Short legs are hard for leg kicks

lethalweapon · 09-22-2006, 03:41 PM

I am 5'7 and I weight 185. my legs are quite short( but still proportionate to my body). I found out that my range for leg kicks is short because I can never reach there leg with my shin, only my instep and that is not effective. However I can kick to my Sparing partiners body when we are both in punching range. Any Pointers?

SmashingMachine · 09-22-2006, 04:17 PM

I'd use the top of your foot to give you that extra little reach. Just don't kick anything boney on your opponent. You can still deliver a lot of punishment to someones thigh or calf area with the top of your foot. Front kicks to the body and round house kicks to the body are great also. Check out Mirko Cro-Cops roundhouse to liver against Fedor's brother...if you don't believe me.

lwbfl · 09-22-2006, 05:04 PM

I'm 5' 4" so I know what you mean. I'm basically in the average persons punching range if I'm in my kicking range. I guess thats why I'm better on the inside and on the ground.

Crashsti · 09-26-2006, 01:21 PM

this is'nt a problem unless you are always fighting guys taller than you or who have a longer reach. you can also set up kicks with punches, close the distance with punches and end the combination with a hard leg or body kick. avoid using kicks as the first strike in a combination, very few guys can get away with doing that anyway.

Reildeal · 09-26-2006, 02:16 PM

Crash hit the nail on the head with this one. Nice job Crash. You want to work within your striking range. Your jab is your best friend for measuring distance. A leg kick by itself is easy to block, and I'm sure you know that having your leg kicks blocked can be murder on your shins and feet. My Kru's emphasizes setting up leg kicks with the hands. Your opponent can't see the kick if he's having to protect his face, evade or counter. Even a simple jab is a good setup for the leg kick.

lethalweapon · 09-26-2006, 02:34 PM

I like to try to use my leg kick short of like a jab. I kick and then back up or circle. I use this to draw my opponent into punching range. What are your fav combo's. Would they work for a short guy like me.

Crashsti · 09-26-2006, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lethalweapon

I like to try to use my leg kick short of like a jab. I kick and then back up or circle. I use this to draw my opponent into punching range. What are your fav combo's. Would they work for a short guy like me.

you do know that the counter to a lazy jab like low kick is a monster right straight? you see alot of MMA fighters that throw uninspired low kicks get KO'd doing it. you also say you back up after throwing a low kick, another ill advised movement, circling yes, backing up, no way. you strategy might work if your opponent is slower than you, like in Bas Rutten's fight in the WFA against Warpath. a lazy low kick against a ground fighter like Matt Hughes is also a bad idea since it leaves you off balance and ripe for a takedown.

Reildeal · 09-26-2006, 02:49 PM

In the ring, my favorite combo is one that works. I don't really like to spar or fight with an idea of trying to do any particular series of strikes aside from the fundamentals(ie setting up kicks etc.). Even on the bag, if I find myself doing the same combos too much, I try to change it up a little so as not to become too predictable. Bad habits die hard though hehe.

In seriousness though, two very simple ways to set up your kicks is merely a jab then leg kick, or a jab, right cross, then leg kick. Honestly it doesn't matter a whole lot if you don't land the punches before the kick, but you have ranged your opponent and got the kick in and you can make a read on whether to maintain agression, watch for the counter or adjust. You could immediately follow the leg kick with a body kick from either side or any other number of possibilities. It's all situational.

(And just read Crash's post above. Definitely take that into consideration. BAD idea to throw leg kicks like a jab. And backing up is like he said ill advised. Backing up serves no purpose.)

lwbfl · 09-26-2006, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crashsti

this is'nt a problem unless you are always fighting guys taller than you or who have a longer reach. you can also set up kicks with punches, close the distance with punches and end the combination with a hard leg or body kick. avoid using kicks as the first strike in a combination, very few guys can get away with doing that anyway.

Who isn't taller with a longer reach than me LOL!?!? I actually hate fighting guys my size, as I'm used to the taller opponents. This is the reason why I'm primarily an inside and ground fighter. I agree about the kicks though, they need to be set up.

lethalweapon · 09-27-2006, 10:48 AM

Thanks for the advice guys, I guess the only reason I am able to back away from my opponents is because I am really fast. I found out that if I can control the distance between me and my opponent I can control the match. Big guys get frustrated when I close the distance and pop them with a jab, jab, cross combo and move out of there striking distance. I guess leg kicks by themselves are dangerous, especially against grapplers.

xBrawlerx · 02-05-2007, 03:12 PM

Hey lethal, the best suggestion I have for you is to get into MUAY THAI. In Muay thai your knees and elbows are punishment enough. I do not have short legs, but my knees are super deadly, deadlier than my kicks. You just need to deal with what GOd gave ya and find what suits you best.

Daniel · 02-08-2007, 12:39 AM

Dude if you're 5'7 and 185, I'm gonna assume you've got mad power in those legs. I would leave weak little foot tapping leg kicks to the dudes like A.Silva who have long, spidery limbs and can get away with it with low risk. If I were you, I would work that leg kick on the heavy bag striking only with the shin, and focus on POWER. Make that leg kick a fight ending technique, and use punches to set it up like Crash said. It'll be risky for you to try to sneak a series of leg kicks in, you'll end up eating a straight if you're fighting a boxer or getting taken down if you're fighting a wrestler.