| This ten article series will deal with | | | | I consider low section kicks to be kicks |
| the various components that need to be | | | | applied to anywhere from the level of |
| addressed when considering the | | | | the thigh down to and including the foot |
| utilization of a particular kick in a | | | | itself. |
| combat or self-defense situation. These | | | | One of the best reasons to initially |
| ten components can also be used by the | | | | kick low as a set-up technique is to |
| tournament competitor although certain | | | | redirect your opponent's attention from |
| segments would have to be modified | | | | you to the pain he is now feeling |
| slightly for the tournament aspects of | | | | somewhere on his leg or foot. This will |
| kicking, rather than the more intensive | | | | have a tendency to not only make your |
| nature of using a kick or kicks in | | | | opponent more hesitant to attack, but it |
| combat. Although all of these individual | | | | also opens up his head for you to attack |
| components are important, they are most | | | | with your hands. |
| effective when combined together and | | | | Kicking at a low section level, although |
| utilized correctly when executing a | | | | still balancing on one leg, is a lot |
| kick. | | | | more stable than kicking at a midsection |
| Although I will only be discussing one | | | | or high section level. This minimizes |
| of the components in this article, here | | | | the risk to you while still allowing you |
| is the complete list of all ten of them. | | | | to use your more powerful weapons, your |
| 1. Your Kicking Ability | | | | legs. |
| 2. Your Intended Application | | | | In general, it is harder for your |
| 3. The Environment | | | | opponent to see a low section kick |
| 4. Telegraphing | | | | coming than it is a midsection or high |
| 5. Striking Implement | | | | section kick. Of course this is all |
| 6. Striking the Correct Target | | | | relative to the skill of the person |
| 7. Initial Impact | | | | kicking. |
| 8. Impact | | | | Kicking Midsection: |
| 9. Retraction or Follow Through | | | | I consider midsection kicks to be kicks |
| 10. Return to Fighting Position | | | | applied to anywhere on the body (front, |
| Component Two; Your Intended Kicking | | | | back, and sides) from the level of the |
| Application: | | | | groin to the height of the solar plexus. |
| How do you intend to apply your kick or | | | | One of the best reasons to kick to the |
| kicks? Are you using them to set-up | | | | midsection is after already hitting your |
| another technique, or are you using them | | | | opponent with one or two punches to the |
| as a finishing technique? Are you | | | | head. This usually disorients him enough |
| applying them at a low section, | | | | to allow you the opportunity to land a |
| midsection, or high section level? Let's | | | | kick to the groin or solar plexus which |
| take a look at each one of these | | | | can effectively end the fight. |
| possibilities. | | | | A very important point to remember when |
| As a Set-Up Technique: | | | | kicking at a midsection or high section |
| Are you using your kick as a way to | | | | level is the ease in which your opponent |
| distract or off-balance your opponent in | | | | can grab your kicking leg if you don't |
| an effort to close the distance and | | | | execute your kick correctly by returning |
| set-up a more effective technique? This | | | | your kicking leg to the ground faster |
| can be accomplished in a variety of | | | | than when it came off the ground when |
| ways. For example; executing a low | | | | you first initiated the kick. I |
| section kick in order to draw your | | | | guarantee you that you do not want to be |
| opponents attention away from punches | | | | hopping around on one foot while your |
| intended for the head, or kicking low | | | | opponent is holding on to the other. |
| section in order to off-balance your | | | | Doing so will result in nothing but pain |
| opponent as you shoot in and go for a | | | | and embarrassment for the kicker. |
| takedown. The combinations are virtually | | | | Kicking High Section: |
| endless. | | | | For the most part, I do not recommend |
| My instructors were always adamant about | | | | kicking at a high section level and will |
| telling me to use my kicks to set-up my | | | | go so far as to say that 99% of the time |
| hands and my hands to set-up my kicks. | | | | it should not be done. However, like |
| This is very sound and practical advice. | | | | anything, there is that 1% of the time |
| As a Finishing Technique: | | | | that it can and does work effectively. |
| Are you using your kick as a finishing | | | | Whether a high section kick is effective |
| technique after already setting-up and | | | | or not is primarily determined by the |
| hurting your opponent with something | | | | skill level of the kicker. Although |
| else? This too can be accomplished in a | | | | there are other extenuating factors |
| variety of ways. For example; utilizing | | | | involved that are generally not under |
| a left jab followed by a right cross to | | | | the control of the kicker. These factors |
| the head, with a low roundhouse kick to | | | | will be discussed in the third article |
| the outside of the opponent's thigh or | | | | in the series. |
| knee to finish him off, or utilizing the | | | | Like the old saying goes, "It's better |
| same hand combination followed by a kick | | | | to be safe than sorry." This applies |
| to the groin. The combinations that are | | | | very appropriately to the use of high |
| available to you in order to use your | | | | section kicks in a self-defense |
| kicks as a finishing technique are | | | | situation. Therefore, for the most part, |
| virtually endless. | | | | I recommend limiting the use of your |
| Regardless of how you utilize your | | | | kicks to low and midsection levels. |
| kicks, they should be executed in such a | | | | The next article in this series will |
| way that they are never seen by your | | | | deal with the third of ten components |
| opponent until after they have already | | | | needed to kick effectively in a combat |
| hit him. | | | | or self-defense situation. That |
| Kicking Low Section: | | | | component is, "The Environment. |