Kicking - What's Your Angle?

[Honey Badger]

The stomp footwork thread brought this to mind - pardon me if it's been beaten to death.

I noticed a few months back that some of my kicks were starting to flatten out and strike perpendicular to the target - my round kicks to the solar plexus and groin and side kick to the hip, in particular. This is not the way they were taught but sometimes the emphasis gets lost.

All of the kicks I have learned in Filipino arts should be delivered at a 45 degree angle to the target, either rising or descending, depending on the target.

Rising:

The throat, chin, solar plexus, ribs, groin, front kick to the knee.

Descending: Side kick to the knee, ankle, stomps.

Since I have seen footage of many styles where kicks are sent straight in at the target, I was wondering about other styles - what's your angle?

[feedback]

I try and lose as little force as possible through grazing them, I want to hit as horizontaly as possible. The more vertical the angle in your kick, the more energy will be wasted without penetrating through the target

[Omar]

Angling upwards you tend to kick elbows. That hurts.

[Torakaka]

Angling upwards you tend to kick elbows. That hurts.

depends on the kick really. One of the kicks my thai boxing instructor has been having me work on comes in at an upward angle. It's fast and hits hard and even if it's checked you can blast right through their checking leg. I'm not that good at this kick yet, but my instructor has messed some people up with it.

I tend to bring my leg in an arch and kick at a downward angle with most of my kicks, though. As far as angle in relation to where my opponent is facing, I'll come in more towards the front at closer range since I'll be using a bent leg kick (like when I'm in clinch range) or if I'm just a little out of range or if I kick while my opponent is backing away I'll kick more along their side since I'll be using a more straight legged kick.

[kungfumonkey]

Well, we put a little downward motion in most of our kicks, unless its a push kick or front snap. Front snap = upward. Push kick... um through them, but I guess down also.

[alex]

for roundhouse kicks we kick in the traditional thai manner of up at a slight angle and then straight across.

bringing your leg up in an arc is begging for an asswhupping. way too telegraphed. unless you do it Peter Aerts style which is hardly an arc at all.

[Astrosmurf]

Low roundhouse - descending
Mid-level roundhouse - horizontal or ascending (elbow alert)
High roundhouse - horizontal or slightly descending

Low push - descending
Mid-level push - horizontal
High push - horizontal or ascending

Low heel kick - horizontal or descending
Mid-level heel kick - ascending

[feedback]

Hrm, in all honesty I don't bother worrying about people's elbows with a high kick. I've never met an elbow harder than my shin.

[PointyShinyBurn]

I thought that hitting upwards with your shin risked damaging it? (Disclaimer: I just read this elsewhere on Bullshido, I know nothing about kicking)

[alex]

feedback- youll feel it when he steps back a bit and you hit with your ankle or foot.