MASTERCLASS PRO takes our Masterclasses to the next level.
Learn how to take the individual self defence techniques and strikes you study in our Masterclass feature and merge them into natural and effective combinations in MASTERCLASS PRO.
Study how you can mix and match different upper and lower body strikes, with different ranges and angles of attack.
This MASTERCLASS PRO covers
DIAGONAL KICK
INWARD HORIZONTAL FOREARM STRIKE
Scenario: Either deployed as an pre-fight preemptive striking combination or as an in-fight solution, this simple yet highly effective and brutal sequence of two strikes only is aimed at initially taking away or disturbing the footing of your opponent, before delivering a devastating blow to the side of their neck or face.
The diagonal kick is a much more direct, speedier and less space-demanding version of a traditional roundhouse kick. This makes it surprising (it’s out of the eye line of the opponent) and very quick to deliver. Depending on the physics involved (the force you apply, the connection point and the size or solidity of the opponent), it is designed to at least disturb their balance allowing for further strikes as they try to recover, or at best to drop them to the floor. In each scenario, the horizontal inward forearm strike completed with the opposite arm to the kicking leg, is the follow-up to help the opponent to fall to the floor in the direction the kick has already lowered their upper body.
ABOUT THE DIAGONAL KICK
The diagonal kick is named as such due to its kicking trajectory from the ground diagonally upwards towards the outside or inside of the leg (or it can also be targeted against the ribs or liver) in the shortest and most direct line from A (feet position) to B (target area).
Picture: Diagonal kick to the inside off the leg.
The contact point of the kick is either on the outside of the opponent’s leg c. 10cm or so above the knee where the muscle is thinner or a similar height above the knee on the inside of the leg, against the femoral artery. Both connections, made solidly, can easily drop an opponent down, spread their feet widely (inside of the leg) or limit their mobility significantly.
The benefit of the diagonal kick versus the roundhouse kick to the lower leg is that the motion is much less visible as it’s coming upwards out of line of sight and much quicker in time making it really difficult to detect when it’s done at hand striking range. Another benefit is that it can be done in a limited space (you only need a foot/30cm on the outside of the leg) whereas the roundhouse kick demands much greater room. It is therefore ideal in confirmed areas or where other barriers exist. Finally, the diagonal kick offers you bigger target areas than the groin kick, as both the inside and outside of both legs are available as striking surfaces.
Picture: Diagonal kick to the outside of the leg.
The diagonal kick can be truly devastating and a game-changer in any fight. Learn it well and practice to make it a go-to kick when needed.
HOW TO DO THE DIAGONAL KICK (with legs in a line).
The kick should be done at a distance where you can just about, or nearly can, touch your opponent with an outstretched arm.
Step forward with the non-kicking leg (if you need to close distance to the target or to generate power) in a short stomping motion, putting your body weight onto the base leg to free up the kicking leg for action. Important: the toes on your base leg need to point in the same direction you are going to kick in. This will free up your musculature in your pelvis for the kick. Simply stepping forward with toes straight on whilst kicking diagonally to the side will impede your kicking mobility significantly.
With your body weight on your front leg, your back leg - which should now have a slight bend in the knee, ankle and toes - has the solid frame that should be maintained throughout the kick. You’ll notice that the bent knee, ankle and toes will tense your front shin, making it harder.
Maintaining this leg frame, explode the leg forward in a diagonal trajectory aiming to connect with your (hardened) shin against the inside or outside of the leg of your opponent, around 10cm or so above the knee. Don’t make this kick too ‘circular’, find the shortest and direct route to the opponent’s leg. Simply put, your aim is to ‘slice’ through the leg, and for extra impact, ‘dig’ the hip into the kick on contact to give extra pain. There is no fast recoil on this kick. Which leg do you target? The closest one, or if both are on a line, either. A diagonal kick to the inside of the leg demands some available space between your opponent’s legs, so pay attention to this. If no space is available, go for the outside. Connecting on the outside will give pain and possibly drop your opponent. A kick to the inside will also spread his or her feet out, making their balance and fighting ability severely compromised until recovered. A second identical kick in the same place can easily remove the footing of your opponent - or by switching the same kick to the inside of the other leg.
The diagonal kick is essentially a groin kick done on an diagonal angle. The angle is created by your base leg toe position which opens up your ability to kick diagonally sideways.
Maintain your hands up and in front of you throughout the kick.
Picture: Diagonal kick on pad, close up.
HOW TO DO THE DIAGONAL KICK (with back leg)
See our Masterclass on Fighting Stance to understand the foot position better.
The only difference to the above section is that you’re already in the position you create with a small, stomping step forward, releasing your back leg for kicking action.
To execute the kick from this position, either just switch your front foot toes out to match the kicking direction of the back leg, or conduct another small, stomping step forward releasing the the back leg for the kick. The rest is as described above.
HOW TO DO THE DIAGONAL KICK (with front leg)
See our Masterclass on Fighting Stance to understand the foot position better.
Setting up a diagonal kick with your front leg demands some repositioning of your back leg, to make it become the base leg. Simply step forward with the back leg in a stomping fashion to quickly put your body weight onto it, to bring it in line with the front leg, but as you do so, make sure you position your toes in the direction you intend to kick towards.
Your previous front leg is now weight-free and ready to kick. The rest of the kick is as explained in the first section.
Breathe out as you strike.
To continue with the inward horizontal forearm strike after the diagonal kick, recoil the kicking leg back to a position in line with your base leg to land approximately at shoulder width distance.
The inward horizontal forearm strike actually takes place during the recoil phase of the kicking leg, connecting as or fractionally before the kicking leg is landing onto the ground.
HOW TO DO THE INWARD HORIZONTAL FOREARM STRIKE
As the impact of the diagonal kick either folds the body in a curve with the feet and head as the end points and mid-to lower body angled (kick to outside leg) or spears the feet apart (kick to inside of leg), the scene is primed for a strike to the head or face.
A natural follow-up is to strike with the opposite arm as you land the leg down. This movement to land will give your opposite side of your body natural momentum that you take advantage of. This sets up the inward horizontal forearm strike.
From holding your hands up and in front of you (never drop your hands when kicking!), move the opposite arm to the kicking leg from the position in front of your face and direct it outward and backward so it falls parallel to the floor (or into an angle where a forward movement of it can target the head area of your opponent). This backward movement should only be far enough to generate power and not swinging too far back.
Keep a slight bend in the elbow, where your entire arm should now be ‘locked’, rock solid and ready to be used as a complete striking force. Strike forward aiming to connect with the inside part of your forearm (bony part) either into your opponent’s face or side of the neck. Aim for the jawline to give you some margin or error either way. Use the striking arm’s shoulder to push into the strike so your body mass movement as you recoil the kicking leg back adds to the power and its not just an arm-only motion. The strike should ideally land as you land the recoiling leg for optimal force.
Breathe out as you strike and keep the other hand up and away from, but in front of your face throughout the strike.
Picture: Inward horizontal forearm strike on training head.
Aim to ‘go through’ the target by 10-20cm (aim beyond the target) and recoil fast on connection to transfer maximum energy. If you’re able to pivot your upper body into the strike, you will also put more mass into the strike to make it more powerful.
This forward horizontal elbow strike may be slightly angled up or down depending on the height difference between you and your opponent at the moment of striking.
Breathe out as you strike.
Picture: Inward horizontal forearm strike on training head, close up. Aim for jawline.
The sequence of this double strike should be and can be executed within 1-2 seconds. Train it slowly and deliberately with a partner to work on the balance, proprioception and sequencing of the strikes.
Further strikes to follow-up are available if required and will be covered in further Masterclass PROs.