Kick-catching in training

**Morrigan** · Posted On: 8/21/2006 10:41pm

I was wondering what experiences/advice people have had when attempting kick-catching techniques. At my school we do lei tei type sparring, but with ground fighting/grappling also. When I'm sparring, my opponents usually throw roundhouses to the leg; we generally train in staying away from throwing high kicks because of increased risk of a take down.

Anyway my question is:
If an opponent does throw a roundhouse to the body, I can see how a person could step in and catch it and do a takedown. But, what would someone do for a high side kick in terms of catching/sweeping the base leg?

**RunningDog** · Posted On: 8/21/2006 10:48pm

How about you deliberately throw high kicks for each other in training, so you can practise using them to ground your training partner?

**Anna Kovacs** · Posted On: 8/21/2006 10:52pm

Step wide off to the side and kick them in the back of the leg. Alternatively, dont worry about catching it, just smack it off to the side and then kick them in the back of the leg when it lands.

Hit the back of the knee at a downward angle and watch them stumble, it's hilarious.

**alex** · Posted On: 8/21/2006 11:02pm

block the high kick (or moving in and crowding them) while kicking the standing leg seems the most obvious to me. trying to catch a kick that is coming towards your head often ends badly. there really is no good way catch a kick coming in like that.

**Happycrow** · Posted On: 8/22/2006 10:21am

Complete agreement with both Annatrocity and Running Dog. Or you can catch it and throw them. Either works. You have to practice it to see what the angle of your opponent's supporting leg will be (and this will change subtly depending on the style practiced, because different styles like to take different angles).

***WhiteShark*** · Posted On: 8/22/2006 10:42am

Body Kick - Hook over the leg and turn with the kick. Act like there is a string between you and their pivot point move along that arc. that will take the power out of the kick. Now Turn away and kick the support leg with your lead leg or turn towards it and sweep the support leg with your back leg or pass the kick in front of you and kick the kicking leg as it falls etc.

**BackFistMonkey** · Posted On: 8/22/2006 2:12pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAB8wVzcGBY

Anna's solution . Mortal Kombat .

**NoMan** · Posted On: 8/22/2006 5:51pm

Originally Posted by Morrigan

Anyway my question is:
If an opponent does throw a roundhouse to the body, I can see how a person could step in and catch it and do a takedown. But, what would someone do for a high side kick in terms of catching/sweeping the base leg?

Not actually an answer to your question, but if you see it coming, you can push kick the person and knock them off balance. You can also half-step back w/ a lean, (take the hands with you, don't lean and let your hands drop), and then come across the legs as the person plants when the foot goes by.