Low kicks to the knee are among the most effective and devastating techniques in martial arts. Utilized in combat sports, self-defense, and street encounters, this strike is often overlooked in favor of high kicks and flashy combinations. However, a well-placed low kick can instantly disable an opponent, making it a key tool for martial artists of various disciplines. From traditional Wing Chun to modern-day MMA, this technique has evolved over centuries, proving its efficacy time and again. In our martial arts classes in Berkhamsted we often lace in low line kicks to the knee for the simple reason they work!
Low Kicks in Wing Chun and Jeet Kune Do
While low kicks have been utilized across numerous martial arts, they are particularly integral to systems such as Wing Chun Kung Fu and Jeet Kune Do (JKD). Wing Chun practitioners use low-line attacks, particularly oblique kicks to the knee, to disrupt an opponent’s stance and mobility. This pragmatic approach to fighting was later incorporated by Bruce Lee into his revolutionary martial art, Jeet Kune Do.
Bruce Lee recognized the practicality of low kicks, favoring them over high, telegraphed kicks that require more time and flexibility. The oblique kick, a signature move in JKD, is delivered by driving the foot at an angle into an opponent’s knee or thigh, making it difficult for them to advance or maintain balance. Lee adapted this technique from Wing Chun’s defensive strategies and blended it with elements from Western boxing, fencing, and Muay Thai. His philosophy emphasized intercepting an attack before it materialized, and the oblique kick was a perfect example of this principle. Look at the video below of us training some JKD principles in Berkhamsted for an exmaple of how the low line attack to the knee can be deployed.
Low Kicks in Combat Sports: The Evolution in MMA
While traditional martial arts refined low kicks for street combat, modern combat sports have demonstrated their devastating potential in professional competition. In MMA, fighters have adapted variations of the oblique kick, sidekick to the knee, and calf kicks to hinder their opponent’s movement and reduce their ability to generate power in strikes or takedowns.
Notably, fighters like Jon Jones and Stephen Thompson have employed oblique kicks with great success in the UFC. These kicks target the opponent’s knee joint, hyperextending it and forcing them to constantly adjust their stance. Calf kicks have also emerged as an evolution of the low kick game, showing how targeting an opponent’s legs can be just as fight-ending as a knockout punch.
The Street Self-Defense Perspective
In self-defense scenarios, low kicks to the knee are invaluable. Unlike high kicks, which require balance and flexibility, a low kick is quick, efficient, and can be delivered with minimal telegraphing. When faced with an aggressive attacker, a well-placed low kick can buckle the knee, create distance, and provide an opportunity to escape.
Additionally, low kicks are effective against multiple opponents, as they allow for rapid engagement and disengagement without sacrificing stability. In a real-world setting, the goal is not prolonged engagement but swift incapacitation, and low kicks serve this purpose perfectly.
Conclusion
Low kicks to the knee have stood the test of time, proving their effectiveness across various martial arts and combat situations. From the refined techniques of Wing Chun to the adaptive strategies of JKD and the brutal efficiency of MMA, these kicks remain an essential part of a fighter’s arsenal. Whether for sport or self-defense, mastering the mechanics and timing of low kicks can provide a significant advantage, making them one of the most practical and efficient strikes in martial arts.
People travel to our martial arts and kickboxing classes in Berkhamsted from Tring, Hemel, Chesham and further afield because we teach stuff that has time and again, and in different contexts been proven to work. No dross, no filler. Good old fashioned knee busting techniques that work whether for the ring, the cage or the street.