Defending against a front kick to the groin

[luis]

hello all,

I'll ask here if anyone can help me out with any technique or tip for defending against a fast frontal close quarters kick to the groin.
See, last night at a show some guy came out of nowhere and just threatened me that if I look at his cousing again he'd kick me in the nuts. I was put off by this, I didn't know what he was talking about so I shrugged and said 'ok', as he's leaving he turns around and just throws the kick at me, quite fast. I was able to pivot a bit and crouch a little so his ankle hit my knee. He shoved me and left but now I'd like to know a clever technique for this. thanks

[hapkidofighter]

you can step back and kind of scoop the foot upwith your back hand then follow through with a cross or reverse punch- if you do this tho be sure to keep your fingers together to avoid breaking them- ive seen that happen plenty of times when people try to catch kicks

[Alex88]

yo man if i was you try to pivot away and turn quick and sidekick him in the ribs and if u want u could use a roundhousekick or punch , but rember u either pivot, block or u will get kicked . :eek:

[Kagebushi]

use the thick part of your knee/shin and pivot to do a slamming strike/block to the inside of the shin. this really hurts, and is about the most reliable technique i know(for me, at least). also a nice downward punch to the shin is effective, but less reliable.

[Kagebushi]

you can also use the first one to set up for a sidekick, or a roundhouse to the inside of the thigh(toes are best for this) as he sets his struck foot down. if he used any power, he willbe way off balance, and his weight will be on an injured or broken leg(if you land it right)

[cybermonk]

Adopt a stance that protects your groin.

[Anth]

we do something along these lines at karate, in whats known as sanbon gumite (three step sparring). the defense we learn is that what hapkidofighter mentions:
you can step back and kind of scoop the foot upwith your back hand then follow through with a cross or reverse punch- if you do this tho be sure to keep your fingers together to avoid breaking them- ive seen that happen plenty of times when people try to catch kicks

[alex_000]

Adopt a stance that protects your groin.

I Agree

[nunchukpaul]

Wear a cup(box) and laugh at hes efforts at causing you pain

[JohnnyX]

OK, so you blocked his kick and then you did what?

You had every right to counter his attack with a couple of punches and maybe a kick of your own! :rolleyes:

[luis]

I blocked the kick and followed my pivot movement into a low stance, he shoved me but I didn't move or anything so he just left.

I don't think I could have used my hands or any sort of kick since I was standing up straight almost leaning against a wall, with people two my right and left.

but thanks

[Thomas]

Luis: to me it sounds like you did the absolute best thing: (1) avoided injury and (2) did not escalate the situation... thereby preventing further chances of someone getting hurt.

In the future for this situation I would recommend:

(1) Don't stand against walls if possible. Always leave room to maneuver and keep access to exits as clear as possible.

(2) Try not to give anyone a clear on shot at you... keep your body slightly turned to protect the front (and especially groin).

(3) For active defences, I like the knee/shin block quite a bit. You could also shoot a front kick to the rear leg if time allowed. You could step in, which would take energy away from the attack, and follow up with a strike or sweep.

Again, it sounds like you did the right thing... and just a little more "awareness" is warranted (of course, it always seems that things happen when you have an odd lapse, huh?)

[cybermonk]

Wear a cup(box) and laugh at hes efforts at causing you pain

I saw a friend dent the other guy's cup once by mistake, wouldnt rely on those if I were you.

[Twimyo Jirugi]

Ring up the prop guys who did Super Troopers and ask if you could get one of those bullet proof cups :D

[Kagebushi]

dent? i can top that. one of the instructors in my old TKD class had one shattered by a sparring partner. scary place to have plastic shards.

[cybermonk]

Ouch, and to think both cases were probably accidents.

[Ikken Hisatsu]

also a nice downward punch to the shin is effective, but less reliable.

i dont know about you but if for some insane reason I was going to drop my hands down there to block, it sure as hell wouldnt be to punch someone in the shin. all that will do is break your hand. palm strike maybe (even then you're still leaving your face wide open if he decides to do anything else)

also I wouldnt count on catching the kick. very low % chance there if the guy can kick with any amount of speed. your best bet is lifting that front leg over your groin as a shield. enough muay thai and this becomes a natural reflex :D

[Nevada_MO_Guy]

A nice technique is to use your leg either, left or right, and kick at a slight angle infront of you.
Done correctly, if you kick with your right leg, it should be inline with your left standing leg. (without putting your leg down)
Pivot just a bit for the proper alignment and then kick to the the attackers opposite knee.

The kick is very natural and fast once practiced a bit.

The attackers kicking leg is blocked and moved off center...your followup kick then takes out his knee.

Or you could try this....

http://www.hostultra.com/~beijingbagua/movies/tech_7.zip

But don't do this....

http://www.bullshido.com/videos/highschoolplayground.wmv

[pug32]

A nice counter to most attacks from kali is a destruction. Your knee into their foot works well (foot wear dependant). The move itself also covers your jewels.

You could always not let the person get to point when they can throw that kick with a high chance of success :)

[Kagebushi]

i dont know about you but if for some insane reason I was going to drop my hands down there to block, it sure as hell wouldnt be to punch someone in the shin. all that will do is break your hand. palm strike maybe (even then you're still leaving your face wide open if he decides to do anything else)
it only requires one hand, but i see what you mean. and i agree, it will break your hand if you dont punch right. turn your hand to where your fingers are perpendicular to his shin. you thumb should be facing him. i dont know about you, but it is hard for me to break my hand on a shin like that. maybe some fingers, if you miss, but not the hand.

[Kagebushi]

Ouch, and to think both cases were probably accidents. a long time ago, i saw some iron ones sold as "muay thai cup". those should do pretty well, if not a little cold:eek:. and yeah, mine was an accident.

[pug32]

a long time ago, i saw some iron ones sold as "muay thai cup". those should do pretty well, if not a little cold:eek:. and yeah, mine was an accident.

Iron balls maguinty :D

[Nrv4evr]

cross your arms in front of you, like an x, an stop the kick. Then proceed to return the favour.

[Judderman]

A few spring to mind, all of which I've used.
1) As you did turn and drop lead knee slightly, this either deflects or takes the hit on the thigh.
2) If daft enough to be standinding square on pull both knees together and arch hips backwards, the kick is either deflected upwards (not a great idea), stopped at the knees or caught between your thighs.
3) Slight turn and use shin to block.
4) Raise lead foot and block, personally I found it easier and quicker to use the rear foot.
5) Similar to #3, except actually kick, I personally prefer rear foot for this.
6) Lunge (for want of a more technical term) one way or the other and hook the leg.
7) Bend knees slightly, and slap the leg out of the way.
8) Step out of the way.

On no account would I advise using the hands to block forward, hence #6&7 are more dangerous. The risk of a) damaging hands b) missing c) getting your face smashed in, is really too great IMO. Your legs will be quicker as they are closer to the intended target. The only time I would advise getting closer to your attackers "weapon" is when it is a knee strike instead of a kick.

As for a follow up, I would highly recommend the right cross/hook to the jaw, but as Thomas pointed out, you really need to decide if such action is appropriate, or is saving your groin enough.

[eckythump]

cross your arms in front of you, like an x, an stop the kick. Then proceed to return the favour.
You sure about this one ?
I'd have to bend forward to do this with no guarantee that he wouldnt kick from under the block and even if I did block I'd have finger/hand injuries .
My own reaction would be to protect groin area by turning lower body to side stance (stepping back) so that kick more likely on leg (if it does indeed connect) possibly with an attempted front leg crescent kick to deflect his kick away . If this works and leaves him unbalanced and coming forward I would feel justified in using an elbow strike or whatever was easiest to help me make my escape

[eckythump]

Judderman
good reply!
pity it wasnt there when I started writing mine or I would have just posted
"ditto" :)

[Judderman]

Just a quick question, what would you do if the kick was replaced by a knee? What would your defence be then?

[eckythump]

Just a quick question, what would you do if the kick was replaced by a knee? What would your defence be then?
presuming knee strike was undertaken when I'd been grabbed I would be turning groin away as before and try to use his forward motion to help pull him offbalance with perhaps kneestrike to side of thigh or if possible get behind him and knee back,pull his head down backwards ..and run

[Kagebushi]

on mine, he would be offbalance and his weight would be moving past you (if you do it right) no knee there unless he pulls it back, and then it is just a standard knee. with the punch one, the only target in range is the face, and a little sidestep to the inside will take it out of the path, and since your arm is already right there, you could hook it under the leg and reap or do an upwards toe kick to the groin, or the nerves behind it, or a thai style roundouse to the inside of the standing leg.

[cybermonk]

No difference if you adopt a stance that protects your groin.

[Nrv4evr]

You sure about this one ?
I'd have to bend forward to do this with no guarantee that he wouldnt kick from under the block and even if I did block I'd have finger/hand injuries .
My own reaction would be to protect groin area by turning lower body to side stance (stepping back) so that kick more likely on leg (if it does indeed connect) possibly with an attempted front leg crescent kick to deflect his kick away . If this works and leaves him unbalanced and coming forward I would feel justified in using an elbow strike or whatever was easiest to help me make my escape

tight fists won't break fingers. you don't necessarily have to lean forward, you could lean back and sort of squat, blocking the kick. you'd just have to be quick enough to move so that you don't get hit in the face.

[Nevada_MO_Guy]

Just a quick question, what would you do if the kick was replaced by a knee? What would your defence be then?


Ahh, that is different. To have a knee used on you he would have to have grabbed you on the shoulders or around the neck.

1. Don't resist and try to pull away.
2. Immediately begin punching the target in front of you. (These will be short, straight line punches traveling up the chest, 8 punches in all)
3. Keep forward pressure on your defense. (As he moves back you move forward)
4. Walk the punches up his chest in rapid succession. (Doing this in class, just with small punches really makes it difficult for the attacker to breath, because of the hits to the chest you involuntarily keep everthing tensed up).
5 The sixth punch will be an uppercut.
6. The last punch should be a right cross (ending the last punch with the normal 'power' arm...if your left handed you would want to end with a left cross)

Attacker grabs you.
Step toward him.
You punch left/right, left/right higher, left/right higher, left uppercut, right cross.
Help him up :)

[SoKKlab]

Ahh, that is different. To have a knee used on you he would have to have grabbed you on the shoulders or around the neck.


Not necessarily. The attacker may be close but they don't necessarily have to grab you to knee you. Maybe they just poke you in the eye first and then swing a knee into your nads...

Your best bet (if you see the knee strike coming...) is often simple footwork to move backwards slightly and then spike his Kneecap/ Thigh muscles with a downward elbow smash as his knee strike comes up having missed your nuts, ideally at the end of its movement. Use your Rear elbow as it will have more power and you are looking to floor the attacker by smashing thru his thigh....

Don't lean your face in, as you might meet the knee with your face. There are lots of other counters to knee strikes in Thai and Burmese arts, but spiking his striking tool is the simplest tactic and is an unequivocal reply.

An alternative spiking tactic is to meet the oncoming knee strike by bending the knees slightly and parrying the Knee strike away with your lead elbow(ie his Right knee strike your Left Elbow point sweeping from Your Left to Right), which is very painful to the attacker, as Elbow into meat of thigh is a nice electric shock.

If they have grabbed you and are kneeing you, then use a Leg Shield to stop their oncoming knee strike and then a simple bit of clinchwork/ shoulder control practice will enable you to turn someone in the clinch, by feeling their movement and sending them flying in an opposite direction, again basic Muay Thai...or alternatively turn/ throw them in the clinch and then knee them to pieces on their way round.

There are loads of other examples, but these two are simple and productive.

Against the Kick to the nads, easiest thing is to block/ parry it with your Shin/ Knee-a standard Inside Leg Shield, or a variant where you drop the shin onto the incoming kick, but as ever simple footwork is the easiest defence-literally no be there....

[Nevada_MO_Guy]

Against the Kick to the nads, easiest thing is to block/ parry it with your Shin/ Knee-a standard Inside Leg Shield, or a variant where you drop the shin onto the incoming kick, but as ever simple footwork is the easiest defence-literally no be there....


Yes, that does sound efficient.

I was thinking about being clinched up and the attacker pulling and kneeing. I see your point. :)

[ap Oweyn]

hello all,

I'll ask here if anyone can help me out with any technique or tip for defending against a fast frontal close quarters kick to the groin.
See, last night at a show some guy came out of nowhere and just threatened me that if I look at his cousing again he'd kick me in the nuts. I was put off by this, I didn't know what he was talking about so I shrugged and said 'ok', as he's leaving he turns around and just throws the kick at me, quite fast. I was able to pivot a bit and crouch a little so his ankle hit my knee. He shoved me and left but now I'd like to know a clever technique for this. thanks

Dude, you pivoted so his ankle hit your knee. Then he left.

You already know the clever technique for this. Well done.

[Hapkido]

Wear a cup(box) and laugh at hes efforts at causing you pain
omg that reminds me of a really funny hapkido class i had once involving me, a TKD junior master and him still having a cup on from sparring.

anyways, this is reason enough to learn how to do a standing backflip! someone coming in for a kick to the groin? BACKFLIP AWAY! back handsprings would work too, or even a cartwheel! :D if ur feeling like not being a ninja tho you could always tuck in one of ur legs and pivot and catch the kick with your shin. of course right after someone does this to you its no holds bar whoopass time so be sure to repay the favor :D seriously though if someone goes for a groin shot in a fight and i wasnt already going to fight dirty, that bitch is gonna end up eating food through a straw for the next couple months.

[Combatant]

Next time someone threatens to kick you in the nuts- land a kick into theres. If you feel threatened then you have the right to launch a pre emptive strike. But it is not always as easy as that in real life so what you did was fine as no one got hurt.

[Fish Of Doom]

if i were to get kneed in the groin i'd slap his knee to the side(more palm strike than slap though), following which the assailant falls to the ground in a stupid manner(though he MAY suffer groin injury for the weird crossing of the legs. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth i say!)

EDIT:OOPS! didn't realize this thread was so old sorry!:bang: