One of the best techniques for real self defense is the low kick. While you don't need herculean power to succeed with these kicks, some martial artists do worry about making their kicks hard enough to defend. Here are three important tips to developing stronger low kicks....
1) Kick Modified
Kick with with your foot turned as though you were kicking with your instep. Turn your foot, so you are kicking with the wide, instep side. Still, kick mostly with the bottom of your foot.
In other words, don't make contact with a vulnerable area like the inside ankle. I am just teaching you foot position. Don't cripple yourself when you make contact.
2) Low Kick Scrapes: In and Down
When you kick low, think two thoughts at the same time. Think of kicking past the leg -- through the shin, AND imagine scraping down the front of your attacker's shin.
Believe it or not, I still think in and down, when I am kicking into the knee. Careful when practicing this, by the way. Knees are sensitive. It doesn't take much to damage one. In fact, this is the beauty of low line kicking. It doesn't take a lot of power to produce an affect. With a little work, you should be able to stop a serious attacker with one kick.
Note: I like the idea of kicking and then running away. Better yet, can you just run away without even taking the time to kick? Always play it safe, when you can.
3) Practice two main low kicks over and over
Practice kicking just under the knee cap (patella) for serious situations, and practice a good shin scrape that starts at mid-shin and drops in and down to just above where the leg meets the front of the foot.
Bonus Low Kick Tip --
Plan a couple of "next moves." As mentioned above, practice for a "kick-and-run" strategy. Practice a low kick followed by a punch or jab to the face. Practice a low kick followed by another quick, low kick. Practice your low kick followed by ... a barrage of punches.
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