Learn How To Kick: Kicking Effectively in a Self-Defense or Combat Situation Part 4 of 10

This ten article series will deal with the various components that need to be addressed when considering the utilization of a particular kick in a combat or self-defense situation. These ten components can also be used by the tournament competitor although certain segments would have to be modified slightly for the tournament aspects of kicking, rather than the more intensive nature of using a kick or kicks in combat. Although all of these individual components are important, they are most effective when combined together and utilized correctly when executing a kick.

Although I will only be discussing one of the components in this article, here is the complete list of all ten of them.

1. Your Kicking Ability

2. Your Intended Application

3. The Environment

4. Telegraphing

5. Striking Implement

6. Striking the Correct Target

7. Initial Impact

8. Impact

9. Retraction or Follow Through

10. Return to Fighting Position

Component Four; Telegraphing:

Telegraphing can and does take many forms. Most are subconscious in nature while others are done consciously, but unknowingly. Most people dont and wouldnt knowingly telegraph their intentions to their opponent, but end up doing so anyhow, primarily due to a lack of proper training. What I will do in this article is present you with the most common forms of telegraphing when kicking and the three most efficient ways of eliminating them.

Verbalizing:

Verbalizing your intentions is usually done by opening your mouth and stating to your opponent that you are going to kick his ass, or words to that effect. This not only telegraphs your intentions to your opponent, but it also can be used against you if your opponent decides to take you to court on a civil matter after the altercation has occurred. It can also be used against you if the authorities become involved and it turns into a criminal matter.

Your mouth and what comes out of it can be one of your greatest assets, or one of your worst enemies. So instead of opening your mouth and telling your opponent what your intentions are, keep it shut and let him wonder.

Eye Contact:

Ever wonder why the United States Secret Service agents wear sunglasses? NO, its not to look cool or really to keep the sun out of their eyes. Although that is what the original purpose of sunglasses is. What the Secret Services primary purpose is for wearing sunglasses is to keep people from seeing where and what their eyes are looking at. This also gives off the perception that they are looking everywhere at once.

One of the most common telegraphs a person will do is to look at the part of the body that he/she intends to strike on their opponent. This is a dead giveaway and should never be done unless you are adept at implementing deceptive strategy.

Ideally, your eyes should be focused upon your opponent like a flashlight with the center of the light centered upon your opponents upper chest. While your peripheral vision is scanning his entire body like the outer light of the flashlight. At no time should your eyes be focused like a laser beam upon a single point of focus.

Facial Expressions:

Have you ever heard of someone having a poker face? What this means is that the person in question does not give off any sign of emotion that would betray his feelings. This is quite common in poker players and should be one of many goals that you will want to strive for in order to lessen the chances of inadvertently telegraphing your intentions to your opponent.

Keep your face as cold and emotionless as the face on a granite statue.

Shoulder, Arm, and Upper Body Movements:

Hunching over of the shoulders and body at the waist are often very good indicators that a person is getting ready to kick. Another one is lowering of the hands before kicking.

Always watch yourself in the mirror and take a close look at yourself and what you do prior to and during the initiation of your kick. Write them down and then eliminate them.

Eventually your goal should be to have a poker body to go with your poker face.

Shifting Your Weight:

If you are relatively inexperienced at kicking, you will almost always telegraph your intention to kick by noticeably shifting your weight onto your non-kicking leg. This is almost always accompanied by the lowering of the hands.

If you are an experienced kicker, there should be no discernable difference in your weight distribution immediately prior to kicking. This is of course dependent upon you executing every component of the kick correctly.

Improper Initiation of the Kick:

This is usually done by either one of two things; not setting up your kick with another technique prior to initiating it, and/or lifting your leg up with your thigh muscles to kick rather than properly utilizing your foot and ankle to raise your leg up.

The 3 Most Common Ways to Eliminate Telegraphing:

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!

1. Practicing the Correct Technique:

This is pretty much a no-brainer here. If you practice 99% of the kick correctly and 1% incorrectly, then you have an incorrect kick. You must practice (on a regular basis) each and every component of the kick correctly and with the proper mind-set in order to obtain the maximum amount of efficiency and effectiveness out of your kick.

2. Practicing with a Competent Training Partner:

You partner can and will have a different perspective on you and your kicking abilities and will be able to provide the critical feedback needed for you to improve upon those skills. Having a good training partner is invaluable to improving your kicking skills, so when you find one, dont take them for granted.

3. Practicing in Front of a Mirror:

The mirror is without a doubt my favorite piece of equipment to use in order to improve the effectiveness of my kicks. What your goal should be is to be able to execute your kick to impact before noticing in the mirror that you have actually kicked. Obviously this is not easy to do, nor should it be.

Ideally, your kick should strike your opponent before he sees it and before you even realize that you have thrown it.