Defense against Spinning Heel Kick

Although a fighting stance is used to describe the kick in this lesson, this defense can be performed from a fighting stance or a neutral stance. This defense assumes that you identify the attack relatively early.

Starting Position: Left-leg-forward fighting stance.

As the attacker makes a right spinning heel kick, make a defensive front kick with your right leg. Kick the attacker on the leg just below the right buttock, at the top of his thigh. Be sure your hands are up and covering in case the kick comes high and your defense is too late to catch the attacker’s leg.

Stick Defenses Stick Defense against Overhead Swing

“Overhead swing” refers to almost any attack in which the swing is coming from a point higher than the attacker’s shoulder in a downward motion. The attack might be straight down or at a slight angle.

Note: Whenever in doubt, use this defense as your “default” defense. It offers the most overall protection.

Starting Position: Neutral or passive stance.

As the attacker swings the stick using his right arm, bring your hands up to your head, keeping your fingers extended and the blades of your hands downward. Be sure your elbows are in tight to your body so that your defending arm is straight and presents no angle to the stick. Bring your head down but keep your eyes forward. Lean forward with your body even before your feet move. This small motion will help get you past the stick.

Stab out with your defending (usually the left) hand to the inside of the attacker’s wrist and burst forward with your feet. At the same time, punch to the attacker’s face with your other hand. As you stab and punch, keep your shoulders square to the attacker. This keeps your head from being exposed.

As soon as you feel the defense has been made, immediately grab the attacker’s shoulder with both hands and deliver knee strikes.

Tips: If you are late stabbing out your defending hand, you will defend the stick instead. As long as you haven’t created an angle against the stick, you should be all right.

Variations: Once you understand the basic defense, have the attacker swing at different angles. Be sure you always stab just inside the swinging hand and not automatically straight overhead.

Takeaway 1: If you feel the assailant weaken, slide your left hand along his right arm until it reaches the hand. If you feel the tip of the stick protrude from his hand, clasp it and pull while giving a palm heel strike to the side of his head with your right hand. Takeaway 2 (not pictured): Reach back with your left hand, grab the end of the stick, and make a sharp “U” shape with it to pop the other end out of the attacker’s hand.

Stick Defense against Overhead Swing Off Angle/Dead-Side (One Step)

In almost every case, it is preferable to defend overhead swings on the live side. However, if the attack comes at an extreme angle (for instance, if a right-handed attacker swings from the defender’s far right side), the defender may have no choice but to make an off-angle, or dead-side, defense.

Starting Position: Neutral or passive stance.

As the attacker swings the stick toward your right using his right arm, raise your near-side (right) hand and stab to the outside of the attacker’s wrist, making sure not to create an angle against the stick. As you raise your hand, turn your shoulders to square them to the attacker and lean forward to get in past the stick. Step with your outside (left) foot to burst forward and close more distance.

As you redirect the stick, pivot in the direction of the stick, trapping or covering the stick.

Catch the arm and counterattack with punches; disarm the attacker.

Variation: Burst in with your inside (right) foot instead of your left. As you redirect the stick, take a step with your left foot and counterattack. This defense puts more distance between the defender and a possible third party approaching from behind.