Learn How To Kick: Kicking Effectively in a Self-Defense or Combat Situation Part 10 of 10
This ten article series will deal with the various components that need to be addressed when considering the utilization of a particular kick in a combat or self-defense situation. These ten components can also be used by the tournament competitor although certain segments would have to be modified slightly for the tournament aspects of kicking, rather than the more intensive nature of using a kick or kicks in combat. Although all of these individual components are important, they are most effective when combined together and utilized correctly when executing a kick.
Although I will only be discussing one of the components in this article, here is the complete list of all ten of them.
1. Your Kicking Ability
2. Your Intended Application
3. The Environment
4. Telegraphing
5. Striking Implement
6. Striking the Correct Target
7. Initial Impact
8. Impact
9. Retraction or Follow Through
10. Return to Fighting Position
Component Ten; Return to Fighting Position:
There often times seems to be a tendency for the individual who kicks to step too far forward, or too far back when they bring their kicking leg back down to the ground after kicking. I have found that the main cause of this is usually the individual kickers desire to advance too far forward in an attempt to pursue his opponent or retreating too far backward in an attempt to retreat from an advancing opponent. This is not only incorrect, but it can have devastating consequences if your opponent capitalizes upon your mistake.
There are also times when the individual who kicks tends to lose his balance before, during, or after the execution of the kick. I have found that the main cause of this is due to the improper upper body position and/or upper body movement of the individual during the execution of the kick. This can easily be remedied by going back to the basics and practicing the correct technique.
When you are off balance, you are at a greater disadvantage than you are when you are in balance. Therefore, no matter what kick you are executing, you want to always strive for the proper balance throughout the entire execution of that particular kick. Anytime that you raise your foot up off the ground to execute a kick, you are going to be putting yourself in a lot more vulnerable position than you would if you kept both feet on the ground. Therefore, you want to make sure that you do everything as correctly and as efficiently as you can so that you minimize the dangers to yourself while maximizing the effectiveness of your kick against your opponent.
Ideally, you should bring your kicking foot back down on the ground so that it is once again no wider than your original fighting position. Although I discussed it quite extensively in the previous article in this series, you have to make sure that you execute the "retraction" or "follow through" of your kick just as fast, if not faster, than what you did during the initial execution of the kick from the ground to its intended target.
Always remember that you are more stable on two legs than you are on one leg. Now don't take that to mean that I am not advocating the use of kicking in self-defense. Actually it is quite the opposite. I am a strong advocate of intelligently and correctly executing and applying kicks in a self-defense or combat situation. So as you train hard, don't forget to study hard as well.
Shawn Kovacich is a high ranking black belt in both Karate and Tae Kwon Do. Shawn is also a two time world record holder for endurance high kicking as certified by the Guinness Book of World Records. Shawn is the author of Side Kick the tenth volume in the highly acclaimed Achieving Kicking Excellence? series. of martial arts books, and is currently working on several additional marital arts and self-defense books. Which are due to be released in 2007.
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