Kicks play a significant role in many forms of martial arts such as MMA, Muay Thai, Kung Fu, Kickboxing, Capoeira and many more. As the human leg is longer and stronger than the arm, kicks are generally used to keep an opponent at a distance, surprise them with their range and inflict substantial damage.
Stance is also very important in any combat system and any attempt to deliver a kick will necessarily compromise stability to some degree. The application of kicks is a trade-off between the power and range that can be delivered against the cost incurred to balance. As combat situations are fluid, understanding this trade-off and making the appropriate decision to adjust to each moment is key.
Have you ever had difficulty effectively checking or catching kicks?
If you've taken kicks to the ribs when trying to catch them, or taken too many hard kicks to the forearm, then this striking tutorial video is for you.
Engage Athlete and UFC fighter Brad Riddell covers everything from catching kicks Thai style, checking kicks Thai style, blocking kicks Dutch style, a hybrid way of checking kicks, intercepting kicks, and countering kicks. His instructional video also includes footage from his 4th ever fight in 2011 and from his rematch with Rungrawee last year (over 70 fights deep into his career). This just goes to show how important it is to have sound fundamentals.