| An old saying in martial arts self-defense is that you | | | | Two or three good kicks and he may decide to call it |
| should keep your punches up and your kicks down. | | | | a day and leave you alone. |
| That is, don't kick above the waist. Like most rules, this | | | | 2) This one's not very nice, and it will cause serious |
| one has some exceptions. | | | | injury. Instep kick to the knee. It's low and fast. You |
| For example, if you're flexible and quick, there's no | | | | don't need to have great flexibility and the risk of |
| reason not to follow a blitz with a roundhouse to the | | | | getting your leg grabbed is just about zero. It's a |
| head. In keeping with the above rule however, I'd say | | | | stomping kick so it has power enough to actually |
| at least avoid leading with a high kick. | | | | break someone's leg. |
| If you want to follow the rule strictly, here are two | | | | When I teach a self-defense seminar, this is the only |
| great kicks for the street. | | | | kick I show them. If I'm doing a seminar at a |
| 1) Muy Thai leg kick. You probably know what this is. | | | | corporation or large firm, most of the attendees aren't |
| It's basically a roundhouse striking with the top of the | | | | very athletic, and aren't dressed for a street fight, so |
| foot and/or lower shin, delivered to the thigh (inside or | | | | this is an easy one for them to learn and practice. I |
| outside, usually outside). I knew a guy from Virginia | | | | have them begin by stomping on the floor so they get |
| Beach who used to fight full contact kick boxing. He | | | | the motion, then I demonstrate the kick slowly on a |
| said he once saw a guy in a match get leg kicked so | | | | volunteer. After that, I have them practice alone - not |
| hard the guy threw up. That's a hard kick. | | | | on a partner. |
| Fighter's can toughen up for it, but there's only so much | | | | If you have a heavy bag, practice both these kicks full |
| you can do. Just think of the effect on someone who's | | | | power and your body will know what to do when the |
| not used to that sort of thing. Another thing to | | | | time comes. |
| recommend it is that you're not causing serious injury, | | | | That's all for today. |
| but you can demoralize the heck out of the other guy. | | | | Train like you mean it. |