| This ten article series will deal with the various | | | | range of movement) wearing slipper type shoes |
| components that need to be addressed when | | | | that are currentlyavailable from several different |
| considering the utilization of a particular kick in a | | | | martial arts companies. |
| combat or self-defense situation. This particular | | | | Tennis shoes or sneakers will also allow you a |
| component is really of no use to the tournament | | | | fairly good range of movement,although not as |
| competitor since they are fighting barefoot or | | | | much as the previously mentioned slipper type |
| with minimal protective padding that does not | | | | shoe. However,depending upon the shoe type |
| impede the range of mobility of the foot. | | | | your range of movement may decrease by 50% |
| Although all of these individual components are | | | | ormore. |
| important, they are most effective when | | | | Hiking or combat boots generally decrease your |
| combined together and utilized correctly when | | | | range of movement by anywherefrom 50 to |
| executing a kick. | | | | 75% or more depending upon the style of boot. |
| Although I will only be discussing one of the | | | | However, what theylack in range of movement |
| components in this article, here is the complete list | | | | they more than make up for it their ability for |
| of all ten of them. | | | | you tokick harder with minimal chance of injury to |
| 1. Your Kicking Ability | | | | yourself. Think of boots as brassknuckles for |
| 2. Your Intended Application | | | | your feet. |
| 3. The Environment | | | | Cowboy boots are in my opinion the worst shoes |
| 4. Telegraphing | | | | to wear if you are going to bekicking someone. |
| 5. Striking Implement | | | | They are very confining and offer very little |
| 6. Striking the Correct Target | | | | range of movementfor your feet. The soles are |
| 7. Initial Impact | | | | usually smooth and offer no traction and you |
| 8. Impact | | | | have anupraised heel which can prove to be very |
| 9. Retraction or Follow Through | | | | problematic for the kicker. The onebenefit to |
| 10. Return to Fighting Position | | | | kicking with cowboy boots is the small hard pointy |
| Component Five; Striking Implement: | | | | toe portion whichcan be used to great effect |
| In a practice situation in the dojo or gym, the | | | | when executing Front Kicks and Roundhouse |
| striking implement would be defined as that | | | | Kicks. |
| portion of your foot or leg that is used to make | | | | Now for all you women out there, and those of |
| contact with a vital or vulnerable area on your | | | | you who are into cross-dressing,high heel shoes |
| opponent. In a self-defense situation, the striking | | | | are without a doubt not the hardest shoes to |
| implement would most generally be defined as | | | | walk in let alone kickin. If you are wearing high |
| that portion of your shoe or leg that is used to | | | | heels and find yourself in a situation where |
| make contact with a vital or vulnerable area on | | | | youhave to kick someone, I strongly recommend |
| your opponent. Always make sure that you strike | | | | stepping out of them if at allpossible and then |
| your intended target with the correct portion | | | | either running away, or proceed to execute your |
| (striking implement) of your foot or leg. | | | | kicks orwhatever technique that you feel is the |
| Remember, that the idea is to inflict pain upon | | | | appropriate response to that particularsituation. |
| your opponent, not yourself. | | | | Suggestions: |
| Since the only portion of the leg that should ever | | | | I strongly recommend that your first learn how |
| be used for kicking is the lower portion of the | | | | to correctly execute your kicks while barefoot |
| shin just above the ankle, and since most shoes | | | | and wearing loose fitting clothing before |
| do not cover this area (with the exception of | | | | attempting them in your normal everyday clothes |
| some combat boots) I will be focusing this article | | | | and shoes. This way you will have the correct |
| on the foot and various types of shoes. | | | | technique down and will be better able to modify |
| Contrary to what you may or may not have | | | | it slightly to adjust for the difference in clothing |
| been told, there is a HUGE difference between | | | | and shoes without sacrificing too much in |
| kicking barefoot and kicking with shoes on. For | | | | technique. |
| example: | | | | Practice executing your kicks wearing every type |
| 1. Depending upon the type of shoes you are | | | | of shoe that you might wear including; slippers, |
| wearing, you will probably not be able to bring | | | | sneakers, hiking boots, cowboy boots, high heels, |
| your foot into the exact same foot positions for | | | | and even those big bulky snow boots. Take note |
| a particular kick that you could do when barefoot. | | | | of how each kick feels while wearing each shoe |
| 2. If you are wearing some type of boot, the | | | | type and compare them not only to each other, |
| toes, heel, and outside edge of the boot should be | | | | but also to kicking when barefoot. |
| a lot harder than those same portions of your | | | | Another factor for consideration is how your base |
| foot, and they won't be as susceptible to damage | | | | leg foot moves and pivots during the execution |
| as your barefoot would be. | | | | of each kick. |
| 3. If the soles of your shoes are smooth (like | | | | Final Thoughts: |
| dress shoes or cowboy boots) then you won't | | | | Although I primarily focused on several different |
| have anywhere near the traction you would | | | | factors to consider when executing your kicks |
| normally have when barefoot or when wearing | | | | while wearing various types of shoes, there is one |
| sneakers or hiking boots. | | | | other factor that must be at the forefront of |
| 4. Your shoes are going to have some weight to | | | | your mind when considering the act of kicking |
| them and that can effect the speed and | | | | while wearing shoes, and that is the end results of |
| movement of your kicks if you haven't had the | | | | what could happen after kicking an opponent while |
| experience of practicing your kicks while wearing | | | | wearing certain types of shoes. |
| the same shoes you would wear during your | | | | There have been several criminal cases that |
| normal day-to-day activities. | | | | determined that kicking someone with heavy |
| 5. Depending upon your own physical make-up and | | | | shoes or boots on constitutes assault with a |
| the type of shoes you are wearing, you will have | | | | deadly weapon. Now this varies from |
| to adjust your foot positions for delivering almost | | | | state-to-state and you would have to check your |
| all of your kicks when wearing shoes. Now this will | | | | own states laws on this, but it is a very real |
| also vary from shoe type to shoe type. | | | | possibility and one that you need to take into |
| Generally speaking, you will have a far greater | | | | consideration before you are called upon to use |
| range of movement (and in somecases 100% | | | | kicks in a self-defense situation. |