Importance of sidekick

**zanzabar** · Posted On: 8/17/2006 5:49pm

being someone new to the forum, i browsed thru the entire forum and found that there was not much discussion about this commonly neglected kicking technique, side kick.

well i learnt the importance of sidekick during a tournament, when my opponent kept lunging at me with a right hand straight punch, while his left hand trapping my both arms...

if i was more proficient with my sidekick, he would not have trapped both my hands, and i could have thrusted him away from his punching distance...

**BackFistMonkey** · Posted On: 8/17/2006 6:11pm

I don't fight from a side on stance . So it is a rarity that I find the time and opertunity to throw a sidekick . I don't think I have thrown one sparring in a few months now ...

* shrugs *

When I fought from a more sideways stance I threw them more often .

**Emevas** · Posted On: 8/17/2006 6:23pm

I like using it as a follow up to a rear roundhouse.

**zanzabar** · Posted On: 8/17/2006 6:23pm

Originally Posted by BackFistMonkey

I don't fight from a side on stance . So it is a rarity that I find the time and opertunity to throw a sidekick . I don't think I have thrown one sparring in a few months now ...

* shrugs *

When I fought from a more sideways stance I threw them more often .

that was how i fought previously... begin fighting with a front facing stance... and he exploited that habit by using his left hand to trap both my hands first before raining straight punches on me... i thought of using a reverse spinning back fist... however, becos he hold on to my right hand, the moment i do reverse back fist, he lowered his stance below my back fist...

after the tourney... i realised if i changed to a side on stance, i could prevent him from trapping both my hands and exposing my full body for his straight punches...
a lead sidekick would have countered his trapping + straight punch attack...

**zanzabar** · Posted On: 8/17/2006 6:25pm

Originally Posted by Emevas

I like using it as a follow up to a rear roundhouse.

rear sidekick or lead sidekick?

**Torakaka** · Posted On: 8/17/2006 6:28pm

I don't really understand the necessity of a side kick. It's an ok kick I guess, but I don't see a situation that would require it. The situation you described doesn't really make sense to me.

**Emevas** · Posted On: 8/17/2006 6:42pm

Originally Posted by zanzabar

rear sidekick or lead sidekick?

Well, it would be a rear sidekick, except for the fact that after I throw a rear leg roundhouse, my rearleg becomes my front for that split second that I fire it.

**CNagy** · Posted On: 8/17/2006 6:47pm

A good side kick hurts real bad. Unfortunately, it's kind of telegraphed compared to most kicks. Still, a hopping side kick or a slip side kick can cover alot of ground if necessary. It has it's uses but I'd rather stick to front and round kicks.

Edit: I almost forgot... it makes a good retreating kick... as often as that comes up.

**zanzabar** · Posted On: 8/17/2006 6:55pm

Originally Posted by Kidspatula

I don't really understand the necessity of a side kick. It's an ok kick I guess, but I don't see a situation that would require it. The situation you described doesn't really make sense to me.

to appreciate a side kick, u need to understand the advantages of a straight line attack... the power of side kick... and how it can prevent a person from getting too close to u...

one drill to help u understand... stand in front of ur sandbag at ur punching distance... give it a hard push... try to stop it... what would u use?

either a pushing kick, a front kick or a side kick right?

imagine if u use a pushing kick or front kick, ur body will be facing squarely at the sandbag isnt it? if the sandbag has a left hand , both ur hands can be easily trapped isnt it?

**Torakaka** · Posted On: 8/17/2006 7:19pm

Originally Posted by zanzabar

to appreciate a side kick, u need to understand the advantages of a straight line attack... the power of side kick... and how it can prevent a person from getting too close to u...

one drill to help u understand... stand in front of ur sandbag at ur punching distance... give it a hard push... try to stop it... what would u use?

either a pushing kick, a front kick or a side kick right?

Uh, I know the uses of straight line attacks, stupid.

Originally Posted by zanzabar

imagine if u use a pushing kick or front kick, ur body will be facing squarely at the sandbag isnt it? if the sandbag has a left hand , both ur hands can be easily trapped isnt it?

No, this does not compute. How the hell does someone trap both of your hands with one of theirs?