How likley would you or your students use a snap kick to the knee?

[John W. Zimmer]

Hi All,

I've just posted about using the snap kick for self-defense and wanted to poll the group here, as many of you probably practice sport, full contact or mma type of fighting - how likely would you or your students throw a debilitating snap kick to the knee in self-defense?

The reason I am curious is normally we fight the way we train. Here is the link to my post: http://myselfdefenseblog.com/http:/myselfdefenseblog.com/teen-girl-...

[Richard Kimura]

Aloha John,
It has been awhile since I last put in anything in COCA. Hawaii has really been hit hard with the economic conditions and I find myself working more to cover personnel losses at my hotel.
Back to the topic. We use the joint kick (kansetsu keri) to the side or back of the knee after or rather simultaneously with the repositioning of our body next to or in back of the attacker. The main purpose to deny follow-up attacks.
We try not to defend moving backwards, but rather move forward at an angle against an attack.
You are correct in that we fight the way we train. Just like drawing a pistol from its holster, acquiring the target and shooting.
Repetition, repetition, repetition.
Aloha
Richard

[John W. Zimmer]

Aloha Richard,

Sorry to hear about the economy there - I wish it were better here. I may have to replace striking workers soon but hope they opt out of any strike.

Good advice as far as moving back. I try not to do the same thing in a fight/match/defense so that the opponent does not figure me out. I also tend to believe a side step is very effective and places one in a perfect position for a counter.

Regards,

John

[Rizwan Asad]

Hi John,

In my opinion, a front snap kick to the knee is always a good option in self defence situations though arguably it is easier to target the general shin. A friend of mine used often used a snap kick to the shin followed by a thrust kick down to the ankle, which worked quite well for him. I should point out though, that the snap/thrust kick would only really be the tip of the iceberg - given how adept bodies are to naturally minimising injury, it is likely that the kick would not inflict enough damage to end a confrontation...or create enough distance to run away (especially in the case of women fighting much larger, stronger attackers).

[John W. Zimmer]

Hi Rizwan,

Agreed on the probable impact of a snap kick. I had a friend end up getting into a beef with a biker on angel dust. He had to break one arm and then both knees to get the guy to stop. The biker still wanted to continue but could not walk.

I guess my main point was to see if schools out there were focusing on self-defense aspects of karate or more of the sport fighting where these techniques would not be allowed.

The snap kick is harder to aim but a faster kick if thrown relaxed. The down side of the side-thrust is it is slower than a snap kick - but easier to aim. Both kicks are excellent to use in self-defense to the leg/knee.

When I was 14 I broke a 2 by 4 with a snap kick... after learning how to place the board on a non-slippery surface... I first leaned the board against a low-planter in the grass... when I kicked - the top of the board hit me in the head! :)

So I am confident in my snap-kicks power to take out a knee cap or break a bone if it ever came to that. The problem I have is I would probably default to some combination of sport or full contact karate moves because that is how I normally train.

Thank you for your wisdom.

John

[Colin Wee]

Hey, John.

I do traditional taekwondo, and would prefer to use a front thrust kick to the core trunk of the body. Front snap kicks could be done nicely to other targets which happen to be at that height. I am not averse to using a snap front to the thigh or directly between the legs to the groin. The groin however is not typically exposed this way - so I'd probably use a roundhouse with an upwards angle of entry. Mostly for the knee I'd prefer to use a side kick or an instep kick.

We do a huge amount of kicking in my school aimed from the knee to the mid range of the body.

A related post: http://traditionaltaekwondo.blogspot.com/2007/08/do-san-front-kick....

Colin

[John W. Zimmer]

Hi Colin,

Thanks for that insight. I've used the front thrust kick to the body in kick boxing a lot and really like it to stop an advance (to give me time to set up a punching attack). I also do like side thrusts to the knee/leg.

In a self-defense situation almost any low kick to the leg or groin has a low-risk ratio... kind of why I like them. In sport karate there is a huge benefit to doing the high kicks and I've noticed TKD is particularly adapted at pulling these kicks off.