Kicking and Self Defense. Is it a good idea?

• What is the best kick, for self defense?
• What is the most powerful kick?
• Where are the best places to kick, an opponent?

Over the years, I have seen a lot of articles on the subject, addressing the questions above. The school of thought is actually quite deep, and the opinions are many:

• Kicking low is best
• Kicking high is risky
• Always kick the knees and groin
• If kicking the head, do so when guard is dropped
• Etc, etc.

Kicking and Self Defense

I love kicks. I practice them often. So I am not being biased when I say that kicking in self defense is a stupid thing done by stupid people, and if you get your ass handed to you, good.

That’s what you asked for, paid for, and prayed for. Enjoy it.

Folks, problem with self defense, taught in 99.9% of martial arts schools, is the endless focus and pursuit, on what kicks the most ass and causes the most damage.

 I can’t understand why in this day and age, the industry gets even stupider. So much is available to be witnessed now. Look at average professional fighters. 3 rounds, of 5 minutes, taking and giving every strike there is, over, and over again. “DUH……MMA has shown us what works, and what does not!”.

Oh my God, NO DUMMY!!! MMA (and I still do it because I like parts of it), has shown us that a determined person can take, and take, and take. In an altercation, you have time for that? 15 minutes of destruction? A billion chances for things to get worse?

Kicking and Self Defense

Flip side, you have martial arts schools teaching how to stomp on someone’s throat, or kick a person at the base of the skull, etc. So thug threatens your safety, and you go to jail for assault or manslaughter. That’s your idea of self defense. Cool.

We need to get back to understanding, that physical self defense has 3 levels:
1- Don’t be there
2- Get something between you and the attacker
3- If 1 and 2 fail, and you must engage, do quick, no bullshit things, to open a window to get back to 1 or 2.

Fight to escape, not to have a battle of skill, or destroy. You lose.

Next, we have to get back to understanding ranges of attack.
1- Close range (headbutt, clinch, throw, etc)
2- Mid range (punch, palm. Etc)
3- Long range (Kick)
4- Out of range (best!!)

Kicking and Self Defense

So back to the question on kicking in a self defense situation. If we look at the above, we have to come to understand:

• If I can kick, I am just about out of range.
• If I am just about out of range, I can either get out of there, or grab something nearby to place between me and thug
• If I can kick, I can place my leg and foot in a different direction, and use the limb to help me run.
• Kicking a solid object hurts, it hurts less to use the range to get out of there.
• Kicking triggers a response from thug. If my kick misses, I will most likely land in mid or close range to him now.

So, should kicking be used in self defense? My opinion, is that you can use it if you really need to, but should only use kicking to get out of range, or as a means to go back to levels 1 or 2 in a physical altercation.

Kicking and Self Defense, I think the kick should be low, and low risk, followed by a mad dash in the other direction. Ultimately, my opinion is that you should use that kicking foot/leg, as an opportunity to get out of there.

Kicking and Self Defense in Conclusion

Stay safe,
GM Dave DeGrouchie

Thank you for reading Kicking and Self Defense.

My thanks to our founder and dear old friend GM DeGrouchie for his contribution here today! And my thank for reading this article on Kicking and Self Defense. And remember to visit my History of the Martial Arts page. 

Thank you for your time and have a wonderful day! Keep Learning!

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