Why MUST people drop their hands for a kick?

[CouchStud]

Every time I see someone kick in a fight competition, they drop the arm on the same side as the kicking leg. If the opponent is smart they'll counter with a big bunch to the head and go for a KO or at least a knock down. Now I can't claim to be a stand up expert, but I can kick reasonably hard with my pro-dance background though I can't claim that my shins bones have sufficient hardening and calcification. The point is that I can kick as hard when I put both hands up to protect my head as I'm kicking and even raise the arm on the side that's kicking.

Now do I have a point here that kick technique should be taught with the raising the hands to protect the head? Is there any pro fighter that raise their hands or at least covers their head while kicking? It would seem to make sense to me since eating a big cross in exchange for inflicting a leg kick is a bad deal.:icon_cry2

 

[D3thr0n3d K1ng]

Its about setting it up, if you set it up and throw it fast enough you can still get it off without fear of a direct-counter. Also dropping the hands acts as a conter-balance and gives you more leverage to put more power into your kick.

 

[mackz]

balance and leverage.

 

[sha]

In MT, I was taught to bring back the hand to get more power. Before you start the kick, the arm is extended at head level, blocking any attacks. When you kick, you bring the arm back but not too low, it should stay above the waist.

 

[Bas Rutten Gear]

Most the guys who are doing it wrong in MMA are not turning and also their shoulder is not protecting their face. Watch real MT to see it done correctly.

 

[CouchStud]

I don't know, but I don't feel that much more power by swinging the arms down. I'm sure telegraphing the kick is part of the problem, but bringing that arm down seems to leave your head wide open. It seems kind of like lowering your left hand for a right cross or hook instead of protecting your chin and head with your left arm.

For example, Gilbert Yvel is a very good striker and he got knocked on his ass via punch to the face multiple times by Vitor any time Yvel tried a kick. There are too many other examples of people getting countered to the head whenever they try a kick.

 

[D3thr0n3d K1ng]

Crocop drops his hand all the time and I believe the onyl time he got nailed was agianst Randleman. So thats one time out of how many KOs?

 

[Goat Meal]

You rotate your hips, with your hand "going in your pocket". You should be protecting your face with your shoulder and your other arm should be up as well guarding against strikes.

 

[ich1ban]

When you drop your arm, your shoulder should be covering your chin to avoid getting hit.

But watch Buakaw train and fight, it's kind of hard to counter somebody that fast.

 

[CelebritySexist]

Is there any pro fighter that raise their hands or at least covers their head while kicking?

The Beast himself, about 1:00 in watch the way his opposite hand pops back up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWbgyc7p7Ok

 

[Sean Buckley]

I know it might look like the fighters are open for a big KO punch when they kick (and for some MMA fighters that is true) but the fact is that if you set up a power kick you are comminting that kick, and you should set it up in a way where it would be very hard to counter it.. Bottom line is if you are throwing a kick just to probe the distance you you need to keep your hands up. If you throw a hard commited kick you better hope you set it up properly.

 

[luckyshot]

but I can kick reasonably hard with my pro-dance background

Haha. I don't know if that was a joke or not. But most people drop their hands to assist in rotating their hips. People drop their hands when they kick for the same reason they swing their arms when they walk.

Also, if your hips are rotating properly your head and body will be leaning away which will make you difficult to reach.

 

[The Weapon]

...you also use a lot of your abs when lifting your leg to kick- when your abs contract, it makes your chest closer to your hips (1-3 inches.) it's hard to kick high or hard in a "crunch" position, so most people will instinctivly either drop their hands or swing them back (mt) for the torque and rotational power needed to over come this- the torque of dropping your front hand is powerful enough to keep your torso straight, and only your leg raises.

 

[Sean Buckley]

...you also use a lot of your abs when lifting your leg to kick- when your abs contract, it makes your chest closer to your hips (1-3 inches.) it's hard to kick high or hard in a "crunch" position, so most people will instinctivly either drop their hands or swing them back (mt) for the torque and rotational power needed.

I agree 100%

 

[deadlyshaolin]

'nuff said

 

[sugarboyae]

Haha. I don't know if that was a joke or not. But most people drop their hands to assist in rotating their hips. People drop their hands when they kick for the same reason they swing their arms when they walk.

Also, if your hips are rotating properly your head and body will be leaning away which will make you difficult to reach.

saw that too

and i agree 100% w/ the shoulder thing and leverage and counterbalance.

you simply get WAY more power doing it that way w/ the core involved vs. the old school snappy kick. the snapper gives a nasty bruise but having the core turned in is like a lead pipe flying at you vs. a wooden switch... my Classical MT instructor used to tell me how in street combat back in Thailand.. he basically just brutal rush people with massive leg kicks or flying elbows. done and done.

-- --

also.. have you ever been kicked? doesn't sound like you've been in the ring all that much.

 

[Symphony-x]

if your quick/good enough, u should always bring ur arms back up, aswel as helping balancing and protecting yourself, you can 'joilt' forward more and have better power.

 

[ziggity]

the thing about turning the hip is, it gives you all of your power, and then once it starts turning back, it gives you a cleaner recovery from the kick. so if you turn the kick properly and turn back properly, you should have no problem bringing your hand back up fairly quickly.

 

[Evil Eye Gouger]

you simply get WAY more power doing it that way w/ the core involved vs. the old school snappy kick. the snapper gives a nasty bruise but having the core turned in is like a lead pipe flying at you vs. a wooden switch... my Classical MT instructor used to tell me how in street combat back in Thailand.. he basically just brutal rush people with massive leg kicks or flying elbows. done and done.

Where do you people get the idea that if someone doesn't kick the Muay Thai way, he isn't using his core?

Also, where do you get the idea that if you don't swing the arm back, you aren't using your core?

Where are all these uneducated opinions coming from and which McDojo is telling you this shit?

 

[wanderleiowns]

You drop your hand to turn your shoulder over which adds a lot of power to your kick. You put your shoulder on your chin that is what protects you from a punch. You also can extend your hand straight out to block a punch. For optimium power your palm should be facing the sky like you are trying to catch rain.