot of the motivation to go out and party for some reason.... maybe I'm saving it for sunnyland!

It was 2 different times during the fight that I used the same roundhouse to the head followed by sidekick to the ribs combo. They were seperated by like a minute and a half. And it was my kicking foot that did the bouncing.... like my foot hit him in the head with roundhouse, then I chambered it to the floor as fast as possible and when it hit the floor it "bounced" back up and I thrust it towards my opponents gut and knocked him back out of range as he was moving in to attack while I was "off balance" from my roundhouse.

The sidekick I used was very fast with no leadup like stepping or hopping. Basically from a standing position without shifting my weight in, just firing off the sidekick by raising the knee. Maybe it's possible to do a big stepping sidekick in the ring but I prefer the short ones like I used because they are fast and hard for my opponents to read. It's not great for causing damage, just to get my opponent away from me when I'm vulnerable.

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD