Side Position

The Position: Lie on one elbow, one hip, and one base leg. Bring your top hand up to protect your face. Hold your top leg up, knee drawn back, ready to kick.

If the attacker is farther off, you may rise onto your lower (base) hand, rather than your elbow, but ONLY if the attacker is farther away.

Side Position: Movement on the Ground

An attacker may try to scramble around to get at vital parts of your body. Your goal is to keep your feet between your body/head and the attacker.

Starting Position: Side Position.

If the attacker moves toward your live (front) side, use the base foot to turn and stop.

If the attacker moves to the dead (back) side, roll to your opposite side and take up the same-side position.

Front Kick from the Ground

This kick is more like a stomp (Defensive Front Kick, for those who know it); you make contact with your heel.

Starting Position: Back Position, on the ground.

Stomp your foot outward horizontally, with power generated by sending your hip out as well—this is most important!

At the moment of impact, the only parts of your body touching the ground are your base (planted) foot and your shoulders/elbows.

Recoil immediately by pulling your knee back to your chest to prepare for another kick.

Tips: When kicking to the shin or knee, turn your foot outward slightly to broaden the kicking surface, giving you the best chance to hit the target.

Round Kick from the Ground

A round kick while on the ground can be especially useful when an attacker tries to make an “end run” around your guard. As the attacker dodges to the outside of your kicking leg, you roll over and deliver a round kick.

Starting Position: Back Position, on the ground.

As you kick, roll your hip over.

Tips: For added power, make a slight “scissor” motion with the legs (this simulates the pivoting motion made during a standing round kick). The kick may be done with either leg, depending on which way the attacker goes. However, the base leg will deliver the strongest round kick (just as the rear leg delivers the strongest standing round kick).

As with regular round kick, the kicking surface is the instep or the shin

Side Kick from the Ground

A side kick may be necessary after delivering a round kick, or if you end up on your side rather than your back.

Starting Position: Side Position, on the ground.

Send your foot out, extending your hip to generate power, striking with your heel. This is similar to a stomp. Use your base hand (the one closest to the floor) for support and to give a push that helps generate power. You may also use your other hand if the attacker is at a sufficient distance. Otherwise, that hand should be up in a defensive position. At the point of impact, your heel, knee, hip, and shoulder should all be in line to support the kick.

Tips: This kick may be made to the shins or knees as well as to the midsection.