Defending oneself from kicks can be a totally safe practice. I say “can” because all too many times I have seen what should have been an easy block turn into a gross tactical error.

Legs are stronger than arms; no reasonable person will debate this fact. Taking a punch is one thing, but absorbing the raw power of a kick could easily end the fight before it has a chance to begin. There are several time proven methods to deflect, disarm, and diminish the strength of a kick. The purpose of the second part of this chapter is simply that, the complete avoidance of accepting such a devastating blow from your opponent. Lower body attacks create several difficult advantages such as power, speed, & distance, but they steal one vital component of our victory plan: balance.

Not once during my time as a bouncer did a fighter first attack me with a kick. Lower body attacks are rarely considered first by attackers, but this does not alter the fact that bouncers are always on the lookout for them. It is well known by any experienced member of a security team not only how destructive a kick can be, but how easy they are to defend against. When kicks are involved, any fight can easily be turned with just one block or even by simply walking forward at your attacker before their kick has a chance to peak.

There is another, flip side to this cautionary advise. A fight is easily lost to a skilled kicker by using improper blocking techniques. Such was the case with a rather large and rowdy drunk one night at “The Playroom.” The man was grossly muscle bound to say the least and the very idea of having him get a hold on me was less than appetizing. Our hands met only for a few seconds before I threw my first kick to his shin. The joy of landing the kick was second only to my surprise in watching this behemoth dropping himself at the waist to block me instead of bending his knees. The human body is equipped with a large system of hinges called joints and no matter how many we have, most people seem to only rely on those above their waist to block kicks. With no more time needed to analyze this assailant, I proceeded to throw another fake kick low, drawing him once again into bending at his midsection. The very second before he attempted to grab onto my leg, I pulled it back and threw a hammer fist on the back of his head, ending the altercation. Had this fighter used common sense instead of flawed practice, the exchange might have ended very differently.

As simple as it seems to deflect your attackers foot from hitting you, injury often occurs from lack of proper technique. Absorbing the strength of a full kick can be tricky at best and painful at worst.

To simplify these lower body attacks, kicks are organized into 3 separate but equal blocking areas: High Level, Mid Level, and Low Level. Any one of these attacks can be attempted against you straight forward or from the side. For the benefit of the reader, both styles of attack will be covered for each level (where applicable.)

There is another type of kick that an opponent may attempt during a confrontation and it deserves a special mention. If your assailant is foolish enough to throw a flying kick, count yourself as lucky, accept the gift of their ignorance, and proceed with the following steps.

1. For a flying spin kick, take one large step forward.

2. For any kind of forward jumping kick, take one large step to the side.

Yep, that’s it. That’s how simple defeating a flying kick is. Take one large step either way and you have defeated the strike. Here is the explanation: When an attacker lofts themselves upward and spins, they have stolen any balance they might have maintained had they remained on the ground. Once they have jumped up, it is impossible to alter their flight pattern. In other words, they can’t recognize that their target has moved forward, correct the mistake by flying backwards, reset the point of impact, and then land the kick. Instead, what will happen is the attack (Mid-thigh at it’s new point of impact) will land harmlessly upon your blocking arm. After this the attacker will plummet to the ground accepting all of the force of the fall.

As for straight forward jump kick: Let the attacker waste precious energy and tire himself out by throwing himself upward time and time again. You will have ample chance to injure the assailant after his descent, if he hasen’t already done it himself.

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