Question: Dear Master Kim; I think I own every one of your videos and I enjoy each one tremendously. I am a Brown belt and I regularly compete with Black belts. I am tall and big and have found that the side kick has worked well for me, but is limiting in terms of combinations and initial striking techniques. Would you suggest I abandon it as an offensive weapon (it is great for defense) or is there a way to use it like the push kick on on your various videos?
Answer from Sang H. Kim:
The side kick is usually used for defense. However, it can be used for offense effectively. Think about a shield. People use it for only defending against enemy's weapon, but what about in close combat range? If you whack the enemy's nose with the belly of the big heavy metal shield, the enemy may bleed to death.
Side kick from a more upright posture (i.e. pushing kick) can be an excellent offensive movement when it is combined with a quick sliding step or hopping footwork (either with front foot or rear, preferably the former). It should be light and precisely aimed at the target, which is the lower stomach or the face. Don't abandon it. Instead, work on perfecting it as both an offensive and defensive weapon.
Sincerely,
Sang H. Kim
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sang H. Kim is an internationally respected author of 13 martial arts books, including his new book Vital Point Strikes and the best sellers Ultimate Flexibility, Ultimate Fitness through Martial Arts, Combat Strategy and Teaching: the Way of the Master, and star of over 100 martial arts instructional DVDs and video downloads programs including Self-defense Encyclopedia, Knife-defense, Power Breathing, Junsado Training Series, and Complete Taekwondo Series.
He won the 1976 Korean National Championship and was named Instructor of the Year by the Korean government in 1983. As a special agent during his military service, he developed tactical combat methods for hand-to-hand and hand-to-weapon combat for covert operatives.
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