Kicks for Self-Defense: Defend U. Members Speak Out

No surprises here on the Kicking Survey that we sent out to members. Front, side and roundhouse -- those seem to be your most viable kicks for self-defense.

You advised to keep the kicks simple and to keep them low. And you think that – despite some disadvantages – kicks are an indispensable part of your self-defense tool box.

However, one of you said “the weapon is only as good as the user” which I thought was a good point. I also thought the nature of the responses were good in the sense that many of you brought out your personal experience of using kicks or how others on your team used kicks in the street.

It was also noted a number of times that a very common response by the untrained fighter is to charge in for a tackle (the “bum rush”) which tends to negate many kicks which – by definition – are used for longer range combat.

Most of you also differentiated between your favorite tournament or “dojo” kicks and the kicks that you use on the street. Others brought up the unique aspects of self-defense that can affect your kicking such as less than ideal footing and being engaged in other activities like protecting your principle or carrying groceries.

Take a look at some of the actual responses to the survey:

My name is Jonathan Patterson…In Tang So Do we put less emphasis on spectacular kicks and more emphasis on hand techniques. In my experience teaching others, especially beginners, I have found that kicks are not the most effective means of self defense. In fact I only recommend kicking for self defense to advanced students. The exceptions to this are very low kicks, which are useful in certain situations. We teach these low kicks and leg techniques only after we feel that the students are proficient in non-violet escape. I personally, however, very much like kicks and use them a lot. In fact I am the "Leggiest" person in the studio. I use kicks as intimidation, distraction and finishing techniques. I mostly use them to open someone up for some hand techniques, which usually works quite well. As far as self defense goes med/high (abdomen) kicks definitely have their place....For advanced students. Head kicks should only be used in competition unless you are EXTREMELY proficient and fast.

Thought I would share a couple of ideas. One of the first kicks I teach my regular students and absolutely the first kick I teach any of my self defense only students or participants in a self defense seminar is a stomping heel kick. This is basically a side kick that fires down at an angle striking the side of the knee attempting to damage the ligament and tendon structure possibly dislocating the knee or doing significant damage enabling the person defending to run away. The strongest kick is done by lifting the knee of the kicking leg up high in a chambered position thus confusing the enemy as to whether you are going to throw a standard side kick or roundhouse kick then shoot it down at an angle into the side of the knee. This is relatively easy technique to learn, does not require much flexibility, and can be done while wearing tight restrictive clothing. Another option is to throw front kicks to the inside or outside of the thighs shocking the muscles into not being very effective and causing the person to begin to drop his hands enabling a person to be able to fire effective hand strikes into the upper body and head. Steve Riggs

I believe that any part of the body can become a weapon at the right time or circumstance. The technique of using kicks in self defense situations would greatly depend on the experience of the user and the situation in which the person would be able to deliver them. In my experience, low kicks which attack the toes up to the groin area have been more effective compared high kicks. I've been taken to the ground a couple of times whenever I tried kicking my opponent higher than his waist. Balance, speed, timing as well as power is essential when kicking is used in combat. This is because only one leg would be supporting the body during the performance of the technique. The higher the kick, the higher probability of failure. This would be different if the defender is already lying on the ground to start with. In which case, he could use kicks in order to avoid being mounted or to distract the opponent while he is trying to stand up and regain an upright position. Kicks, compared to punches would cover a longer range. It could be used as a pre-emptive strike to the shin, knee, thigh or groin then suddenly following it up by closing the gap between you and your opponent and delivering elbows, fists, knee, a head butt etc. A low kick to the same areas can stop an attacker who is trying to "close in" the gap. This could provide an opportunity for the defender to run away or even attack the attacker.

The effectiveness of kicks would also depend on the shoe of the user. "Steel toe shoe protected feet" could be an advantage compared to "barefoot dojo feet". Since nobody nowadays walks on the streets barefooted, shoes together with the terrain would be a factor in practicing kicks for self-defense. The distance of the opponent will also be a factor in the kind of kick to be used. If your opponent is too close to use a 45 degree taekwondo kick, then use the knee against the groin, thighs, or abdomen. "Keeping it Simple" is the key to survival on the streets so the number of kicks or combination would depend on the situation. How many times can you really kick a guy in the face when he's on the floor, while his buddies are trying to stab you in the kidneys? Compare this to kicking a guy in the face when he is standing up, while his buddies are all lined up ready to do you harm. If its a self defense situation, "flashy movie kicks" would be more detrimental to one's survival. In saving your life and your loved ones, even the most unthinkable weapon should be used without hesitation. In this adrenalin-pumping moment, there's no time to analyze the form or look perfect when performing kicks. The weapon is only as good as the user. Carlo Prado

Here’s my experience with kicks. I will speak out of my personal experience and the experiences I’ve had in training military, law enforcement and martial artists.

1. Should kicks/knees be a primary weapon: Yes, but we need to be realistic in regards to our objectives, skills and the conditions.
• I have a former Tae Kwon Do national champion that works out with us that can land kicks most of us never could. At 145 lbs., he’s lightening fast, very powerful for his size, and does very well at not telegraphing his kicks. But as he’s learned, just landing the kick doesn’t mean it will be effective, especially against larger, charging opponents. He’s presently learning how to use his kicks in real self-defense situation, but he’s having to go through a big “unlearning” process.
• I know a guy (about 6’2”, 225 lbs. Solid and strong) with multiple black belts that got in a fight with a Georgia football player (exact size unknown). Our black belt landed a roundhouse and a two-punch combination that didn’t even phase the football player (except for making him angry). My friend ended up in the hospital with a broken arm, ribs, nose, and jaw.
• I’ve found that many people of average coordination can frequently land knees in close quarters, when they aim at large targets. The two targets I focus on are the outer thigh (when off line) and inside the triangle that’s formed between the your opponents two knees and their groin (on center line). The key is to make sure they’re distracted on the high line or not expecting it.
• When grounded you need to be able to use kicks to help buy you time to get to your feet and to keep your opponent at bay.
• When grappling and rolling around there are often openings to land kicks or knees.
• Everyone needs to know how to land a good stomp / piston kick and a front kick.

2. Many of the martial artists that come to my programs want to know how to make their martial art more “street effective”. One of the first things they need to do is get out of the habit of throwing so many kicks. In real situations, battlefield (street) debris makes it very easy to trip or slip when throwing kicks. Now you’re on the ground. Better know what to do when you’re there.
• I personally know 5 or 6 police officers that have tried to throw shin kicks in close quarters and ended up on the ground. Not only have objects and debris got in the way, but many trained and untrained fighters first move consists of a take down, tackle or charge.
Russ Holder

Tough one this! I've always considered kicking and essential skill, part of being able to work your opponent, but I have a mate who really struggles with any type of kick and this is in controlled situations. I also have a mate who's a Bobby (British Police officer) who told me how he dropped a violent offender "like a bag of shit" (his words!) with a knee strike to the thigh (commonly known to English school boys as a "dead leg"). I've always favoured a Fairbairn/Sykes style side stomp to the knee joint, but if you get the opening and connect well with this one it usually results in permanent damage! For that reason I've swapped my training to Thai style round kicks of the type favoured by Peter Consterdine of the British Combat Association. I've no first hand experience of these techniques in the street yet, but they work well in the gym and in role play sessions. My only concern is that these move's seem to need a fair amount of room even when directed low. At the end of the day if you feel you can pull them off under pressure go for them, front, round or side stomp, what ever! If you don't feel comfortable or they feel unnatural forget it - there are alternatives! Most of all remember the 5 P's - Practise, Prevents, Piss Poor, Performance! Regards, Mark

I believe that kicks (properly applied) are an indispensable part of any functional street fighting repertoire. Reason for this is 98% of the time, your opponent leads with either leg and it is logical to consider it as a primary target (shin or knee joint). a kick whether loaded with sting or not is also a good way to bridge the gap. In addition to my big guns (close range punches, elbows, headbutts, eye jabs, throat grabs) I also train the ff kicks for street fighting: knee shots (to the groin or thigh/sciatic nerve), front kick whether scooping up to the groin or as a thrust to the solar plexus, low round house to the groin, low side kick to the shin or knee, muay thai round kick to the thigh (sciatic nerve) and finally oblique kick to the knee. Though I have no objection in practicing high/acrobatic kicks for perfection of body mechanics it has always been my opinion that it is always practical to kick below the waist in a street fight. Thanks and more power. Perry Gil S. Mallari

Sorry for the delay... I had written a much more "in depth" analysis a couple of weeks ago and just as I hit send, my server went down. I didn't have another chance until now to reply. For sheer brute, I believe that Muay Thai low line kicks offer the best collection of techniques. Also, Muay Thai stresses the importance of knees and elbows. I train a lot in the clinch range and Thai techniques are very good for this. I study Muay Thai, Boxe Francaise Savate, Jun Fan Kickboxing and Kickboxing for stand up, as well as some Shooto. Out of all of these Muay Thai wins the draw for the best techniques for self defense. For "self defense" I don't believe that you need to know a huge array of kicks, but be sure to know at least one or two for various positions then drill, drill, drill them so you develop muscle memory for these different scenarios. My favorite kicking technique which I use frequently in sparring, is to use a cut kick to the inside of the opponents lead leg, then follow it up with a low line Thai kick to the outside of the same leg. On the street I would target the opponent’s knee... Linda Langerak

For me personally in a self defence situation I would use a Front Kick. For the reason that when the kick is executed the attacker will go down like a ton of bricks, giving them pelvic damage. This would me the opportunity to make an escape, the attacker is hardly likely to chase after me with pelvic damage !!!!!!!!!.

In my group we work primarily on kicks from about mid-thigh down. Included are a low sweeping kick done with the instep to the shin and ankles - it's intended to make use of the shoe sole; a kick similar to a roundhouse, but without a chamber - you sort of "scrunch" your body to generate force; finally, there's a front kick done with the sole of the foot which can be done with a snap or thrust, or like a step into the target area, like a stomp. Our instructor stresses that the kicks should be done with an upper-body attachment in an effort to control and overcome the opponent by upsetting balance, pain, and distraction. We sometimes work on foot traps, to include stepping on the opponents feet. There are also steps-on and stomps against a downed opponent. Finally, we have been introduced to kicking while on the ground from kneeling, lying, down on all fours, etc. Most of the practice has been from lying on the back. Personally, I try to keep in a sort of weight-transfer low sidekick intended to disrupt movement, etc. We don't work combinations. We try to work out of what has been presented by the opponent. We try not to give away a leg by kicking above the opponents lowest reach, but we do practice blocking against high kicks. We're still learning as a group as our instructor synthesizes his years of learning and practice with new info as it becomes available. (I'm glad he's enthusiastic regarding his own education.) The goal is to function in a practical and efficient manner. This includes living peacefully and with situational awareness as a practical and efficient way of overcoming violence. Marc Berber

hi my own experiance with use of kicks is as follows: i belive in first the conditions for which you find your self in : is the ground slippery from ices wet leaves mud etc. how much room do you have , are you faceing multiple attackers. if the condition is right then my faves are #1 spinning back hook kick to kidneys or back of leg , front side kick to side of knee, kick to shins, knees toback behind knee, knees to stomach knees to face hair grab use of legs to impead there forward movement , to unbalance them, to set them up for a hand techneque. for triping last ones to use if they are down stomp to chest throat kick, to head . groin only if it is truly unprotected, most street fighters are good at protecting this area. droping knee in to stomach if they are down or knee to back with head or clothes pullto rear, use of knee to brake arm or back over high spining kicks an flying kicks only work in movies an those who have little fighting experiance. or if you have them tied up by holding there arms or a part of there clothing limiting there movement. i have studied praying mantis,ju jitsu, judo, ouichi ryu karate, and use of blades and street fighting . also did some work as security for a rock band (local band). thanks train hard fight hard live well rich browne

Re kicks. There is a program called Impact/Model Mugging which has been around for a long time and has been extremely successful using pin releases, ground fighting and kicking from the ground. Many graduates of their programs (both men and women) report that they deterred an attacker this way. Their program even goes so far as to tell a standing person to drop down and assume the groundfighting position. I also advocate this method. Susan Bartelstone

I believe that any kick above thigh level on your opponent/attacker in a self-defense scenario is impractical, and borders on showboating. Other than to activate the tibial, common peroneal, or femoral pressure points, there are few realistic uses for kicks, especially for people without years of martial arts training. My last point would be that in a self defense situation, a kick is not very "camera safe" meaning that to onlookers, kicks look very offensive, and make you appear to be the aggressor. That's my $.07 ($.02 adjusted for inflation.) Your mileage may vary. Jason Welin

I have studied Tae Kwon Do (junior black belt level), Hapkido (junior black belt level), SCARs (novice level) and Taijutsu/Ninjutsu (shihan black belt level).. Each art/way has their own unique techniques for kicking. I find for self defense and my military defense I use the front stomp kicks and the hook (around the knee level) instinctually. I don't think of "primary" or "non-option". If the enemy and I end on the ground brawling in combat (i.e. when entering enemy terrain) you begin to exponentially risk alerting someone with the rustling on the ground. San or soft earth, each makes a characteristic sound when your taking out the enemy. As to number of kicks in your tool-box... I feel as many as you feel comfortable in learning should be enough. You allow flexibility in your legs and in swiveling your hips. Battle or real defense is never a set kata routine. The katas taught nowadays came from some battle or fight from many years ago. find that more than 3 to 7 seconds with one opponent is more than enough. Any more than that and three scenarios may take place. You'll be overwhelmed with the enemy's friends. Your the weaker fighter. Or your too equally matched. As too style that is particularly adept at collection of techniques? Any that is eclectic or offers a combination. I don't believe in limiting you self in training your muscles too only respond in limited ways (hard style or soft). I use both styles in battle. I find that I use kicks as a "intro." because I have now judged the distance between the enemy and myself and closed the gap. Now I have limited the enemy's range and hopefully the possibility of a firearm being used. Guns do make noise in the silent of the night with a silencer on. I have used my legs to "ensnare" the sentry or to push the one enemy into the other to startling them or pushing them into each other to allow the split second for my partners to sweep in and assist in the operation. Mike Harper

I'm a cop myself and there are really only four that I consider of any practical worth on the street are these four primarily. A side kick directed to the front or side of the knee. I'm more inclined to believe the Korean style side kick is what you'd want to use because it's based on a straight thrust instead of a snapping motion. The front snap kick to the testicles. The round kick or shin kick to the common peroneal nerve The front kick using the point of your shoe or boot directed to the shin or tibial nerve I've found that the thrust kick to the stomach is effective in creating a gap or knocking someone back but it's not a debilitating kick. Jeff Hatzenbeller

Best leg technique in self-def. gedan Mawashi-geri (in knee or upper leg)

I teach 2 kicks, toe of foot to ankle, stomp kick to instep. Also kicking with shin is a very good weapon for advanced self-defense.
As far as utilizing kicks in a physical confrontation, I have found that low kicks offer a greater deal of success. If kicks are to be employed they should be kept below the 9th or 10th rib. The use of the legs should not be discounted as a useful weapon. The knees can be employed to engage the common peroneal nerve on the lateral side of the thigh mid way between the hip and the knee. Another very useful technique that I have had success with is what I call the Inside Kick. The inside kick is not so much a kick as it is foot placement with a quick redistribution of body weight on a target. The inside kick is performed by first being within close proximity to the opponent. The foot is then brought in line with the target and the full length of the foot is brought into contact with the target from the inside, on a 45 degree angle. At the instant contact is made with the target, all of the defender’s weight is shifted to the contact foot as it steps onto and thru the target. This technique is limited to targets such as the knees and the ankles. This technique is very effective when employed at extremely close range on the ankle which will result in a severe sprain, possible dislocation or break. Thanks, R.S.

Kerman Wedemeyer here from the Vancouver Police Department in Vancouver, WA. I am currently assigned to our Training Unit as a Defensive Tactics instructor. We teach only 2 types of kicks here at our agency. We have found these to be the easiest to do (allows for some kind of slop factor and still can be done usefully) and with our training time constraints, have to limit what and how much we teach. Kicks We Teach: Stop Kick - straight forward kick.......similar to a foot jab from Thai Kickboxing....but with a little more power behind it. Round Kick - similar to the way it is taught in Thai Kickboxing....contact made with the shin as compared to the top of the foot. Do they work - our SWAT team #1 man uses the stop kick religiously when he makes entry and there is a body that needs to be moved in the way. I have seen the round kick used many times in street application and it has served its purpose as well. I am sure there are other kicks that work just as good....just what we do here and they have worked.

The most effective kicks for me have been below the waist. Side-stepping into an attacker's shin, ducking a punch and straight-kicking a kneecap. I'm a pretty big guy and I have short legs. Pulling a Jackie Chan is a little too much for me. Tim Weston

About kicks as self defence -- I believe that you do need kicks for self defence especially when you are getting attacked by 2 or more people because you need to use every weapon you have available and kicks are more powerful then hand techniques, but of course kicks are not as fast as the hands and errors in kicks may cause problems in street situations. My favourite kicking technique is the hook kick but I would not use that in a street situation. A realistic kick combination would be a sweep with one leg then followed by a round kick with the other leg to the head or body. So i believe that only simple basics kicks can be used like the round kick, front kick, side kick and back kick. thanks Paul

I am writing in regards to your survey on kicks. My name is Matthew Teasdale i teach martial arts and work as a doorman for a living, and in my experience I have found four kicks to be sufficient. The first is a front kick usually employed on a rushing opponent to stop his momentum. This one works pretty well for me on the door as we do get a lot of people trying to rush you or rush the club from a distance, but i wonder if this scenario would happen in a self defence situation? maybe? The next kick is a low Thai or Pananjakman style round kick, works well for me from talking range and with a high line distraction. Thirdly i find the front snap kick to the groin an extremely effective tool, usually making them drop their hands in pain or psychological reaction, and inviting you to have their chin. The last but certainly not least is the stomp, this one i use when he is on the ground and i am not. I find these kicks to be very simple and effective. (they do also work well from a grounded position, but you have to change the context!) thanks very much, matthew

I know this sounds corny, but when I think about fighting techniques sometimes, I look to the movies. In this case, action and martial arts cinema have completely altered my view and application of kicking techniques. I am only a little embarrassed to say that I adopt my kicking techniques from renowned action star Steven Seagal, who is famous for his Aikido techniques. Aikido, as I've come to understand, is most definitely not a kick-oriented style of martial arts or self-defense. Mr. Seagal, however, executes several different techniques from several different styles of martial arts and close quarters reality combat techniques. My kicks have transformed based on his stylings. To elaborate, I hardly ever practice round-house kicks or any type of jump-kicks. High kicks are usually only practiced for fun or stretching exercises. For practical application, I have come to believe that a powerful, quick, well-placed kick to key points below the waist such as the groin or inside of the knee can be essential to unbalancing or inflicting a moderate amount of pain on an opponent. Furthermore, I've come to practice my kicks almost always in straight line with my body, which puts all of my body's momentum and force into the kick. Take for instance a kick executed no higher than chest level, keeping spine as straight as possible and leaning in with everything I've got. Many times, this form of kick is rather difficult to block if used with correct speed and power and in conjunction with other "moves", which serve to disorient an opponent to the point of not being able to anticipate your kick and, therefore, not being able to dodge, block, or counter-attack. There are, of course, exceptions if one is facing multiple opponents and may be attacked from the side, in which case one may decide to execute a side-kick. In conclusion, I must stress that this is simply what I have come to practice personally. I have tremendous respect for any and all techniques applied by absolutely anyone. One of the first basic principles of combat, "If it seems or looks stupid but it works, it isn't stupid." I sincerely hope I have been of assistance. Best wishes. Stay safe.

I believe that if one is going to use kicks, low kicks (below the waist) are probably the safest, and potentially the most effective, or at least most likely to connect with the target. What Paul Vunak has called the oblique kick (targets--knee/shin) would seem to be an effective technique. Bill Shaw's tape entitled "Attacking the Legs" will be valuable for anyone who wants to learn devastating low kicks.

My experience lies wholly within the realm of police defensive tactics. As a DT instructor who deals with recruits and in-service officers, I find the kicks and knee strikes we train to be very effective for subject control. Here are some of the reasons:

1. The kicks and knee strikes we train are a gross motor skill and are easily refined - they have to be due to limited training time and varying levels of officer skill and fitness

2. With proper body mechanics a lot of power can be generated from the lower body

3. With knee strikes especially, follow up techniques are easily accomplished and the subject can be decentralized safely and effectively

4. People don't see them coming - nobody expects a cop to kick or knee-strike them, they are watching your eyes and your hands

We train a variety of strong side and reaction side knee strikes and kicks - the most effective is the strong side knee strike delivered to the lower abdomen. The strong angle kick targets the knee or the common peroneal nerve. The front kick targets the lower abdomen and is trained for an instance when the officer has a weapon (handgun, long gun) in hand and needs to gain distance or stop an advance. Bottom line is knee-strikes and kicks are in our arsenal to stay and we advocate their use for effective subject control.

Hi there,
it's been a while since I've actually had to use a kick in a fight scenario-but lunge or side kicks were the first that "spring" to mind and the lunge kick can deliver serious power when close to your opponent, driving him/her back considerably allowing a broader range of options to open up. That's been generally my experience. Hope it was helpful, Dave Reilly

Good day!

I believe that kicks are essential for self-defense. However, learning the right kicks are crucial for one's survival. Based on my training and experience, I believe that kicks should be:

1. Simple - for ease of learning and internalization
2. Flexible - applicable for a wide variety of situations and positions 3. Aimed low - so as not to overly disturb one's balance

For me, the most crucial kicks for a good self-defense foundation are the front kick, side kick, back kick and knee strike. They are simple to learn. They can be used while standing or even on the ground. They are most effective when aimed at low-line targets. Thanks for listening and more power! Art Cruz

I believe for self defense you should have three different kicks. A good side kick can be devastating depending on your position verses your opponent. A round house kick with your shins can be very effective to the leg area. Front kicks can be useful for the sake of creating distance between you and your opponent depending on if you are more of a striker than a grappler. In my opinion kicks shouldn't be any higher than solar plexus. Malcolm Hinds

I got your email on kicking. The kicks that are taught to me in my style are practical in their own way. The good thing about kicks is that they are strong and develop important elements such as balance, coordination, and flexibility. A couple major downsides are that they are slower than the arms and if someone attacks you while you kick, you are in MAJOR trouble. Personally, in combat, I would use kicks as a finishing move or at the start to counterjam an opponent. If it was a single opponent, that would be no problem. Multiple attackers...I may have to weigh my options. I still keep kicks in my arsenal, though, in case i really need them. My favorite tools of the body are my hands and my elbows. I can easily flow from one hand technique to the other or use my elbows when at close range. These tools are faster than my feet and can end situations quickly. Still, kicks are still the strongest and are more likely to drop an opponent for good. I hope this
helps with your survey. Shawn A. Bent

Kicks are good for self-defense, but not like they are in the movies. What if you are attacked while carrying groceries? Kicks would be pretty valuable here. Low, quick front kicks and low side kicks and stomp kicks are great. If someone is grabbing at you high, the low kick may be available. If surprised from the rear, the low back kick could be an option. The more fancy kicks can also work, but your timing and and set up had better be pretty darn good. My thought is keep it simple and quick. Phillip Poe

I would definitely never use a kick higher than waist-level and would prefer to keep them targeted at the knees. Using kicks as a "fake" to get the opponent to prematurely react is another idea - you know, lifting your knee to make them think you're going to kick. I just feel unless you are really fast and have a lot of experience kicking, kicks are too risky. What a horror it would be to have your kick caught and held while the opponent is using his kicks to smash your groin.  My Shorin-Ryu teacher taught us to never use a kick higher than waist-high in a street fight - we trained high kicks, but only for the purpose of conditioning. Throw out the spinning back kicks and axe kicks and strictly use front thrust and round-houses - these have a lower risk of failure. Side kicks are great too (waist-high and below), especially if you have grabbed a punch or kick. Foot sweeps have always been a favorite (with minimal risk) of mine. I've had good luck with them in sparring/kumite, not really making the opponent fall down, but throwing them off balance for a second, allowing an effective follow up attack. Also, using your legs to block kicks is very effective. Jeff Tallon

I have done NHB in MMA contests and practice Kempo, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Judo. I was a collegiate wrestler and have some boxing experience. I have found that kicks above the waist can be effective but unless the timing is impeccable the kicker ends up back side as often as not. A front instep kick [rising kick] can be effective in real confrontations but most men can instinctively guard their groin and may not slow down someone high or pumped up with anger or insanity. I have found in the ring that a trained fighter who is fresh can snuff most kicks but that a tired fighter can be knocked to next week with a kick. Kicks can be dangerous as a counter move. You may recall Salo Riberia (editors note: Saulo Ribiero), five time Brazilian Jiu Jitsu champ, black belt in Judo and regular badass, got knocked out by a kick boxer in 22 second in 2000 Coliseum in Japan when he tried a double leg takedown, telegraphing the whole way. Kicks like any other weapon have their place in ones arsenal. The only drawback would be fixating on the kick and ignoring the remainder of your weapons.

What's your favorite kicking technique? ANSWER: The one that fits the situation and works at the time. I have found that more deceptive techniques work best. A roundhouse instep to the side and then to the back of the ear is very effective. A found snap [we call it front ball] to the midsection countering a charging guy works about 80% of the time even against trained guys. If I can get someone to chase, a spinning back kick [or hook] seems to work a lot of time. The Muay Thai roundhouse kick above the knee shook a 340lb guy I fought once and almost dropped him [if I had been better with it I could have dropped him I only learned it a week before the bout].

What's realistic kicking combination? A crescent or reverse crescent kick that clears out the arms and then a front ball kick with the opposite leg seems to have high success rate. In addition to the above described roundhouse combination.

How many kicks do you really need? As many as you can do and learn. If you are attacked in outside or in a room with junk in the way you might need to jump and kick if the situation calls for it. So, why limit yourself. This learn martial arts in 7 days crap is put out by the same people that want to add 3 inches to everyone's manhood. There are no shortcuts. A good fighter learns the best way to do everything he physically can do and sharpens his tools with each training session.

Kicks aren't really recommended in a street fight. It is a poor self defense measure as it can easily throw the defender off balance. There are times when it may be used but its better they stay low. The only real use I think of a kick may be as a diversion or to keep distance from the attacker. A kick to the knee or shin of the attacker will be a good diversion for moving in close. Also, a punch is almost always faster than a kick so if the attacker kicks you, your punch can come much quicker. So if he kicks you can strike very quickly to the chin or nose. But don't use those one shot karate type blows they'll get you killed in the street. Take up some boxing and don’t let up on your strikes until the attacker has backed off or you are able to escape. It may seem cowardly but its better to get away if you can, because the only win in a street fight is to survive. Excess violence doesn't prove anything, and will get you in jail. But training is the only real way to make this all work.

Brad: Good survey. I'm a defensive tactics law enforcement instructor for a Texas Sheriffs Department. One kick that has really worked for a few of us has been the knee to the side of the leg (common peroneal nerve). It's low key, works on most people and body types, is effective for take down/handcuffing and leaves no permanent damage. Just my opinion, but some other kicks I think are extremely useful for law enforcement are: simple side of foot kick to shin or top of opponents foot for distraction and, a simple front push kick with sole of foot...not so much to damage as to just push away and gain space/time to possibly go to a higher level of force. Kicks are great, but anything but a simple low to medium kick is to hard to deliver encumbered with Sam Brown belt, etc. and can take away balance. Best, Keith Schmidt

As we say in the service, "KISS, Keep It Simple, S******". I think what works best is a simple kick to the shin or side of the knee. The back of the knee is good also. Then just get your principle out of harms way. Respectfully, Sammuel Marotta

Thanks again to all our friends around the world in responding to the survey and sharing your thoughts.

Brad Parker