Regular Front Kick (Groin Kick)
From a fighting stance, swing the rear leg forward and upward with the knee bent. As the hip of the kicking leg comes forward, the knee extends out. Pivot your base foot slightly and strike through the groin with your instep or the lower part of your shin. Recoil your leg immediately after making contact. Place your foot down in front of you or back into a fighting stance.
This is the first kick you learn in Krav Maga. When the kick lands correctly, it is very damaging and can end a fight.
Front Kick to a Vertical Target
From a fighting stance, swing the rear leg forward with the knee bent. As the hip of the kicking leg comes forward, punch the foot, leg and hip straight out. Make sure that the bones in the foot, ankle and lower leg are in a straight line to provide support to the ball of the foot when you execute the kick. Pivot your base foot slightly and while driving forward, strike through the target with the ball of your foot. Recoil your leg immediately after making contact. Place your foot down in front of you or back into a fighting stance.
The Front Kick to a Vertical Target is a penetrating kick that is made to the midsection or chest. A greater amount of force is used when striking your intended target with a smaller surface area. Let’s say that you can deliver 100 lbs. of force to your target, and that the surface area of the ball of your foot is 2 square inches. If you strike the target correctly with the ball of your foot, you will be delivering 50 lbs. of pressure per square inch.
However, if you strike the target with the entire bottom of your foot, which has a surface area of 20 square inches, then you would be striking your target with 5 lbs of pressure per square inch. When you strike the target with a large surface area, you are dissipating the force over a wider surface area resulting in a push rather than a penetrating impact.
Defensive Front Kick
From a fighting stance, swing the rear leg forward with the knee bent. As the hip of the kicking leg comes forward, punch the foot, leg and hip straight out. Pivot your base foot slightly and while driving forward, strike through the target with the entire bottom of your foot. Recoil your leg immediately after making contact. Place your foot down in front of you or back into a fighting stance.
The Defensive Front Kick is used to stop an advancing opponent or to push a close opponent to a greater distance.
A Front Kick can be an excellent offensive or defensive weapon. When executed properly and delivered to a vulnerable target, it can devastate an opponent.
