Front Kick (Regular)

There are two basic front kicks. The first is a regular front kick with the instep or shin (to the groin). The second is to a vertical target using the ball of the foot (page 48). Regular front kick is simpler and more practical in most self-defense situations, so practice it first.

Starting Position: Left-leg-forward fighting stance.

Swing your right leg forward, bending your knee.

As your hip comes forward and upward, snap your foot out, driving through the target. Pivot slightly on your left (base) foot—this opens your hips, which helps extend the kick and add power. Contact the target with your instep, about where you tie your shoelaces.

Recoil. After making contact, you should be able to either put the kicking foot down in front of you or bring it back into a fighting stance.

Tips: When kicking a pad, make sure you look at the center of your partner’s chest, not at the pad. This helps you kick through for more penetration, whereas if you just look at the pad, you’ll only kick to that point. Be sure your hands stay up!

Variation 1: If you are close to the target, you can connect with your shin as well, which is very powerful.

Variation 2 (not pictured): Once you’ve mastered the basic kick, try kicking with the forward leg, which is less powerful, but faster and sneakier.

Front Kick (Vertical Target)

This kick is made to the midsection or chest using the ball of the foot.

Starting Position: Left-leg-forward fighting stance.

Bring your right leg forward with the knee up.

Punch the foot, leg, and hip straight out (i.e., not upward, as in the regular front kick). As you kick, curl your toes upward to the top of your shoe, exposing and tightening the ball of your foot. Strike with the ball of your foot.

Recoil. You should be able to make a strong kick and then plant your kicking foot to any point, as needed, either in front or recovering back to a fighting stance.

Tips: Practice kicking the ground with the ball of your foot to help get a feel for the striking surface.

Round Kick

A round kick is, essentially, a front kick that “rolls over” at the last minute. Like the regular front kick, the round kick uses your instep or shin as the striking surface. In a more advanced version, you make contact with the ball of your foot. Round kick can be made to the side of an opponent’s knee joint, thigh, ribs, or even head, although we do not emphasize high kicks in Krav Maga.

Starting Position: Left-leg-forward fighting stance.

Swing your right leg forward, bending your knee. Roll your hip over.

Snap out your foot while pivoting quickly on your left foot. Strike with your shin. When you make contact, your knee should still be slightly bent. This lets the motion penetrate the target, and also protects the knee against hyperextension.

Recoil. You should be able to land forward with control, or bring your foot back into a fighting stance.

Variation: It is possibleto strike with the top of the foot or ball of the foot.

Tips: To deliver the kick with power, be sure your left (base) foot is “deeper” than the target, allowing the kicking leg to drive through. Also, for more power, you may step diagonally and pivot your left foot before sending the kick. Though this adds power, it is more detectable.