Self Defense Groin Kick Secrets
The self defense groin kick is without a doubt a valuable technique in close quarters combat! (Any guy who’s ever racked himself on the crossbar of his bicycle knows that!)
But there’s a bunch of mistakes that many martial artists make when executing a groin kick for self defense…
…mistakes that can actually end up hurting YOU as a result if you don’t do pay close attention to these aspects of your technique.
Self Defense Groin Kick Secret #1: Use In Close Quarters Combat!
Don’t go for a groin kick from far away!
As men, we have a subconscious radar that register when someone is going to hit our groin. This makes it harder to deliver an effective groin kick because he’s more likely to turn to avoid the kick as an instinctive reaction.
Self Defense Groin Kick Secret #2: Beware The Headbutt!
Self defense groin kicks, when used as taught in most “traditional” training settings, use a “linear” approach that places the martial artist directly in front of their attacker.
But the way the body naturally reacts when hit with a groin kick is to instantly bend forward.
If you attempt a groin kick for self defense when you’re right in front of your attacker, this places you right in the way of your attacker’s head as it comes crashing down in an involuntary reaction.
Needless to say, you don’t want to transform your groin kick against your attacker into a “headbutt” that takes YOU out of the fight.
This IS for “self defense” remember! ;-)
Self Defense Groin Kick Secret #3: Attack HIGH First!
You can stop the natural “headbutt” reaction by first striking high to your attacker’s body.
This also makes sure that he doesn’t see the groin kick coming and you can deliver more power in your technique.
Self Defense Groin Kick Secret #4: Shift Your Body!
The secret to proper execution for a self defense groin kick then is to kick while shifting your body slightly to the SIDE as you kick.
When you execute this technique in this way, you can actually deliver more power AND make sure you’re out of the way should your attacker’s head lurch forward.
Consider all of these techniques the next time you train for the self defense groin kick!
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More from: Jeff Anderson
Jeff Anderson is a 10 year veteran of the U.S. Army, a Master Fitness Trainer, and Master Instructor of Close Quarters Combat self defense. A full time fitness and self defense author, Jeff has trained thousands of men and women in the practical application of advanced military fitness methods as well as close combat tactics for "real life" self defense.
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Jeff,
Good info. I agree — you can deliver more power with kick by shifting weight and spinning (slightly) on the grounded foot. However, I have always taught my daughters to “kick for the chin, aim for the crotch.” This works pretty effectively as well.
Thanks
Joe Rhodes
groinkicks are for girls, men only use it when they are certain they will lose the fight. and honestly, what guy ever is?
Great comments everyone (even he-man Billy).
I like the “aim for the chin” method! ;-)
Some forgotten principles from someone who HAS been in real fights…
EVERY fight is a “multi-fight” situation…period! ALWAYS assume that there are others (buddies…gang brothers…bystanders who think YOU’RE the “bad guy”…etc) who will jump into the fight.
For this reason, you DON’T want to do the typical “barroom haymaker swap” back and forth with the person you’re defending against.
The only one who’s going to call you a “girl” for slipping in a well executed groin kick is the guy who attacked you and is now sitting in jail with a bag of ice on his crotch.
I can tell you who WON’T call you a girl…your kids as you kiss them on the head as you tuck them in at night. Those are the moments you defend for…because if you don’t have the chops (or the confidence in your manhood) to fight dirty and nasty against someone who means you harm, then the kiss you gave them last night may just be the last one they get.
Maybe.
Jeff, as you know, the groin kick move was taught in special forces training. It was even taught to the FSSF in their training. My Dad was a FSSF man and was anything but girlie. And I’ll kick anyone in the groin that disagrees.
if God hadn’t wanted them to be kicked, He would have put them out of reach!
A man in Oxnard gave a 150lb Bull Mastiff to me when he found out I was a former Mastiff owner. The dog was a fantastic example of a healthy powerful animal. He told me the dog was hard to handle. I put the dog in the back yard to get aquainted and he started banging the door with his paw and sounding like a gunshot everytime he struck. I went out to voice my opinion of this and he immediatly went for my throat. I turned away but not fast enough. One of his Fangs caught my Clavicle and in a heartbeat I knew I was going to be either crippled or dead.
Plotting the course of my right foot I lowered the toe and snap kicked his groin as hard as a Patriot Placekicker after a Superbowl Ring.
The conflict ceased and the growling stopped. My heart started! I looked into his eyes and watched them rotate out of sight to somewhere between his ears. He looked like that eyeless dog in the “Little Orphan Annie,” Comic strips.
He was OUT for about 5 minutes and unmoving for 15. I shackled him, Purpwalked him to the truck, took him back to the previous owner and recommended he turn him in to the SPCA for evaluation.
You got to be thinking at all times but I am pleased to report that the bigger the Balls the harder they fall. Stll, it WAS scary!
The only problem with a groin kick is precisely that it is so effective. Every father of a girl teaches her to use it, and every father of a boy teaches him a way to block it.
Much more effective is to fake a groin kick then taks advantage of the instintive cover-up. There are dozens of possible follow-ups.
Jeff,
I hate to say it, but the groin hit actually doesn’t work well for us women. The guys are expecting it and know it’s one of the few ways we can take them down, so they know to move or position their knees or legs in a way that makes it impossible for us to hit, knee, or kick them. Do you have any tips for executing a groin hit if they’re using their legs or knees to block you instead of their hands, or while they keep angling their bodies away?