During my initial training, we only learned a few defenses against kicks. To become proficient in fighting especially in a kick heavy confrontation, you need a better repertoire of defense moves or counter-kick techniques. The most common kicks can be distilled into two types: those that come in straight like a front or side kick and those that come in across like a roundhouse or crescent kick. For simplicity, we’ll just consider those angles of attack since other kicks mimic the entry into your defense zone.
Here are a few techniques I gleaned from the far reaches of my memory, our Black Belt curriculum and sharing with Hapkido instructors. They make up a portion of the curriculum called Kick Defenses Techniques or just Kick Defense for short (as we do for Gun Defenses and Weapon Defenses).
KD 1 (vs. round kick)
V-step forward
Lift the same side leg up and block the kick
KD 2 (vs. front kick)
Step to outside, downward block kick and then roll arm around leg
Dropping elbow on thigh
Sweep foundation leg
KD 3 (vs. round, front or side kick)
V-step to the inside and jam the kick
Backfist to the solar while the other hand checks leg
Tiger’s mouth to throat
Leg hock
KD 4 (vs. round or front kick)
Fade to the side with guarding arm
Round shin kick to the foundation thigh
KD 5 (vs. front or side kick)
Fade to the side with guarding arm
Side kick the foundation knee or back of knee
Switch round kick to the head
KD 6 (vs. front or side kick)
L-step back with guarding arm
Slide up leg and grab toes and heel with hands
Turn waist as you whip the foot around towards inside zone
Leg lock
KD 7 (vs. front or side kick)
Cat stance and absorb the kick with a trap
Step back or turn waist to pull opponent off balance
Front kick the groin
Drop leg and spinning dragon tail sweep
Stand back up
KD 8 (vs. front or side kick)
Cat stance and absorb the kick with a trap
Step back or turn waist to pull opponent off balance
Turn the foot so the opponent is on his belly
Cross step over the thigh, trapping the foot on your upper thigh (lock)
End in a seated position and apply pressure on the submission lock
KD 9 (vs. front or side kick)
Fade back, tap and grab the foot
Spin-whip the foot towards the outside
They will fall
Heel kick the groin
Standing leg lock
For the truly clever, consider adapting some of the Combinations, Punch Counters and Defense Maneuvers to be effective against kicks. You do adapt these techniques for use against armed assailants, right? You have tried these techniques armed with a pocket stick, right? If not, I just provided you with a month of training ideas. Now go practice, practice and practice again.
