BLOCKING KICKS ABOVE THE KNEES

All other kicks can be blocked with the palms and elbows. The elbow
is a formidable weapon against kicks and stops anyone from using
flashy roundhouse kicks. For all other kicks we use ‘the barging
technique. This is a most excellent training method that will work in
a real situation.
If someone is going to kick you, he will have to have his timing/distance
right in order to deliver the right amount of power at the right
time. If you are adept at very quickly moving in at the exact moment,
the kick will become ineffectual. You might be struck but the force
will be halved.

BLOCKING KICKS

As stated earlier, leg kicks are the hardest of all to block and so I will
start with blocking these kicks.
I will be covering ‘sticking hands’ (the t’ai chi version) later. I mention
this because this is also where we learn to block low knee kicks,
or at least try.
Two people stand as shown in Photo No. 164. Keeping your wrists
lightly touching, you now start to move around. One player should
kick slowly to the knee of the other. You should be aware of the kick
and pull your leg back quickly. Photo No. 165. I learnt this technique
from an old arnis master in Manila, (Antonio Illustrisimo); the
difference was that they would strike at each other’s legs with the
sticks. You must not look at your opponent’s feet, always take in the
whole body using your peripheral vision as later you will also be
putting in hand techniques. After only a short period of this type of
practice you will be able to perceive the attacks quicker and so you
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will be able to speed up the attacks. After you have evaded the attack
you will be able to re-attack to his knee with another kick. The most
important thing in this training is not to allow it to become a mêlée,
keep it cool and learn.

Everyone has a favorite leg kick so find the one most suited to you
and use it. Then keep using it until it is perfect and has become
sub-conscious. You should use only a few techniques and leave the
rest for fun. In a real situation you have to be very sure that your two
or three techniques will work. Leave out all of the fancy leg sweeps
etc, they might work in the classroom but in the street it’s a different
story. Kick to the legs and you will be all right.

This is the closest thing to a real kick that you can aim for without really
kicking someone.
The same thing
can be done for
kicks to the body.
Hold the bag over
the appropriate
area and allow
your partner to
kick the bag using
all of the above
techniques except
the back spinning
heel kick. Train
this one on the
hanging bag.
Another useful leg kick is a sort of back kick to the leg. As your
partner comes in, you should step out and use back kick onto his
knee.

TRAINING METHODS

It’s all very well to practice these techniques in the classroom but
when it comes to using them you will have to know exactly what it
will feel like for real. The most important thing in kicking is to know
that a kick will work.
Firstly we work with a partner. We use slow, well-aimed kicks to the
knee area, not right on the top of the knee but to the side to break the
ligaments that hold the lower leg on. Have your partner come at you
as if to attack slowly, then step to wherever you feel is the right place
to gain the correct timing and kick to his knee. Make sure that your
heel is used each time and that you have hit the exact spot each time.
Photo No. 161. After some time when you are sure that every kick is
making its mark, start to get a little faster but be careful not to hurt
each other. The attacker will tell you if the kicks are striking at the
correct point. After some time you will be able to use a medium bag
to protect your leg as your partner kicks at full force onto the bag.
Remember! POINT YOUR KNEE INTO THE FORCE SO THAT
NO DAMAGE OCCURS.

ROUNDHOUSE KICK

This is the kick that is most used by kick boxers in tournaments so it
should not be used in the street unless you are really sure that you
aren’t going to receive a broken or badly bruised shin from a well
timed elbow. This is one good way to block this type of kick. Your
front leg is lifted as shown in Photo No. 159. You now twist your
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rear heel inward and roll your hip over to flick the right foot out in a
snapping motion from the knee. Photo No. 160. You must also try a
double kick so that you will know how to block it. Use a roundhouse
kick to the leg using no heel twist but gain the power from the waist,
then bounce the same leg upward to attack to the upper body or face
using the heel twist.