How devastating can a leg kick be in a real situation?

[thedevilpup]

I have trained in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu off and on for a couple of years. My greatest interest, however, lies in Muay Thai and other stand-up arts. I am not yet experienced in Muay Thai (I begin classes soon), so please forgive me if my question appears ignorant.

How devastating are leg kicks to the lower extremities? I've read various opinions on whether or not leg kicks in street fights are beneficial or safely applicable, but my question really lies in this: if you can deliver a sufficient amount of power via a leg kick to the thigh or side of your opponent (an opponent who 1) is not trained in stand-up and 2) who has never taken a leg kick before), how much damage can be done?

For example: I had a friend who trains Muay Thai kick me at "half power" because I wanted to feel a Thai kick first-hand. It was the first time I had ever been kicked by someone who knew what they were doing and I felt like my thigh was shattered and could barely walk afterwards.

Can a powerful leg kick in a real situation cripple an untrained opponent? What are your thoughts?

 

[Baby Jesus]

Aim that shit to the outside/inside of their knee bro and they'll never walk again.

 

[waldywaldy]

Bader Hari got in a fight with Dutch businessman Koen Everink at a dance festival in Amsterdam. He allegedly broke Everink's ankle in two places with one low kick. The guy can never walk properly again. So I'd say yea, if a practiced fighter leg kicks an average Joe he can do shitloads of damage.

 

[cold]

Youtube can tell you all you want to know about what leg kicks do to unprepared and unconditioned legs. I remember Forrest Griffin breaking(?) some reporter's leg with a semi-hard kick.

And yeah, if a heavy weight throws a hard low kick to the average guy, you can break your leg. If you can walk properly within a week you can consider youself lucky.

 

[thedevilpup]

Aim that shit to the outside/inside of their knee bro and they'll never walk again.

I want to ruin their day, not their life, lol

 

[jukebox]

Leg kicks are disgustingly painful to those who aren't used to it. It's a good way to end a fight before it starts as opposed to a punch which could break your hand, kill or give brain damage.

 

[nephel]

leg kicks to untrained opponents can be devastating. If you catch a guy with his weight forward on his front leg, you can break his leg in half. I've dropped people by accident with low speed low round kicks because they didn't know how to protect themselves. It didn't do any lasting damage, but they walked with a limp for 10 minutes and were mad at me.

 

[Brocktirement**]

it certainly can, you don't even have to break a bone, with a good kick the receiving end can tear shit up or fuck up your muscles

a good lowkick can make ya limp in pain

 

[Saint Napa]

Be aware that it's gonna hurt you a whole bunch as well if you're not really used to throwing kicks. You are going to whip your bone at something.

 

[Mma Adiction]

If the other guy has never trained and you have an amateur/semipro level you can drop him with ease with a leg kick

 

[Gerald Ford]

lol you land a solid leg kick on some one who doesnt train or your typical drunk A-hole and you will drop them, bare minimum they grab there leg and leave you alone.

this would be a thigh you aim for, not the calf

 

[Rozko]

They can end fights if you land correctly. My legs are still not conditioned to eat hard leg kicks and keep effect movement after a year of them. You can tell the cops that you were only defending yourself and not seeking to cause harm to the person and have sound more reasonable than hitting them in the face would.

 

[Steve08]

With an untrained opponent who is not used to being kicked? You can really hurt them with a low kick for sure.

I'd rather skip the bullshit and kick them in the face tho.

 

[Steve08]

lol you land a solid leg kick on some one who doesnt train or your typical drunk A-hole and you will drop them, bare minimum they grab there leg and leave you alone.

this would be a thigh you aim for, not the calf

Thigh hurts more but kicks below the knee have a greater chance of punting that leg out (Anderson silva and cub swanson do this a lot in mma, that is to say LOW low kicks), there are pros and cons to both targets. The back of the calf is pretty sensitive as well as it isn't often struck.

 

[Gerald Ford]

Thigh hurts more but kicks below the knee have a greater chance of punting that leg out (Anderson silva and cub swanson do this a lot in mma, that is to say LOW low kicks), there are pros and cons to both targets. The back of the calf is pretty sensitive as well as it isn't often struck.

I was assuming someone with little experience would be better off with the thigh so as to not go shin to shin yuh know

 

[pick999]

if aldo did that to someone normal they would need to rush to the er

 

[keylock21]

Randy Coture says he has a permanent indentation, in his thigh, from Pedro Rizzo leg kicks!!

 

[Steve08]

I was assuming someone with little experience would be better off with the thigh so as to not go shin to shin yuh know

True. I would venture to say that (user error discounted) you'd only go shin to shin if you got checked though, which probably isn't gonna happen in a real fight.

 

[Nuclear Fallout]

Probably enough to catch yourself a lawsuit lol

 

[Lito Lapida]

I used to train Karate and Tae Kwon Do getting leg kick to the groin sucks