How to Defend Head Kicks

[SummerStriker]

A sticking point from another thread made me want to start cataloging some head kick defenses and see if I can find some inspiration.

In my experience, the main inhibiting factor in throwing head kicks is fear of the counter attack while your leg is coming back down. If someone thinks that they can hit you or your guard cleanly enough that their won't be a counter before they recover, they will go for it.

The second defense is fear of the immediate counter. If I think someone might kick my support leg because they have a better feel for our timing, I won't throw it.

Third is moving away from the kick. The defense almost doesn't matter as long as it is paired with a side step. Everything works if you step to the side.

Sometimes, you are not able to counter the head kick, not able to step, and your opponent doesn't think you will hit him back. The kick is coming.



I've seen this defense a couple of places and it seems really popular. Often, kicks you don't see coming are quicker but weaker. This one isn't bad against a TKD "fast kick" or a crappy snap kick as thrown by the guy in the video. I wouldn't want to use this against a heavy kick.

I also don't like how he touches the shin with his palm. That seems like a good way to screw up your hand to me.



This is full of shit, but the first thing he does, with his hand low and trying to pass the kick up over his head. I didn't think it was possible but I saw Sang H. Kim do something like it while he was talking, hardly looking at his training dummy. If I can find the video of it, I'll put it up.

In any case, the low hand could try to go under the kick but you have to have awesome timing - the reason being is that the kick is so fast, you won't be able to do a big movement like in the systema video. The meet has to be as the kick is unfolding, right out in front, with a bit of a snap or pop.



I feel like this video shouldn't be different than the first one, but a lot of people do teach blocking head kicks with the palm. At about 1:18 this guy does basically the same two arm block but instead of his palm it is his forearm on both arms.

Anything else?

 

[Seiken01]

I always prefer the sweep across, in this case combined with a forearm block. You are catching the kick on one arm but then using the other to sweep it across. Sometimes you get lucky and can just move back and sweep it without the block, other times it's going too fast. If it's a committed kick it's a hard defense to avoid.

You can see it demonstrated well in this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRa2pruE-qs

 

[SummerStriker]

I always prefer the sweep across, in this case combined with a forearm block. You are catching the kick on one arm but then using the other to sweep it across. Sometimes you get lucky and can just move back and sweep it without the block, other times it's going too fast. If it's a committed kick it's a hard defense to avoid.

You can see it demonstrated well in this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRa2pruE-qs

It is cool looking, but without gloves and shin pads, it just looks like you are letting the other person kick you in the hand or wrist as hard as they want.

 

[Wolveswithkeys]

that first video would be your best bet if the guy was actually doing it correctly. he brings his left arm up way too high to cover his head. first time I see my opponent doing it like that and the next kick is going right to the ribs.

I like to combine a sidestep with the defense in the first video (when done correctly). this takes most of the power from the kick, and the block/cover easily picks up the rest.

 

[Sinister]

It is cool looking, but without gloves and shin pads, it just looks like you are letting the other person kick you in the hand or wrist as hard as they want.

Sometimes I wonder how much fighting many of you guys actually see. Not a slight on you, personally, but if you watched Professional Muay Thai you'd see this defense used with consistency.



Abdallah started out doing a fairly decent job defending Buakaw's kicks using a variety of methods. That one the most, though. Oh and hey whaddya know, he didn't always have his lead hand up by his forehead.

Just for reference's sake, though. How do you NOT get hit by a kick as hard as the other guy wants if you're in range to get hit by it?

 

[CosItsFun]

Just for reference's sake, though. How do you NOT get hit by a kick as hard as the other guy wants if you're in range to get hit by it?

By jamming or disrupting or side-stepping it?

 

[SummerStriker]

Just for reference's sake, though. How do you NOT get hit by a kick as hard as the other guy wants if you're in range to get hit by it?

I don't know. I think I'd just rather it not be all in the wrist.

Thanks for posting the video. I hardly watch any fighting. I got into watching UFC a little just so I could see some martial arts application, and anything else I watch is usually to understand something from this forum. I've probably quadrupled the amount of fighting I've ever seen from talking on here.

He was doing it. A part that I wasn't clear on is that it is mostly being used when you are out of range of the kick. Otherwise, you have to hop back. It doesn't do anything to stop the kick from hitting you. The Kudo people were actually blocking the kick with a forearm and then sweeping it.

The fight you showed, one of the things that struck me was how they never block a kick with two arms. They just cover with one. MT teachers are always talking about covering with two arms, like the first and third video I posted, but they don't really seem to do it that way do they?

 

[Paradigm]

Sometimes I wonder how much fighting many of you guys actually see. Not a slight on you, personally, but if you watched Professional Muay Thai you'd see this defense used with consistency.



Abdallah started out doing a fairly decent job defending Buakaw's kicks using a variety of methods. That one the most, though. Oh and hey whaddya know, he didn't always have his lead hand up by his forehead.

Just for reference's sake, though. How do you NOT get hit by a kick as hard as the other guy wants if you're in range to get hit by it?

jam him by stepping towards the kick or slide step out of the power zone of the kick. sure, you'll still get hit but not to the same extent as if you just stood and blocked while in the sweet spot of the arc.

 

[Sinister]

Note I said: "while still in range to be hit by it."

Changing the range is changing the range. If you're gonna get hit by the kick, it's going to be as hard as the guy threw it. That was my point. Unless you do change the range or angle, which blocking doesn't typically do. But hey ho, you just named a way to defend a kick that doesn't require the hands. Oh my, provocative.

The fight you showed, one of the things that struck me was how they never block a kick with two arms. They just cover with one. MT teachers are always talking about covering with two arms, like the first and third video I posted, but they don't really seem to do it that way do they?

Makes you wonder, doesn't it?

Perhaps it's the same reason many a boxing trainer always says "hands up" just after you get hit. Perhaps these guys have trainers who can eventually teach them ways to defend themselves that leave as many weapons open as possible for counter-attacks.

 

[SummerStriker]

Makes you wonder, doesn't it?

Perhaps it's the same reason many a boxing trainer always says "hands up" just after you get hit. Perhaps these guys have trainers who can eventually teach them ways to defend themselves that leave as many weapons open as possible for counter-attacks.

Absolutely. Makes sense.

 

[Paradigm]

I don't know. I think I'd just rather it not be all in the wrist.

Thanks for posting the video. I hardly watch any fighting. I got into watching UFC a little just so I could see some martial arts application, and anything else I watch is usually to understand something from this forum. I've probably quadrupled the amount of fighting I've ever seen from talking on here.

He was doing it. A part that I wasn't clear on is that it is mostly being used when you are out of range of the kick. Otherwise, you have to hop back. It doesn't do anything to stop the kick from hitting you. The Kudo people were actually blocking the kick with a forearm and then sweeping it.

The fight you showed, one of the things that struck me was how they never block a kick with two arms. They just cover with one. MT teachers are always talking about covering with two arms, like the first and third video I posted, but they don't really seem to do it that way do they?

my Kru has never said to block with two forearms. if anything, its wing block on the incoming side and use the palm of your other hand to dissipate some of the power by "catching" the shin with that hand while taking the brunt of it on your wing block arm.

 

[DivineComedy]

I move with the kick if I can't avoid it, as in let the kick move my entire body instead of having my feet rooted into the ground to absorb it.

 

[Wolveswithkeys]

Blocking completely with only one arm, and not using your opposite side glove to help a little ("palm" the kick to take some power away), is a very bad way to block against someone who is a skilled kicker and knows how to put some ass behind it when he throws it. In fact if you're blocking with one arm/forearm/glove/shoulder or whatever, and your opponent is a good strong kicker and knows what he's looking at, he's going to start kicking you right in your "block" on purpose. It won't be long before the arm you're blocking with is beat to hell and useless.

Yodsaenklai Fairtex does this all the time to people.

 

[SummerStriker]

The pro fight Sinister just posted, they seem to block with one arm. They don't cover with the palm as far as I can see.

 

[Wolveswithkeys]

The pro fight Sinister just posted, they seem to block with one arm. They don't cover with the palm as far as I can see.

At 4:18 in the video Abdallah actually blocks correctly. He uses the same side forearm in conjunction with his opposite side glove to block with same side forearm, "palm" and then push the kick to the floor with his opposite glove.

Buakaw is an extremely fast kicker even for the pro level, so it's not surprising that Abdallah has a hard time getting a correct block up in time. Also, Buakaw is a very fast counter kicker, so he often times only uses one arm to block so that he can more quickly return a counter kick.

In Abdallah's case, he's only using one arm because he's just not quick enough to do it right. Anyone who's been in a fight knows that even if you train something to death, you'll still slip in the adrenaline fueled pace of a live fight. In Buakaw's case, he's only using one arm because he's good enough to "cheat" to give himself an edge on speed.

 

[SummerStriker]

At 4:18 in the video Abdallah actually blocks correctly. He uses the same side forearm in conjunction with his opposite side glove to block with same side forearm, "palm" and then push the kick to the floor with his opposite glove.

Buakaw is an extremely fast kicker even for the pro level, so it's not surprising that Abdallah has a hard time getting a correct block up in time. Also, Buakaw is a very fast counter kicker, so he often times only uses one arm to block so that he can more quickly return a counter kick.

In Abdallah's case, he's only using one arm because he's just not quick enough to do it right. Anyone who's been in a fight knows that even if you train something to death, you'll still slip in the adrenaline fueled pace of a live fight. In Buakaw's case, he's only using one arm because he's good enough to "cheat" to give himself an edge on speed.

Thank you for the opinion.

I'm inclined not to believe it on an emotional level because I don't think you want to distribute even 1/4 of the kicking force through your palm. Maybe he puts the palm up their so he can do a passing technique easier. I don't know if I buy that it is to cover for safety.

 

[Wolveswithkeys]

Thank you for the opinion.

I'm inclined not to believe it on an emotional level because I don't think you want to distribute even 1/4 of the kicking force through your palm. Maybe he puts the palm up their so he can do a passing technique easier. I don't know if I buy that it is to cover for safety.

Have you ever fought or trained with people who are actual muay thai fighters, and taken a kick from someone who knows how to throw it?

 

[SummerStriker]

Have you ever fought or trained with people who are actual muay thai fighters, and taken a kick from someone who knows how to throw it?

yes. I usually take it on a tight wing block, and I usually step with it. I would never, ever put my hand in the direct line of fire from one of the people I kick with.

 

[Wolveswithkeys]

yes. I usually take it on a tight wing block, and I usually step with it. I would never, ever put my hand in the direct line of fire from one of the people I kick with.

The majority of the force is absorbed by the wing (which I assume is a combo of the forearm/shoulder/glove...sorry I've never used the term "wing block"), and dissipated by timing a proper sidestep with the kick like you said. When I say "palm" with your opposite glove, it's just to brace whatever's left of the power. And as you get better you can even take this a step further and "throw" or "push" the kick downwards, forcing your opponent to land with a lot of weigh on their kicking leg. Prime for a counter leg kick. Admittedly this is much easier to pull of when blocking a body kick as opposed to a headkick, but it's still possible.

You are correct in saying it's a bad idea to put your hand in direct line of fire with an opponents kick. You'll break your hand. But when you do it right, it's not in "direct line of fire", it's just picking up the rest of the kick as a brace.

 

[Azam]

SS - it's common in nearly every stand up style, one arm & 1 palm - sometimes in KK we also use shuto or palm heel.