Introduction

Kicks are a powerful and deadly threat we’re faced with against other trained boxers/fighters/martial artists. While not a threat from the uninitiated, as they are more likely to end up on the ground in any meager attempt to kick us, these do pose an inherent disadvantage for us if we lack the tools to defend against them.

For many years, I skipped this in my basic curriculum because of that reason, from a pure self-defense perspective, this is less of reality we need to contend with. However, I ultimately decided that 1) we should have a rudimentary understanding of this in case any members of our team decide to compete in a contest of sport martial arts (kickboxing, san da, mma, open tournaments), and 2) we should build a basic knowledge/defense vs kicks early on, so that later, the more complex methods are easier to grasp.

Check out the intro for more insights on kick defense and what this course entails.

Kick Defense Training Course

Learn these 3 easy methods to defending almost all kicks. Each of the common kicks we are likely face, can be diffused with either stance, shield, or seize. Let’s get hooked up on how to make these work.

Training Missions

Basic Kick Defense Course - Mission 1

Stance & Low Shield 

This mission is designed to be repeated as many times as you feel necessary. If using as a review, perform less reps. Pay attention to your stance, as this is a critical part of kick defense. Proper stance negates the effectiveness of the cross kick, side kick, and rear leg toe kick. 

1. Choose a Warm-up before proceeding with this training mission.

2. Low Leg Shield - (start of the training video)

   1. Inside Shield - Perform 50x on each side.

   2. Outside Shield - Perform 50x on each side.

   3. Back Leg Inside Shield - Perform 50x on each side. 

   4. Back Leg Outside Shield - Perform 50x on each side.

Basic Kick Defense Course - Mission 2

Mid & High Shield

This mission is designed to be repeated as many times as you feel necessary. If using as a review, perform less reps. 

1. Choose a Warm-up before proceeding with this training mission.

2. Middle Shield (5:21 mark of the training video.) - Perform 10 sets of 10x. Switch sides each set.

3. High Shield - Perform 10 sets of 10x. Switch sides each set.

Basic Kick Defense Course - Mission 3

Seize and Strike

This mission is designed to be repeated as many times as you feel necessary. If using as a review, perform less reps. 

1. Choose a Warm-up before proceeding with this training mission.

2. Heel Kick Seize (7:38 of the training video.) - Perform this 50x.

3. Heel Kick Seize & Strike - Perform 10 sets of 10x. 

   1. Switch sides each set.

   2. Beginners start with 1 follow-up strike. Throw no more than 3 follow-up strikes.