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Learn How To Kick: Kicking Effectively in a Self-Defense or Combat Situation Part 9 of 10

This ten article series will deal with thein the air, the longer it takes before you
various components that need to be addressedcan  execute  another  kick.
when considering the utilization of a
particular kick in a combat or self-defenseTry  this  experiment:
situation. These ten components can also be
used by the tournament competitor althoughTake one leg and hold it up in the air at
certain segments would have to be modifiedabout waist height, now leaving it up in the
slightly for the tournament aspects ofair, execute an effective and practical kick.
kicking, rather than the more intensiveNow try throwing a couple of punches while
nature of using a kick or kicks in combat.standing  on one leg. Does it work very well?
Although all of these individual components
are important, they are most effective whenA kick coming up from a balanced position on
combined together and utilized correctly whenthe ground is far more effective and powerful
executing  a  kick.than one that starts off already in the air.
What I mean by this is that the first
Although I will only be discussing one of theRoundhouse Kick that you throw from a
components in this article, here is thestanding position is far more powerful than
complete  list  of  all  ten  of  them.the second one that you throw with the same
leg before setting your foot back down on the
1.  Your  Kicking  Abilityground.
2.  Your  Intended  ApplicationIf you are executing a kick that relies on
the foot being returned along the exact same
3.  The  Environmentpath of trajectory that it traveled to get to
its target, this would be called a
4.  Telegraphing"retraction" of the kicking foot. The
following kicks would be ones that would
5.  Striking  Implementrequire you to "retract" your kicking foot
after  making  contact  with  your  target.
6.  Striking  the  Correct  Target
1.  Front  Kick
7.  Initial  Impact
2.  Back  Kick
8.  Impact
3.  Side  Kick
9.  Retraction  or  Follow  Through
4. Roundhouse Kick (with the notable
10.  Return  to  Fighting  Positionexception  of  the  Thai  Roundhouse  Kick)
Component Nine; Retraction or Follow Through:If you are executing a kick that relies on
the foot continuing through the target along
Now I was always told from the first day thatthe same path of trajectory that it traveled
I started taking Karate that no matter whatto get to its target, this would be called a
kick you did, that you never wanted to leave"follow through" of the kicking foot. The
your foot "hanging" out in the air. Therefollowing kicks would be ones that would
were three primary reasons for this and theyrequire you to "follow through" with your
are  as  follows.kicking foot after making contact with your
target.
1. The longer your kicking leg is "hanging"
in the air, the longer you have to balance on1.  Wheel  Kick
one  leg.
2.  Axe  Kick
As hard as some of you may find this to
believe, we humans were born with two legs3.  Crescent  Kick
for a reason, and that is to stand on both of
them. We were not designed to be standing4.  Reverse  Crescent  Kick
around all day like a pink flamingo with one
leg  "hanging"  out  in  the  air.5.  Hook  Kick
Now I am all for extensive training on6.  Hatchet  Kick
balancing on one leg while kicking and I even
have several different training exercisesTraining Advice to Improve your Retraction
that I do in order to improve my balance.and/or  Follow  Through:
However, the keyword here is "training." When
in an actual situation where you have toUnder normal standard training practices, the
defend yourself, you want to get your foot upstudent attempts to execute a kick as fast as
and out to make contact with its intendedhe can from a standing position to the
target as fast as possible, and thentarget. In this case, I am going to have you
immediately  get  it back down on the ground.do  the  exact  opposite.
2. The longer your kicking leg is "hanging"This is a rather simple, yet very effective,
in the air, the easier it is for yourtechnique that you can practice in order to
opponent  to  grab.improve your retraction or follow up skills.
Simply put, what you do is take your kicking
Ever watch a boxing match where one of thefoot and slowly place it in the position
boxers has a tendency to leave his punch inwhere it would have made contact with your
his opponent's face, or is just a bit toointended target. As soon as you leg and foot
slow in bringing it back into position? Whatare in position, as fast as you possibly can,
usually  happens  to  that  boxer?complete the kick by completing the
retraction or follow through. Always be sure
Well, generally if the other boxer is anyand utilize the correct technique at all
good, he will land at least a punch or two ontimes.
his opponent. Why? Because by leaving his
punch "hanging" out in the air, he leavesFinal  Thoughts:
himself wide open for a counterattack. Now as
bad as this is, it is many times worse whenAs fast as your foot traveled to strike its
you are kicking. Not only do you leavetarget, it should be just as fast if not
yourself balancing on one leg, but you alsofaster returning back down to the ground.
leave yourself wide open for a variety ofOther than improper technique and improper
counterattacks. These can range anywhere fromapplication of the aforementioned technique,
a punch, kick, or even tackling or throwingleaving your foot "hanging" or "posing" in
you to the ground, and these aren't even thethe air after kicking is perhaps the single
worst.biggest mistake you could possibly make when
kicking.
The worst of all possible counterattacks is
to have your kicking leg grabbed by yourThis "hanging" or "posing" seems to be
opponent. Why is this the worst? Simply put,prevalent in a lot of the tournament oriented
because you then no longer have control ofschools more so than the traditional schools.
your  body,  your  opponent  does.Although I have seen students "posing" kicks
in both types of schools.
3. The longer your kicking leg is "hanging"



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