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

This ten article series will deal with the various3. The longer your kicking leg is "hanging" in the air,
components that need to be addressed whenthe longer it takes before you can execute another
considering the utilization of a particular kick in akick.
combat or self-defense situation. These tenTry this experiment:
components can also be used by the tournamentTake one leg and hold it up in the air at about waist
competitor although certain segments would have toheight, now leaving it up in the air, execute an
be modified slightly for the tournament aspects ofeffective and practical kick. Now try throwing a
kicking, rather than the more intensive nature ofcouple of punches while standing on one leg. Does it
using a kick or kicks in combat. Although all of thesework very well?
individual components are important, they are mostA kick coming up from a balanced position on the
effective when combined together and utilizedground is far more effective and powerful than one
correctly when executing a kick.that starts off already in the air. What I mean by this
Although I will only be discussing one of theis that the first Roundhouse Kick that you throw
components in this article, here is the complete list offrom a standing position is far more powerful than
all ten of them.the second one that you throw with the same leg
1. Your Kicking Abilitybefore setting your foot back down on the ground.
2. Your Intended ApplicationIf you are executing a kick that relies on the foot
3. The Environmentbeing returned along the exact same path of
4. Telegraphingtrajectory that it traveled to get to its target, this
5. Striking Implementwould be called a "retraction" of the kicking foot. The
6. Striking the Correct Targetfollowing kicks would be ones that would require you
7. Initial Impactto "retract" your kicking foot after making contact
8. Impactwith your target.
9. Retraction or Follow Through1. Front Kick
10. Return to Fighting Position2. Back Kick
Component Nine; Retraction or Follow Through:3. Side Kick
Now I was always told from the first day that I4. Roundhouse Kick (with the notable exception of
started taking Karate that no matter what kick youthe Thai Roundhouse Kick)
did, that you never wanted to leave your footIf you are executing a kick that relies on the foot
"hanging" out in the air. There were three primarycontinuing through the target along the same path of
reasons for this and they are as follows.trajectory that it traveled to get to its target, this
1. The longer your kicking leg is "hanging" in the air,would be called a "follow through" of the kicking foot.
the longer you have to balance on one leg.The following kicks would be ones that would require
As hard as some of you may find this to believe, weyou to "follow through" with your kicking foot after
humans were born with two legs for a reason, andmaking contact with your target.
that is to stand on both of them. We were not1. Wheel Kick
designed to be standing around all day like a pink2. Axe Kick
flamingo with one leg "hanging" out in the air.3. Crescent Kick
Now I am all for extensive training on balancing on4. Reverse Crescent Kick
one leg while kicking and I even have several5. Hook Kick
different training exercises that I do in order to6. Hatchet Kick
improve my balance. However, the keyword here isTraining Advice to Improve your Retraction and/or
"training." When in an actual situation where you haveFollow Through:
to defend yourself, you want to get your foot upUnder normal standard training practices, the student
and out to make contact with its intended target asattempts to execute a kick as fast as he can from a
fast as possible, and then immediately get it backstanding position to the target. In this case, I am
down on the ground.going to have you do the exact opposite.
2. The longer your kicking leg is "hanging" in the air,This is a rather simple, yet very effective, technique
the easier it is for your opponent to grab.that you can practice in order to improve your
Ever watch a boxing match where one of theretraction or follow up skills. Simply put, what you do
boxers has a tendency to leave his punch in hisis take your kicking foot and slowly place it in the
opponent's face, or is just a bit too slow in bringing itposition where it would have made contact with your
back into position? What usually happens to thatintended target. As soon as you leg and foot are in
boxer?position, as fast as you possibly can, complete the
Well, generally if the other boxer is any good, he willkick by completing the retraction or follow through.
land at least a punch or two on his opponent. Why?Always be sure and utilize the correct technique at all
Because by leaving his punch "hanging" out in the air,times.
he leaves himself wide open for a counterattack.Final Thoughts:
Now as bad as this is, it is many times worse whenAs fast as your foot traveled to strike its target, it
you are kicking. Not only do you leave yourselfshould be just as fast if not faster returning back
balancing on one leg, but you also leave yourself widedown to the ground. Other than improper technique
open for a variety of counterattacks. These canand improper application of the aforementioned
range anywhere from a punch, kick, or even tacklingtechnique, leaving your foot "hanging" or "posing" in
or throwing you to the ground, and these aren'tthe air after kicking is perhaps the single biggest
even the worst.mistake you could possibly make when kicking.
The worst of all possible counterattacks is to haveThis "hanging" or "posing" seems to be prevalent in a
your kicking leg grabbed by your opponent. Why islot of the tournament oriented schools more so than
this the worst? Simply put, because you then nothe traditional schools. Although I have seen students
longer have control of your body, your opponent"posing" kicks in both types of schools.
does.