Although some types of martial arts such as karate and tae kwon do rely more on kicking than jujitsu, kicking is a key component in all martial arts. In fact, good kicking skills can enhance your success in mixed martial arts competition.
What's in a kick? Kicks are the best way to attack an opponent who is keeping their distance from you. And because the legs are the strongest body part, a kick delivers more power than a punch or other type of strike. The impact of a kick is influenced by these factors: type of kick, the attacker's speed and flexibility, and the position of the kicker relative to the target.
All kicks involve a combination of snapping movements (moving the leg as fast as possible) and thrusting movement (putting the power into the kick). You may have seen a variety of kicks in different types of martial arts workouts, but all kicks can be divided into five categories: front kicks, back kicks, side kicks, jumping kicks and spinning kicks. Here are some tips for the three basic types of kicks--if you want to learn more about jumping and spinning kicks, you will need detailed guidance from a martial arts instructor.
Front kick: Stand so your target is directly in front of you. Use the ball of the foot as the striking surface.
Back kick: Start in front of your opponent, but spin so your back faces him or her, with your kicking leg parallel to the floor. Turn your head and use the heel as the striking target.
Side kick: To do a side kick, pivot in front of your opponent so that your side faces him or her. Use the heel or the outer edge of the foot as the striking surface.