As it is often said, kicks are “long weapons”, because they can be used at a long distance.
Using one’s feet may seem interesting from a strategic point of view, but the possible techniques with these limbs are rarely advised above the belt level.
We have already explained why in different articles.
In the end, there are only a few foot techniques that can apply to our vision of realistic self defense.
Among them, the front roll kick is a notable alternative to the kick to the genitals that we have not yet detailed. Let set things right then!
Table of Contents
A formidable and hardly detectable technique
The front kick to the genitals and the low kick are the only two foot techniques that are widely accepted in all self defense disciplines. Simple and terribly effective, they are not too much criticized.
That being said, they have flaws, like any other technique.
The main difficulty in a combat situation is of course to hit your opponent while protecting yourself from his blows!
Front kick and low kick techniques are visible, which means that you can see them coming when you have a sharp enough gaze.
One must therefore either place these techniques at the right moment (waiting for the configuration of the aggression to allow it), or camouflage the attack.
The front roll kick is a way to execute the genital kick while hiding it, because it combines the best of both worlds.
Its execution is relatively simple, as we detail in our explanatory video:
- Body withdrawal phase: The aggressor sends a punch to the victim, whose chest will move slightly backwards. In practice, this is a dodge on the spot.
- Impact phase: The victim hits the genitals with the bowl of the foot, with a “rolled” movement of the kick. This is not a classic kick (which implies a knee arming phase) but a ” whipping ” movement, the foot going directly upwards without arming the knee, to the genitals.
- Swing phase: After moving backwards, the victim returns to the intermediate position, guard up.
The technique is difficult to perceive because of the nature of the movement where the knee is not armed (which sends a less clear visual signal), as well as by the dodging movement.
Because of this withdrawal movement, the kick merges into the gesture, the two movements become one. Hence the attacker who is focused on the upper part of the victim (targeted by the punch) does not see the lower part coming.
Watch out! Balance is key, and this initial backward movement may not be properly done, which would put the victim at risk of going backwards or even falling.
This should be repeated several times during training to ensure that the gestures are well integrated.
The details to master
Performing this technique properly requires mastering several subtle aspects, in particular:
- Managing distances: To dodge the first blow, it is necessary to manage the distances of the fight, and in particular to know how to estimate the opponent’s distance.
- Managing your balance: to know your body requires to know your center of gravity and to know how far you can go backwards before falling. Remember that falling in a street fight can be fatal…
- Strike with your foot bowl: this is called the koshi in Japanese martial arts. You strike with the toes up so as not to hurt your toes on impact, but more importantly to give more impact to the strike. Striking with the foot bowl rather than the toes is like striking with the palm of the hand instead of striking with the fingertips.
- Swinging movement: anything you absorb (going backwards) must come back to the one who hit you first. For instance, you can take advantage of your swing back to throw a nudge to the jaw.
- Not arming the knee: you arm the knee when you want to give a kick that pushes back in order to give more strength. However, this provides a very noticeable signal and requires extra time to arm the strike. There is no need to arm the knee here since the part you want to hit is sensitive enough to be efficient without putting extra power, and it also allows you to save some precious time.
