Stomach strikes are often used in street fights, so not only people whose work involves extreme situations, but also those who simply want to feel more confident and safe should know about self-defense techniques. The self-defense system developed by the famous master A. A. Kadochnikov is good because it is suitable for people with any physical fitness.

This video explains how to defend against a punch to the stomach if your opponent attempts a straight kick. In a situation where the opponent is in a frontal position and intends to strike in the lower abdomen, the following defensive technique can be used:

• it is necessary to turn your hips and at this time take a step back with your right foot, or the leg that is in the direction of the enemy’s strike;
• to deflect a blow from the trajectory of the impact, you need to meet the attacking leg with the help of your forearm and turn them outward to the point of contact;
• During the strike, it is necessary to sag down - the opponent will lose his balance and fall.

How to defend against a direct kick to the stomach

In this situation, it is important not only to protect yourself from the blow itself, but also to neutralize the enemy, completely knocking him out of action. When the attacker begins to fall, you can take a step towards him and, while he is moving along the trajectory, strike him in the neck with your elbow. To knock the opponent over on his back, it is enough to take a small step back with his left foot.

In the training video, the master says that special attention should be paid to the position of your body. The body must be held vertically, but at the same time, the movements must be smooth. During the implementation of such techniques, you do not need to rely solely on your physical capabilities. A. A. Kadochnikov teaches us that it is necessary to work with the weight of your body or use the strength of the enemy in your favor. Those who want to master the techniques of self-defense must master not only the basic skills, but also learn to think and act like a real fighter. In this case, it will be possible not only to orient in the situation, but also to react with lightning speed by performing the most effective defensive technique.

By studying the system of A. A. Kadochnikov, everyone will be able to master at least basic methods of self-defense, since training is not difficult. This is explained by the fact that the famous master not only demonstrates his skills through practical exercises, but also explains them from a scientific point of view.

Any kick is a complex movement consisting of translational movement of the entire body relative to the floor and rotational movement of body parts around various axes in various joints and the whole body as a whole. The blow is constructed in such a way that the movement of the body parts and forces are transferred from the foot to the lower leg and thigh, then to the pelvis, and from the pelvis to the thigh, lower leg and the striking surface of the leg performing the striking movement.

The effectiveness of a kick is made up of a number of factors: the speed achieved by the foot at the moment of contact with the target, the number of muscles involved in the kick, the force developed by the pelvis, the stable position of the body, especially at the moment of contact with the affected surface. Just like in punches, there is a distinction between the basis of the kicking technique and the details of the technique. At the heart of the technique is the leading link - the most important and decisive part of the action. In the kicking technique, the leading link is the striking movement of the leg. Attention is focused most of all on the leading link. It is important to note that the technical details of any combat action are very important. For example, details of a kicking technique (such as the position of the hands or head) protect the fighter from the opponent's counterattacks. In the process of studying the technique of kicking, a number of relatively completed stages can be distinguished, which correspond to certain stages of the formation of a motor skill.

1. The stage of initial learning of a motor action (the stage of formation of the ability to reproduce the technique of kicking in a general form).

2. Stage of in-depth action (at this stage the motor skill is refined, it partially turns into a skill).

3. Stage of consolidation and improvement (formation of a strong and variable skill).

In the process of studying the technique of kicks, many experts recommend building a training technique within the framework of the first, second, and only partially third stages, that is, not striving to memorize the kick technique “tightly”. This is explained by the fact that much depends on the individuality of the student. Achieving a very stable and strong memorization of the classical performance of movements, the trainee reduces the possibility of manifestation of the variability of individuality in technical terms, the ability to change the technique of kicks with changing conditions and tasks of the battle.

Kick protection

It is customary to distinguish between four main types of defense against kicks. Defense with hands - stands, rebounds inwards, outwards, overlays; protection with legs (stands), protection with movement (steps back and to the side); protection by body movement (slopes, deflections and dives); also combined defenses, which combine several types of defenses when performing. This or that method of defense depends on the type of blow, on which leg the opponent strikes, and on the target chosen by the opponent for the blow (legs, torso or head). Tactical plans play the main role in choosing defense in battle.

Photo 131. Impact surfaces of the foot and lower leg

Photo 132. Sequence of foot bandaging

Direct kicks and defense against them

Left leg straight kick

Technique: Take a fighting stance. Shift your body weight to your right leg. At the same time, lift the thigh of your left leg up. The foot of the left foot is facing downwards. Perform a striking movement by actively extending the left leg. The foot of the left foot is turned with the pads in the direction of striking. The legs are fully straightened, the stomach is pulled in, the chin is down, the torso is straight. Hands are raised to protect against possible counter or retaliatory actions. Return your leg to its original position along the trajectory of the strike and take a fighting stance.

Photo 133. Direct kick with the left foot

Tactical purpose:

Direct kick to the thigh with the left leg

Direct kick to the body with the left leg

Photo 134. Take a fighting stance and strike straight to the thigh with your left leg

Photo 135. Take a fighting stance and strike straight to the torso with your left leg

Straight left kick to the head

Direct left leg kick to the torso with forearm support

Photo 136. Take a fighting stance and strike straight to the head with your left foot

Photo 137. Take a fighting stance and deliver a direct blow with your left foot to the thigh while supporting the forearm

Direct left leg kick to the thigh with forearm support

Photo 138. Take a fighting stance and inflict a direct blow with the left foot to the body while supporting the forearm

Right leg straight kick

Execution technique: Take a fighting stance. Shift your body weight to your left leg. At the same time, lift the thigh of your right leg up. The foot of the right foot is pointing downwards. Perform a striking movement by actively extending the right leg. The foot of the right foot is turned with the pads in the direction of striking. The legs are fully straightened, the stomach is pulled in, the chin is down, the torso is straight. Hands are raised to protect against possible counter or retaliatory actions. Return your leg to its original position along the trajectory of the strike and take a fighting stance.

Photo 139. Direct kick with the right foot

Tactical purpose:

Direct kick with the right leg to the thigh of the opponent's left leg

Direct kick with the right leg to the thigh of the opponent's right leg

Photo 140. Take a fighting stance and strike straight to the thigh with your right leg

Photo 141. Take a fighting stance and strike straight to the thigh with your right leg

Direct kick to the body with the right leg

Right kick to the head

Photo 142. Take a fighting stance and strike straight to the torso with your right leg

Photo 143. Take a fighting stance and strike straight to the head with your right foot

Straight right leg kick to the thigh with forearm support

Direct kick to the torso with a forearm support

Photo 144 Take a fighting stance and deliver a straight blow with the right foot to the thigh while supporting the forearm

Photos 145

Practicing direct kicks using paws

Left leg straight kick

Photo 146. Take a fighting stance, jump back and strike straight

Right leg straight kick

Photo 147

Defense against direct kicks

Stop kick with left foot

Technique: take a fighting stance. Shift your weight onto your right foot while simultaneously lifting your left foot and bringing your left foot forward. Hands are raised for insurance against possible oncoming or retaliatory actions.

Photo 148

Photo 149. Stop-punch defense

Stop kick with right foot

Technique: take a fighting stance. Shift your weight to your left leg while lifting your right leg and pointing your right foot forward. Hands are raised for insurance against possible oncoming or retaliatory actions.

Photo 150

Photo 151. Stop-punch defense

Execution technique: Take a fighting stance. Shift your weight to your right leg while lifting and pointing your left shin forward.

Photo 152. Stand-block with the shin of the left leg at the lower level

Photo 153. Protection with a shin block at the lower level

Execution technique: Take a fighting stance. Shift your weight to your left leg while lifting and pointing your right shin forward.

Photo 154. Stand-block with the shin of the right leg at the lower level

Photo 155. Protection with a shin block at the lower level

Left-handed defense

Technique: Take a fighting stance. Place your left forearm at the lower level.

Photo 156. Batting with the left hand

Photo 157. Defending by hitting with the left hand

Defense with the right hand

Execution technique: Take a fighting stance. Place the forearm of your right hand at the lower level.

Photo 158. Hitting with the right hand

Photo 159. Defense by hitting with the right hand

Defense by turning the body to the right

Photo 160. Take a fighting stance and rotate your torso while stepping with your right foot to the right

Defense by turning the body to the left

Photo 161. Take a fighting stance and rotate your torso with your left foot stepping to the left

Side kicks and protection against them

Side kick to the thigh with the left leg (low kick)

Execution technique: Take a fighting stance. Perform a backward jump. Shift your body weight to your right leg. At the same time, lift the thigh of your left leg up and forward, turn your torso and foot of your right leg 90°. Strike with an active forward movement of the pelvis and extension of the left leg. Legs are fully straightened. The pelvis is brought forward, the stomach is pulled in, the chin is lowered. The arms and left shoulder are raised to protect against possible counter or retaliatory actions. The striking surface is the shin of the left leg. Return your leg to its original position along the trajectory of the strike and take a fighting stance.

Photo 162. Side kick to the thigh with the left leg

Side kick with the left leg to the thigh with a 360° torso turn (low kick)

Execution technique: Take a fighting stance. Perform a backward jump. Shift your body weight to your right leg. Lift the thigh of your left leg up and forward, turn your torso and foot of your right leg 90°. Strike with an active forward movement of the pelvis and extension of the left leg. The pelvis is brought forward, the stomach is pulled in, the chin is lowered. The arms and left shoulder are raised to protect against possible counter or retaliatory actions. The striking surface is the shin of the left leg. Without stopping the movement, perform a 360° turn with your body and take a fighting stance.

Photo 163. Side kick with the left leg to the thigh with a 360° torso turn

Tactical purpose: side kick to the thigh with the left leg

Photo 164. Take a fighting stance and deliver a side kick with your left leg to the thigh of the opponent’s near leg

Side kick with the left leg to the thigh with a slant to the right

Photo 165. Take a fighting stance and deliver a side kick with your left leg while simultaneously leaning to the right

Side kick with the left leg to the thigh with a forearm support from the side kick with the left hand

Photo 166. Take a fighting stance and deliver a side kick to the thigh with your left leg while simultaneously planting your forearm

Side kick with the left leg to the thigh with a forearm support from the side kick with the left leg

Photo 167. Take a fighting stance and deliver a side kick to the thigh with your left leg while simultaneously planting your forearm

Side kick with the left leg to the thigh with a forearm support from the side kick with the right leg

Photo 168. Take a fighting stance and deliver a side kick to the thigh with your left leg while simultaneously planting your forearm

Side kick with the left leg to the thigh while grabbing the opponent's attacking left leg

Photo 169. Take a fighting stance, grab the opponent’s leg with your left and at the same time deliver a side kick to the thigh with your left leg

Side kick with the left leg to the thigh while capturing the attacking right leg of the opponent

Photo 170. Take a fighting stance, grab the enemy’s right leg and at the same time deliver a side kick to the thigh with your left leg

Side kick with the right leg to the thigh (low kick)

Technique: Take a fighting stance. Shift your body weight to your left leg. At the same time, lift the thigh of your right leg up and forward, turn your torso and foot of your left leg 90 degrees.

Strike with an active forward movement of the pelvis and extension of the right leg. Legs are fully straightened. The pelvis is brought forward, the stomach is pulled in, the chin is lowered. The arms and right shoulder are raised to protect against possible counter or retaliatory actions. The striking surface is the shin of the right leg. Return your leg to its original position along the trajectory of the strike and take a fighting stance.

Photo 171. Side kick to the thigh with the right leg

Side kick with the right leg to the thigh with a 360° torso turn (low kick)

Technique: Take a fighting stance. Shift your body weight to your left leg. At the same time, lift the thigh of your right leg up and forward, turn your torso and foot of your left leg 90°. Strike with an active forward movement of the pelvis and extension of the right leg. The pelvis is brought forward, the stomach is pulled in, the chin is lowered. The arms and right shoulder are raised to protect against possible counter or retaliatory actions. The striking surface is the shin of the right leg. Without stopping the movement, perform a 360° turn with your body and take a fighting stance.

Photo 172. Side kick with the right leg to the thigh with a 360° torso turn

Side kick with left leg

Execution technique: Take a fighting stance. Perform a backward jump. Shift your body weight to your right leg. At the same time, lift the thigh of your left leg up and forward, turn your torso and foot of your right leg 90°. Strike with an active forward movement of the pelvis and extension of the left leg. The legs are fully straightened, the pelvis is brought forward, the stomach is pulled in, the chin is lowered. The arms and left shoulder are raised to protect against possible counter or retaliatory actions. The striking surface is the shin or foot of the left leg. Return your leg to its original position along the trajectory of the strike and take a fighting stance.

Photo 173. Side kick with the left leg

Practicing side kicks using paws

Side kick with left leg (low kick)

Photo 174. Take a fighting stance, jump back and deliver a side kick with your left leg

Side kick with right leg (low kick)

Photo 175. Take a fighting stance and throw a side kick with your right leg.

Side kick with the left leg to the body

Photo 176. Take a fighting stance, jump back and deliver a side kick with your left leg

Side kick with the right leg to the torso

Photo 177. Take a fighting stance and throw a side kick with your right leg.

Side kick to the head with left leg

Photo 178. Take a fighting stance, jump back and deliver a side kick with your left leg

Side right kick to the head

Photo 179. Take a fighting stance and throw a side kick with your right leg

Side kick protection

Stand-block with the shin of the left leg at the lower level

Execution technique: Take a fighting stance. Shift your body weight to your right leg while simultaneously lifting the thigh of your left leg and pointing the shin of your left leg forward.

Photo 180. Delivery block with the shin of the left leg at the lower level

Tactical purpose: stand-block with the shin of the left leg at the lower level

Photo 181. Take a fighting stance and perform a block block with the shin of your left leg at the lower level

Stand-block with the shin of the left leg at the middle level

Technique: Take a fighting stance. Shift your body weight to your right leg, while simultaneously lifting the thigh of your left leg up towards the elbow of your left hand and pointing the shin of your left leg forward.

Photo 182. Stand-block with the shin of the left leg at the middle level

Photo 183. Protection with a shin block at the middle level

Stand-block with the shin of the right leg at the lower level

Execution technique: Take a fighting stance. Shift your body weight to your left leg while simultaneously lifting the thigh of your right leg and pointing the shin of your right leg forward.

Photo 184. Stand-block with the shin of the right leg at the lower level

Tactical purpose: stand-block with the shin of the right leg at the lower level

Photo 185. Take a fighting stance and perform a block block with the shin of your right leg at the lower level

Stand-block with the shin of the right leg at the middle level

Execution technique: Take a fighting stance. Shift your body weight to your left leg, while simultaneously lifting the thigh of your right leg up towards the elbow of your right hand and pointing the shin of your right leg forward.

Photo 186. Stand-block with the shin of the right leg at the middle level

Photo 187. Protecting the shin of the right leg with a block stand at the middle level

Defense with a left foot step back

Photo 189. Take a fighting stance and step back with your left foot

Defense with right foot backwards

Photo 189. Take a fighting stance and step back with your right foot

Defense with a straight left hand strike to the head with a hip support

Photo 190. Take a fighting stance and strike straight to the head with your left hand while thrusting your hip

Defense with a straight right hand to the head with a hip support

Photo 191. Take a fighting stance and strike straight to the head with your right hand while simultaneously planting your hip

Tilt-back protection

Photo 192. Take a fighting stance and lean back

Defense by grabbing the opponent's attacking leg

Photo 192. Take a fighting stance and grab the enemy’s attacking leg

Defense by grabbing the opponent's attacking leg with a forearm support

Defense with a side blow to the head with a left hand with a forearm support

Photo 194. Take a fighting stance, support your forearm and at the same time grab the enemy’s attacking leg

Photo 195. Take a fighting stance and deliver a side blow with your left hand to the head while simultaneously supporting your forearm

Defense with a right hand side kick to the head with a forearm support

Photo 196. Take a fighting stance and deliver a side blow with your right hand to the head while simultaneously supporting your forearm

Defense by grabbing the leg and throwing the opponent's torso to the left

Photo 197. Take a fighting stance and grab your left leg, while simultaneously grabbing your opponent’s head with your left hand.

Step to the side and twist your opponent's torso to the left to throw him off balance.

Defense by grabbing the leg and throwing the opponent's torso to the right

Photo 198. Take a fighting stance and grab your right leg, while simultaneously grabbing the opponent’s head with your right hand. Step to the side and twist your opponent's torso to the right to throw him off balance.

Response action from grabbing the attacking left leg

Photo 199. Grab the opponent's head with both hands. Bend your left leg at the knee and place it on the opponent’s thigh, while simultaneously pulling the opponent’s head toward you

Photo 200. Grab your opponent's head with both hands. Bend your right leg at the knee and place it on the opponent’s thigh, while simultaneously pulling the opponent’s head toward you

Response action from grabbing the attacking left leg

Photo 201. Grab your opponent's head with both hands. Place your left leg between the opponent’s legs, at the same time pull the opponent’s head towards you

Response action from grabbing the attacking right leg

Photo 202. Grab your opponent's head with both hands. Place your right leg between the opponent’s legs, at the same time pull the opponent’s head towards you

Protection of the right forearm with a stand

Photo 203. Take a fighting stance and place the forearm of your right hand at head level

Protection of the left forearm with a stand

Photo 204. Take a fighting stance and place the forearm of your left hand at head level

Side kicks and defense against them

Side kick with left foot

Technique: Take a fighting stance. Shift your body weight to your right leg, and at the same time lift the thigh of your left leg up. Turn your torso and foot of your right leg 90°. Perform the striking movement by actively extending the hip of the left leg. The pelvis is brought forward, the stomach is pulled in, the chin is lowered, the arms and left shoulder are raised to protect against possible counter or retaliatory actions. The striking surface is the outer edge of the foot, the heel or the entire plantar part of the foot. Return your leg to its original position along the trajectory of the strike and take a fighting stance.

Photo 205. Kick to the side with the left foot

Tactical purpose: kick to the side with the left leg in the torso with a step

Photo 206. Take a fighting stance, take a step and strike to the side with your left leg in the torso

Side kick to the torso with the left leg

Photo 207. Take a fighting stance and strike to the side with your left leg in the torso

Side kick with right foot

Execution technique: Take a fighting stance. Shift your body weight to your left leg, and at the same time lift the thigh of your right leg up. Turn your torso and foot of your left leg 90°. Perform the striking movement by actively extending the hip of the right leg. The pelvis is brought forward, the stomach is pulled in, the chin is lowered, the arms and right shoulder are raised to protect against possible counter or retaliatory actions. The striking surface is the outer edge of the foot, the heel or the entire plantar part of the foot. Return your leg to its original position along the trajectory of the strike and take a fighting stance.

Photo 208. Kick to the side with the right foot

Tactical purpose: kick to the side with the right leg to the torso

Photo 209. Take a fighting stance and strike to the side with your right leg in the torso

Kick to the side with the right leg with a torso turn of 180°

Technique: Take a fighting stance. Shift your body weight to your left leg and turn 180°. At the same time, lift the thigh of your right leg up. Perform the striking movement by actively extending the hip of the right leg. The pelvis is brought forward, the stomach is pulled in, the chin is lowered, the arms and right shoulder are raised to protect against possible counter or retaliatory actions. The striking surface is the heel or the entire plantar part of the foot. Return to the starting position along the trajectory of the strike and take a fighting stance.

Photo 210. Side kick with the right leg with the torso turned 180°

Practicing kicks to the side using paws

Practicing a side kick with the left foot with a step

Photo 211. Take a fighting stance, take a step and strike to the side with your left foot

Practicing a side kick with the right foot

Photo 212. Take a fighting stance and kick to the side with your right foot

Practicing a side kick with the right leg with the torso turned 180°

Photo 213. Take a fighting stance and strike to the side with your right leg, turning your torso 180°

Protection from side kicks

Stand-block with the shin of the left leg at the middle level

Turn the torso to the left with a step to the side

Photo 214. Take a fighting stance and perform a stand-block with the shin of your left leg at the middle level

Photo 215. Take a fighting stance and turn your body to the left with a step to the side

Defense by turning the body to the left with a step to the side

Photo 216. Take a fighting stance and turn your body to the left with a step to the side

The straight punch, which in karate is called mae-geri, is the basis of the basics. Outwardly, it is very simple to implement. Let's consider a kick with the back foot, that is, if you are right-handed, with the right one.
You are standing in a left-handed stance. Raise your leg bent at the knee in front of you. The leg should be bent as tightly as possible, the toe pulled down, looking strictly at the floor. The shin is perpendicular to the floor. The knee is just above the waist. This is a very important point. Often, beginners make a mistake already in this phase of the impact - they do not raise their knee high or place their shin at an angle or even parallel to the floor. If you “charge” the leg in this way, the blow will be very weak and there will be a high risk of injuring the knee.

Remember, all midrange strikes start with the knee raised high. The advantage is the following: firstly, the blow acquires greater penetrating force when the angle between the straightening leg and a line mentally drawn horizontally through the target decreases; secondly, the opponent has less time to react: with the knee raised high, the blow can be delivered at different levels, as a result it is difficult to predict where exactly the blow will be struck; thirdly, a blow from such a position is more difficult to block - when a blow is delivered directly from the ground, the opponent only needs to lower his hand to hold it back.
So, the knee is raised, the leg is tense, the supporting leg is firmly planted with the entire foot on the floor, the knee of the supporting leg is slightly bent. This is another point that you definitely need to pay attention to. Do not rise on the toe of your supporting leg, as they do in taekwondo - they have a different specificity of combat. The leg should stand tightly. The toe is slightly turned to the side. The knee is slightly bent. Hands in a fighting position - covering the head and body. Don't put them down! Lean your body forward slightly so that the distance between your chest and knee decreases slightly. This is the first phase of the strike. You should be compressed, like a spring, ready to straighten out. Not tense, but compressed.
The next phase is the strike itself. Here, too, the whole body works, and not just one leg. You sharply throw your kicking leg forward. Not in an arc - from above or below, but straight forward, as if you were throwing a straight punch with your hand. There is no need to hit high - attack the enemy in the lower abdomen. Position of the striking leg: the leg is almost completely straightened (mind you - almost), the foot is extended forward, the toes are pulled towards you. The striking surface is the toe of the boot. Simultaneously with straightening your leg, you move your hip forward and lean back slightly with your body. By leaning your hip forward, you increase the force of the blow. By tilting your body, you push your hip forward more powerfully and maintain your balance better. At the moment of contact of the striking surface of the leg with the target, there is maximum concentration of all the muscles of the body. Important: the leg does not just push or kick the target, but tries to pierce it.
Your hands should not dangle. In karate, it is customary to extend the same arm forward when striking and, in general, use the arms for balancing. That is, you kick with your right foot, and your right arm straightens parallel to your thigh. So there is no need to do this. Hands should cover your head. Yes, it is a little more difficult to maintain balance in this position. But on the other hand, you will not miss a counterattack or counter strike if your attack fails.
The final phase is the recovery from the blow. You can’t exhaustively “throw” your leg wherever necessary after a blow. You must return her strictly to the place from which she went on the attack. Along the same trajectory and at the same speed. Later you will learn to turn the kick into a forward movement. But at the initial stage of preparation you need to put your foot in place. So what do you do after a hit? You bend your leg at the knee again, pulling it towards your body and bringing your hip back. The knee should return to the same level - just above the waist. It's like you're being compressed by a spring again. From this position, the leg goes back in a straight line to its place (Fig. 21).

You need to understand that all these phases follow one after another without stopping. The division into phases is conditional and is observed only at the very first stage of development. A strike is one continuous movement. Merged!
The left leg kick is performed in the same way from the right-hand stance. Practice it this way first. Then, as you master it, start punching it from a regular left-sided stance. It won't be as powerful anymore, but that's not necessary. All strikes with the front leg (as well as with the hand) in most cases are of a distracting nature or prepare an active attack with the far arm and leg.
Direct kicks can be delivered from both long and medium distances. In close combat this is difficult, although sometimes experienced fighters use it to break the distance - they simply push the enemy away with their feet. But it is extremely difficult to stand on one leg in close combat, so such a blow must be used with caution.
Combat use
This blow usually hits the body. The classic version is the middle of the abdomen and a little higher, to the beginning of the chest. In a real fight this will be of little use. Unless you catch the enemy inhaling at the moment of attack.
Another tricky point is the position of the foot at the moment of impact. The classic kick is thrown through the ball of the foot. But to do this, as you understand, you need to stretch your toes forward and straighten your toes so that they point straight up. Now try this trick while wearing winter boots. It's difficult, isn't it? In shoes, it is possible to hit only with the entire surface of the foot - that is, to increase the hitting surface by reducing the penetrating force of the impact. Look: the penetrating force is low, the area of ​​contact with the target is large, the muscle corset and clothing significantly absorb the blow. What do we get? And we get a powerful kick, not a blow. A kick that can only push the enemy away and throw him off balance. But there is no way to cause him serious damage or even pain.
Hence the conclusion: you need to hit a direct blow on the street with your heel, pulling your toe towards you, and at the lower level. That is, in the lower abdomen, in the groin area, in the thigh, in the knee. Any of these blows, if they reach their target and are delivered strongly enough, will incapacitate the enemy for a very long time.

Direct kick

The straight punch, which in karate is called mae-geri, is the basis of the basics. Outwardly, it is very simple to implement. Let's consider a kick with the back foot, that is, if you are right-handed, with the right one.

You are standing in a left-handed stance. Raise your leg bent at the knee in front of you. The leg should be bent as tightly as possible, the toe pulled down, looking strictly at the floor. The shin is perpendicular to the floor. The knee is just above the waist. This is a very important point. Often, beginners make a mistake already in this phase of the impact - they do not raise their knee high or place their shin at an angle or even parallel to the floor. If you “charge” the leg in this way, the blow will be very weak and there will be a high risk of injuring the knee.

Remember, all midrange strikes start with the knee raised high. The advantage is the following: firstly, the blow acquires greater penetrating force when the angle between the straightening leg and a line mentally drawn horizontally through the target decreases; secondly, the opponent has less time to react: with the knee raised high, the blow can be delivered at different levels, as a result it is difficult to predict where exactly the blow will be struck; thirdly, a blow from such a position is more difficult to block - when a blow is delivered directly from the ground, the opponent only needs to lower his hand to hold it back.

So, the knee is raised, the leg is tense, the supporting leg is firmly planted with the entire foot on the floor, the knee of the supporting leg is slightly bent. This is another point that you definitely need to pay attention to. Do not rise on the toe of your supporting leg, as they do in taekwondo - they have a different specificity of combat. The leg should stand tightly. The toe is slightly turned to the side. The knee is slightly bent. Hands in a fighting position - covering the head and body. Don't put them down! Lean your body forward slightly so that the distance between your chest and knee decreases slightly. This is the first phase of the strike. You should be compressed, like a spring, ready to straighten out. Not tense, but compressed.

The next phase is the strike itself. Here, too, the whole body works, and not just one leg. You sharply throw your kicking leg forward. Not in an arc - from above or below, but straight forward, as if you were throwing a straight punch with your hand. There is no need to hit high - attack the enemy in the lower abdomen. Position of the striking leg: the leg is almost completely straightened (mind you - almost), the foot is extended forward, the toes are pulled towards you. The striking surface is the toe of the boot. Simultaneously with straightening your leg, you move your hip forward and lean back slightly with your body. By leaning your hip forward, you increase the force of the blow. By tilting your body, you push your hip forward more powerfully and maintain your balance better. At the moment of contact of the striking surface of the leg with the target, there is maximum concentration of all the muscles of the body. Important: the leg does not just push or kick the target, but tries to pierce it.

Your hands should not dangle. In karate, it is customary to extend the same arm forward when striking and, in general, use the arms for balancing. That is, you kick with your right foot, and your right arm straightens parallel to your thigh. So there is no need to do this. Hands should cover your head. Yes, it is a little more difficult to maintain balance in this position. But on the other hand, you will not miss a counterattack or counter strike if your attack fails.

The final phase is the recovery from the blow. You can’t exhaustively “throw” your leg wherever necessary after a blow. You must return her strictly to the place from which she went on the attack. Along the same trajectory and at the same speed. Later you will learn to turn the kick into a forward movement. But at the initial stage of preparation you need to put your foot in place. So what do you do after a hit? You bend your leg at the knee again, pulling it towards your body and bringing your hip back. The knee should return to the same level - just above the waist. It's like you're being compressed by a spring again. From this position, the leg goes back in a straight line to its place (Fig. 21).

You need to understand that all these phases follow one after another without stopping. The division into phases is conditional and is observed only at the very first stage of development. A strike is one continuous movement. Merged!

The left leg kick is performed in the same way from the right-hand stance. Practice it this way first. Then, as you master it, start punching it from a regular left-sided stance. It won't be as powerful anymore, but that's not necessary. All strikes with the front leg (as well as with the hand) in most cases are of a distracting nature or prepare an active attack with the far arm and leg.

Direct kicks can be delivered from both long and medium distances. In close combat this is difficult, although sometimes experienced fighters use it to break the distance - they simply push the enemy away with their feet. But it is extremely difficult to stand on one leg in close combat, so such a blow must be used with caution.

Combat use

This blow usually hits the body. The classic version is the middle of the abdomen and a little higher, to the beginning of the chest. In a real fight this will be of little use. Unless you catch the enemy inhaling at the moment of attack.

Another tricky point is the position of the foot at the moment of impact. The classic kick is thrown through the ball of the foot. But to do this, as you understand, you need to stretch your toes forward and straighten your toes so that they point straight up. Now try this trick while wearing winter boots. It's difficult, isn't it? In shoes, it is possible to hit only with the entire surface of the foot - that is, to increase the hitting surface by reducing the penetrating force of the impact. Look: the penetrating force is low, the area of ​​contact with the target is large, the muscle corset and clothing significantly absorb the blow. What do we get? And we get a powerful kick, not a blow. A kick that can only push the enemy away and throw him off balance. But there is no way to cause him serious damage or even pain.

Hence the conclusion: you need to hit a direct blow on the street with your heel, pulling your toe towards you, and at the lower level. That is, in the lower abdomen, in the groin area, in the thigh, in the knee. Any of these blows, if they reach their target and are delivered strongly enough, will incapacitate the enemy for a very long time.

This text is an introductory piece. From the book Billiards author Ostanin Evgeniy Anatolievich

Straight shot A straight shot is a shot in which a straight ball is played, that is, a ball that stands on the line connecting the pocket and the cue ball. One of the most difficult is considered a completely straight blow, made at a considerable distance between the balls. Performing

From the book Hapkido for Beginners by Master Choi

Direct Shot When a player is about to use a direct shot, he aims at the exact center of the ball being played. The latter then rolls in the direction from which the blow was struck. The most difficult is considered to be an absolutely direct blow if the distance between the balls is large enough.

From the book Fight Club: Combat Fitness for Men author Atilov Aman

Straight Fist Punch From a wide front position, extend your right arm forward with your fist clenched (fingers down). The left hand with a clenched fist (fingers up) is at the hip, the elbow is bent and pressed to the side, the shoulders are relaxed. From this position, turning your fist with your left

From the book Prohibited Self-Defense Techniques author Alekseev Kirill A

Straight Toe Strike From the ready position, step sideways with your left foot and assume a wide frontal position. Simultaneously throwing the shoulder of your left arm forward and pointing the fingers of your left hand directly at the target, perform a striking movement. Simultaneously with the blow

From the book Russian Billiards. Large illustrated encyclopedia author Zhilin Leonid

Straight Leg Kick From the left back position, shift your body weight to your left leg. At the same time, lift the thigh of your right leg up. The foot of the right foot is pointing downwards. Perform a striking movement by actively extending the right leg. Right foot

From the book How to become a kickboxer, or 10 steps to safety author Kazakeev Evgeniy

Straight Knee Strike From the left-side back position, shift your body weight to your left leg while bending your right leg at the knee and lifting your hip forward. Perform a knee strike motion. The supporting leg is straightened at the knee joint, and the kicking leg is bent as much as possible. Pelvis

From the author's book

Releasing the grip, side elbow strike, back fist strike and straight punch The opponent has grabbed your right hand with his right hand. Take a step to the left and forward and sharply move down with your right hand to the left, turning your right hand against

From the author's book

Releasing the grip and direct kick The opponent has grabbed your right arm with his left hand at the level of the elbow. Raise your right arm up and to the right, taking a step with your right foot forward and to the right. At the same time, with your left hand, grab the opponent’s hand and, twisting it inward, press

From the author's book

Direct blow with the left hand to the head with the left foot stepping forward Technique: take a fighting stance. Shift your body weight slightly onto your right foot, then take a small step forward with your left foot. At the same time turning the body from left to right and sharply

From the author's book

Direct strike with the left hand to the head with the right foot stepping forward Technique: take a fighting stance. Shift your body weight to your left leg, then step forward with your right foot. At the same time, turning your body from left to right and sharply throwing your left shoulder forward,

From the author's book

Direct blow with the right hand to the head with the left foot stepping forward Technique: take a fighting stance. Shift your body weight slightly onto your right foot, then take a small step forward with your left foot. Simultaneously turning the body from right to left and sharply

From the author's book

Direct kick with the left leg Technique: Take a fighting stance. Shift your body weight to your right leg. At the same time, lift the thigh of your left leg up. The foot of the left foot is facing downwards. Perform a striking movement by actively extending the left leg. Foot

From the author's book

Direct kick with the right leg Technique: Take a fighting stance. Shift your body weight to your left leg. At the same time, lift the thigh of your right leg up. The foot of the right foot is pointing downwards. Perform a striking movement by actively extending the right leg. Foot

From the author's book

Direct strike It is better to learn to strike in a training, frontal, stance. What is she like? It's simple: feet approximately shoulder-width apart on the same line; toes turned slightly inward; the knees are slightly bent and also look inward; body weight is distributed evenly, heels

From the author's book

From the author's book

Direct kick (“front kick”) The more famous name for this kick in karate is “mae-geri”. Due to its low power, the straight kick is used less frequently than others. This blow can start an attack, but its more effective use is to stop enemy attacks. Here

The chief instructor of the Moscow branch of the Japanese Federation of Shotokan Karate Do, Sergei Buyakov, shared with us his recommendations for performing mae-geri. He is a 5th dan holder, a leading instructor at the Yasenevo club and a Master of Sports in hand-to-hand combat.

Mae-geri in traditional and sports karate

There is fundamentally no difference in the execution of the mae-geri strike in traditional karate and in sports karate. But the fact is that it is not used in sports karate, since mae-geri is practically not evaluated. It is not as spectacular as the same mawashi or ura-mawashi geri. Sports karate is supported by competition rules, so it is not given due attention. After all, what is a well-placed blow? This is the correct method of basic technique, and in sports karate many have already abandoned the basic technique and this is very sad. Without basic technique there will be no strong and true Budo Karate. A correctly executed mae-geri strike is very dangerous and destructive, it is faster and more invisible than others.

History of origin

As for the history of the origin of the mae-geri strike, it is as old as the martial arts themselves. In old karate there were three or four punches and one kick and that was mae-geri. After all, mae-geri is a more natural and straightforward blow. Even anatomically, it is closer and more natural to us than other blows. When performing it, it is easier and easier to maintain balance, which is very important when applying the geri technique. The effectiveness of mae-geri in sparring depends on the correct execution of the strike itself and, of course, many other aspects - this is, of course, distance, timing, speed, balance, and so on.

Main principles of technology

I will try to describe the main principles of the technique of performing and practicing the mae-geri strike. First of all, this is the correct stance, that is, the supporting leg should be slightly bent forward and stand firmly on the floor. The back is straight, the abdominal muscles are under control (center) and the abdominal muscles should be well trained. The knee of the kicking leg should be raised to chest level. Knee raised high, fully bent, heel pressed to buttock. The ease and speed of raising the knee depends on certain leading exercises, which allows you to maintain balance and ensure the correct trajectory of the striking leg. At the moment of the kick, the lumbar region and hips should be pushed out in the direction of the blow, the supporting leg is tense and stands rigidly, the foot does not turn, it is directed in the direction of movement of the hips. The effectiveness of delivering a strike depends on the distance; at a close distance, a more snapping strike (keage) is used, while the hips give impulse, the supporting leg does not change its position, the effectiveness of the strike depends on the degree of stretching and contraction of the muscles of the striking leg.

At medium distance, the knee of the supporting leg moves slightly forward, the hips are pushed out in the direction of the impact. At a longer distance, the supporting leg bends more forward, the hips are pushed forward due to the extension of the supporting leg at the moment the striking surface touches the target. The same principle as when performing a basic oi-tsuki strike. The foot makes an arcuate movement along an ascending line, the knee serves as its axis. Even when striking, the most important condition is speed. A blow carried out slowly loses power and leads to loss of balance. Therefore, the return of the leg (hiki ashi) is no less important than the kick itself. When striking, there should be no telegraphing or warning of the strike; the strike is delivered suddenly and quickly. Of course, it can be hidden behind a combination, for example a two-hand combination plus a straight kick. Typically the strike is made with the balls of the foot (koshi), but the toes and the instep of the foot can also be used, depending on which part of the body is struck.