Most effective kick!

[MasterH]

My most effective kick would be the properly set up hook kick. if someones in your face I find it easy to push off and do a lead leg hook to the head. If anything it will at least stun the opponite and I can fallow up with with a neck or solar plexus shot.

[rikimaru]

To be honest I would consider a front leg hook kick to be rather risky. It's one of those kicks that can only really be used high section ... and high section kicks are not really recommended for the street.

Also, masterh, would you rather attack the solar pexus over the jaw with a striking technique?

[Andy]

random said:

Not wanting to be a wet blanket but I recall going over the whole knife attack thing on another thread. It may have been locked because of unpleasantness, but I am sure it will still make for good reading for those who were not here when it was ‘discussed.

More productive link on knife stuff karateresource.proboards15.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=Shotokan&thread=1125321211&page=1

[MasterH]

I tend to kick to the head, or the legs. I'm in TKD, I've got great kicks. My #1 hook, round, side, kicks are my money kicks, for a number of reasons. Just the way I'm trained I guess. Kicks to the jaw, nose, side of the head, can be used as a stun move. Does not matter if they block it, duck it, or you nail them. It's a move that slow the attacker down and a fallow up is already set up. lead arm attack to the plexus, sternum, neck, nose or even jaw.

[rikimaru]

Wouldn't a right cross to the jaw be more effective in most cases though?

[MasterH]

rikimaru said:

Wouldn't a right cross to the jaw be more effective in most cases though?

A) not for me, just not the way I'm trained. B) not if they are looking for it.

[MasterH]

andy said:

random said:

Not wanting to be a wet blanket but I recall going over the whole knife attack thing on another thread. It may have been locked because of unpleasantness, but I am sure it will still make for good reading for those who were not here when it was ‘discussed.

More productive link on knife stuff karateresource.proboards15.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=Shotokan&thread=1125321211&page=1

Very Nice! Thank you!

[rikimaru]

MasterH, I have only four months sub grappling and kickboxing experience. I'm not the best striker around, but I spar people who are "looking for" the right cross all the time and who are very experienced pugilists. If I can manage to land a cross on someone like this I would assume that a cross is generally safer than a lead leg hook kick to the head.

Also, if the cross fails, I'm still in a relatively safe position to either defend or attack with another technique. This is not so with a hook kick. I'm not saying kicking is a waste of time and I'm sure you have wonderful kicks. But for real fighting, punching is generally better 99% of the time.

[MasterH]

I really know little about grappling. A bit more about kickboxing, PKA style. I have found a right cross leaves you open to a lead leg (left for me) round kick to the ribs.

And this is a thread about your most effective kick.

[AngelaG]

Seems to me that if you are one of those lucky people that can get a fast and strong kick up to head height then it might well be a waste not to use it. I would NEVER think about using it, but then I don't consider it part of my strong points. OK, there might only be 1-2% of people that can carry it off, but if they can then why shouldn't they?

[rikimaru]

And this is a thread about your most effective kick.

Good point. Sorry, for bringing the punching v kicking arguement into it.

Also, I agree, if you are one of the people who has truly spectacular kicks then it would be a waste not to use them. Look at Cro Cop in the UFC. He proves head kicks can work just fine in some cases.

[MasterH]

And you rarely see a successful TKD guy in those type of matches (UFC, Pride). I would get creamed, no question. It's just the style I'm in. You want to see a good kicker, Bill Wallace. His chamber position tells his entire story, and he's who I copied for my position.

[MasterH]

angelag said:

Seems to me that if you are one of those lucky people that can get a fast and strong kick up to head height then it might well be a waste not to use it. I would NEVER think about using it, but then I don't consider it part of my strong points. OK, there might only be 1-2% of people that can carry it off, but if they can then why shouldn't they?

Matters on the occasion. On the street, no - of course not. I start kicking, I get bum rushed, and I land in a bad position. In a TKD ring or open point sparring tournaments, first to score wins.

[AngelaG]

And yet I have heard stories of people who have used high kicks on the street to great affect. But again, these people are in the tiny minority, and if most people tried this they would be in BIG trouble.

[Aefibird]

It's what works best for the individual. Some people are lucky in that they have great kicks and would be able to use them effectively in any situation, tournament, dojo/dojang training, on the street, wherever.

Me, I'm in the "girlie-run-away-screaming" category when it comes to self defence... ;D

As for kicking, I was once told by a TKD Master Instructor that I had a "great" side kick. I'm still trying to decide whether he was:
a) on drugs and therefore delusional
b) looking at someone else
c) looking at himself in the mirror

I like side thrust and side snap kicks, but I'm not sure if I'd ever use them in a "real" encounter. My balance isn't brilliant at the best of times (although it is increasing since I bought that wobble board - thanks Random for the tip!) so I'd probably prefer to keep both feet on the ground and only go for low round kicks to the knees if I felt in a position where I could kick.