Exploring Martial Arts Kicking Techniques

In the case of martial arts kicking techniques, it doesn't matter if we are talking about Tae Kwon Do kicking techniques (which favor speed over strength), Savate kicking techniques (taking advantage of their unique feature, kicking with footwear) or Muay Thai's (less range in exchange for more power), the following kicks will be found under each of their styles. Names may vary.

The side kick: Executed with the frontal leg. Not a very powerful kick. Impact is delivered through the shin or the ball of the foot. It's used to attack the face, stomach (if the opponent is not left handed and keeps a "standard kickboxing" stance), the inner thighs, or even lower for sweeping purposes. It's considered the leg's jab. The front kick: piston-like frontal kick, used to keep the enemy at bay.

The circle/roundhouse kick: Executed with the back leg, it's the main weapon of any kickboxer. The push starts from the hips to increase the power of the impact, delivered through the shin or the ball of the foot. The circle kick can go high to make a strong attack the face, middle, hitting the side of the body, right under the ribs, or low, for the devastating and infamous low kick, the most used in every Muay Thai combat and powerful enough to break a leg.

The Back Roundhouse Kick: The classic finishing move of every B series movie and a few videogames. It's delivered with the back talon, aiming for the face of the opponent while the kickboxer fully rotate his body, making it look like an extremely powerful kick (which it's not).

The semi circular kick: nothing more than a forty five degree roundhouse kick.

Used in isolation or combination, these kicks form a kick boxer's basic arsenal of moves.

Final Notes on Self Defense

Now, the big question, is kickboxing realistic for self defense? The martial arts techniques are weapons, and as such, it depends entirely on its wielder's intentions. In comparison with other more passive martial arts (as Aikido) or the ones able to subdue the opponent without necessarily hitting him (judo), kickboxing seems like more of a frontal/aggressive martial discipline. Kickboxing can be, in fact, a self defense technique, but in order to defend himself, the kickboxer must attack.

Finally, we can say that kickboxing can be an efficient self defense system, and the use of kickboxing for self defense will definitely give you an edge over any attacker who lacks training, or making things even if the aggressor is actually trained in any of the several martial kicking techniques.