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