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
SIDE KICK
GROIN KICK
Scenario: Unaware of a primary threat, or with a secondary threat approaching rapidly from the side in a fight, you don’t have time to turn to face it and must kick with your near leg as the threat is not yet on hand striking range. You then follow up as the threat moves backwards (which tends to widen the distance between the legs) with a groin kick.
HOW TO DO THE SIDE KICK
A side kick is a primary striking choice as it’s the longer range option available to you when you become aware of a threat from the side, but you’re either unable or too late to turn to face it. Therefore, practice it extensively.
Optimise the strike by:
Turn head towards target, with optimal peripheral vision to detect the fullest range of vision of your blind spot behind you.
Keep chin down and protected by the near shoulder, lock your eyes onto the target, and maintain the ‘lock on’ for the duration of the kick.
Hands come up, near hand close to you (primed to strike if needed), far hand close to it with your forearm across your torso (for protection). Hands remain in this position throughout.
Make a very short step (skip) if needed to close the distance towards the target by placing the far foot behind the closer-to-target kicking leg with the heel facing the target, ensuring optimal mobility in the hip for the kick.
Make sure you have a slight drop of the base leg knee, acting like a suspension, to aid your balance during the motion.
Maintain a small side profile towards the target, lift your kicking leg knee (as you skip) and extend the leg aiming a foot (30cm) beyond the target, connecting with the full sole of the foot, recoiling the leg fast upon extension to transfer energy quickly.
The choice of target area is dependent on your flexibility and purpose of kick; e.g. knee, centre mass (abdomen) or chest.
Maintain knee at connection height to target area as you recoil, before foot is put down in the most optimal tactical position, depending on your next planned action.
Breathe out as you strike.
To continue with a groin kick after the side kick, recoil the kicking leg and simultaneously pivot your body (via your base leg, now on the ball of the foot as you turn) towards the target so you land facing it with the kicking leg in front and the base leg behind it, in a balanced stance approximately shoulder-with apart with your feet and with a short distance between the front and back foot (achieved by pushing your back foot into this position as you land forward with your front leg).
You are now ready for the groin kick.
HOW TO DO THE GROIN KICK
A groin kick - the ‘simple’ calling card of Krav Maga - is a primary striking choice as it can be a devastating medium range option available to you.
If needed to close the range, make a shorter step with our front leg by pushing off with your rear foot, releasing the weight from the rear to-be kicking leg.
Make sure you have a slight drop of the base front leg knee, acting like a suspension, to aid your balance during the motion.
Swing the kicking back leg at max speed towards the target’s groin as if you were kicking a football 45 degrees into the sky. Aim to connect with the lower or mid part of the shin (not the in-step or ball of the foot), curling toes slightly upwards to tense the shin for hardness.
The kicking foot should disappear from view as the shin connects with the groin, ensuring that you hit with a large surface area (shin) rather than a small one (in-step or front of foot) to optimise the chance of not missing the target. This also ensures that if the target moves towards you during the kicking motion, the higher end of the shin or your knee will still be in line to connect with the groin.
‘Dig’ the kick in momentarily, before your recoil the leg fast back to your desired position to either continue fighting or escaping the situation.
Breathe out as you strike.
This sequence of this double kicking 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.