MANY MARTIAL ARTISTS, including Jeet Kune Do practitioners, feel most comfortable employing upper-body tools, particularly the hands, as the primary weapons. This is natural and to be expected, because we use our hands for most of our daily tasks. We generally employ our legs and our feet for standing or walking.
However, if we focus only on the upper-body tools, we miss out on some important weapons that can prove very useful in combat. The lower-body tools provide additional options that the Jeet Kune Do fighter can employ to become a well-rounded fighter. Many street fighters themselves are not well trained in deploying, or defending against, the lower-body tools. The Jeet Kune Do fighter who can make intelligent use of these weapons can gain an advantage over an opponent.
The lower-body tools consist of long kicks, short kicks, and knee strikes. Like the upper-body tools, these lower-body techniques can be delivered from different angles, such as left side, right side, and straight. They can be executed from different heights, namely, high, middle, and low, although the main emphasis in Jeet Kune Do is on striking low.
Kicks
Because most people have two feet, it makes sense that Bruce Lee would want to incorporate kicks that employ both feet. He researched different kicks from Northern gung fu styles and French Savate to develop his arsenal of kicks. As a result, Jeet Kune Do contains both lead kicking tools and rear kicking tools. However, the stress is on the lead tools about 80 percent of the time in attacking, so the lead kicks are utilized much more often than the rear kicks. The following is an examination of some of the major kicks included in Jeet Kune Do.
Lead Snap Kick
In a street confrontation the basic rule is that there are no rules. For good reasons sporting matches prohibit strikes to the eyes, knees, and groin, but these targets are considered fair game in a real fight. In particular, kicks to the groin are part of the arsenal of the Jeet Kune Do fighter.
The lead snap kick is one of the basic kicks that aim for your opponent’s groin. To deliver this kick, you raise your front knee and lift your front foot off the ground. From there you snap the lower leg in an upward, vertical line so that your front foot strikes your opponent’s groin. Your instep or tip of the foot should make contact with the groin. It should strike the target like a whip.
In his films Bruce Lee became famous for his rapid, high kicks to the head. However, for a real street fight, he would discourage the use of such kicks, instead opting for targets at the middle to lower levels of the body. This is because a person can easily lose his balance if he tries a high kick on the street.
If you are already in range to strike your opponent’s groin, then you only need to shift your weight back to your rear leg as you lift your front leg to execute the kick. However, if you are initially out of range of your target, then you can use slide step footwork to put you into position to land the kick. After doing so, you can drop your front foot to the ground so that you are close enough to follow up with a lead punch. Alternately, if you do not want to stay at that distance—for example, because you want to avoid a counterattack— then you should use pendulum footwork. This will enable you to land the snap kick, then quickly return to your original position.
This particular kick is similar to the lead snap kick in its mechanics. However, it is used specifically against an opponent who is in an unmatched lead. For example, if you are in right lead and your opponent faces you in left lead, you can utilize this kick.
When your opponent is in unmatched lead, the primary targets for your strikes, such as the sternum and groin, face away from you. Therefore, your strikes must come from a different angle in order to reach them. While many kicks tend to move from the outside in, the lead inverted kick moves from the inside out, in order to reach these targets. It can be compared to the lead backfist, which also moves from the inside out.
To execute the lead inverted kick, lift your knee as you would for the lead snap kick. Then tilt your knee outward toward your right. From there snap the lower leg so that it goes along an outward angle and your front foot can strike your intended target (see Figure 11-1). As soon as your foot has landed on the target, retract it along the same line and drop your foot down so that you are closer to your opponent. If you do not want to land in a closer position, you can bring your foot back to its original position.
The lead inverted kick can be thrown from a stationary position if you are in range to reach your target. Otherwise, you can use slide step advance footwork to bring you into range. You can also employ pendulum step footwork to reach the target, then return to your initial position.
Lead Hook Kick
The lead hook kick is another technique in which you snap the lower leg into the target. Like the hook punch, it travels along a horizontal angle from the side into your opponent’s body. In some ways it is similar to the roundhouse kick used in other martial arts systems. However, the lead hook kick does not chamber, or cock back, as much before it snaps at the target. Also, it moves along a tighter arc toward the target and is more explosive. It should not swing along a wide arc because that exposes your body too much to counterattack.
To execute this kick, you first lift your lead knee. You then turn your body toward the side and torque your hips as you aim the lead knee toward the target. You should pivot on your rear foot as you snap your lower leg. The top instep of your front foot should make impact with your target. As soon as it does, you retract your lower leg along the same line and drop your knee. Your front foot then drops down, and you should return to the bai-jong stance.
The lead hook kick can be executed at different heights, depending upon your intended target. A high hook kick can strike the head. A mid-level hook kick can hit the ribs. A low hook kick can target the groin, inner thigh, or knee. Depending upon your flexibility, you should practice the hook kick at varying levels, which gives you more options and makes it more difficult to predict where you will kick.
You can throw the lead hook kick from a stationary position if you are already in range to land the kick upon your opponent. Otherwise, you utilize slide step footwork to move into range to land the kick. Alternately, you can use pendulum footwork to land the kick and then return to your original position, safe from your opponent’s counterattack.
Lead Side Kick
The lead side kick has the longest reach of any kick and was one of Bruce Lee’s specialties. He refined it to the point where it was the most powerful kicking tool in his arsenal. Although many believe that the side kick is a relatively slow and telegraphic kick, Lee could execute it with such speed and power, even from a stationary position, that his opponents could not avoid being struck.
In throwing the lead side kick, especially from long range, you must commit the entire weight of your body into the forward motion. When this is done properly, the momentum generated by the kick can send your opponent flying back, with little chance of recovery. However, you must execute it with the right timing, lest your opponent evade the kick and counterattack in the midst of your completing it.
To execute the kick, you raise your front knee. You must turn your body to the side and torque your hips so that your entire body is aligned toward the target. Your rear foot should pivot. You then thrust the leg from your hips into the target. Your lead foot should turn so that it is parallel to the ground from toe to heel. The surface of the foot that strikes the target should be the bottom flat portion of the foot, not the edge.
As you extend your leg into the target, your upper torso should lean back to assist in the proper alignment of the entire body (see Figure 11-2). This also moves your upper body away from any counterattacks that your opponent may attempt. Further, it provides a counterbalance to your extended kick.
The kick can be thrown at either mid-level or low level. At mid-level your target is your opponent’s chest or stomach. At low level, the knee or shin is a useful target.
You can throw the kick from a stationary position if you are already in range. If your opponent advances toward you, you can use the side kick to counter his or her forward movement. If your opponent is in long range, use slide step footwork to advance toward your opponent as you execute the kick. Figure 11-2: Lead side kick against kicking shield
The lead thrust kick propels your foot along a forward horizontal line to your opponent, which pushes him or her backward. To execute the kick, you raise your front knee and front hip to cock the leg. Normally, your rear shoulder will move forward so that you face your opponent in a more squared-up position. From there, with your lower leg hoisted and front toes pointed up, you use your hip to thrust the front foot forward. The ball of your foot strikes your opponent to knock him or her back.
This particular kick can be thrown at mid-level or low level. At mid-level you target either the sternum or the midsection. At low level you aim for the thigh or the knee. Rather than retract the lead leg, you usually drop the leg down after completing the kick. This takes you closer to your opponent, so you can follow up with other techniques as needed. While executing the kick, be sure to keep both of your hands up, both to protect yourself and to keep them in position to strike.
Lead Foot Obstruction
This particular kick illustrates the principle of interception in Jeet Kune Do. It looks similar to a side kick to the shin, but it is executed differently. As an opponent in long range steps toward you to punch or kick, you turn your hips and lift up your front leg so that your front foot is turned sideways. Keep your leg stiff as the front foot targets your opponent’s front shin. In this manner you obstruct the forward movement of your opponent, disrupting the attack, which allows you to follow up with a lead hand attack. You can also use this kick in a preemptive manner as you advance toward your opponent, to prevent him or her from using the lead leg to counterattack you as you move forward.
Rear Hook Kick
Besides the lead hook kick, there is also a rear hook kick, which moves from the outside in to the target. The mechanics are similar to those of the lead hook kick, except, of course, that the kick emanates from the rear leg instead of the front leg. To execute it, you lift your rear knee and turn your body to the side. You torque your hips and snap the lower part of the leg so that the instep of your rear foot strikes the target (see Figure 11-3). As you turn into the kick, you pivot on your front foot.
To complete the kick, you can set your rear foot down so that you end up in a different lead. You can also retract your foot so that you end up in your original position. However, doing so can be relatively slow because of the longer distance that the foot must cover in returning.
Rear Thrust Kick
Like the lead thrust kick, this particular kick begins with raising the rear hip and rear knee forward. From there you lift up the lower part of your rear leg so that your rear toes point up. You use your rear hip to thrust your leg forward to strike at your opponent. The ball of the foot strikes your opponent, sending him or her backward. Although it is possible to retract the leg after the kick, the momentum of the kick normally brings your rear leg forward in front of your other leg. It is easier, therefore, to simply drop the foot and end up with the other side forward.
Because the distance of your kick is dictated by the position of your front support leg, the rear thrust kick has a greater reach than the lead thrust kick. If your opponent is too far away for you to strike with a lead thrust kick, you may be able to reach your target with the rear thrust kick.
Spinning Rear Kick
Another kick that makes use of the longer reach of the rear leg is the spinning rear kick. To execute this kick, you first turn your body away from your opponent as you pivot on your front leg. As you continue to rotate your body, turn your head forward so that you are looking at your opponent over what was previously your rear shoulder.
You want to be able to see where your opponent is. While continuing to pivot, you raise your rear knee and leg in a cocked position. Then you thrust the foot forward, toes pointing sideways as in a side kick.
This kick can be used in several different ways. It can be employed as a surprise attack on an opponent who believes he or she is safe, just outside of range of your lead leg. While your opponent expects you to throw a lead kick, you can suddenly pivot on your front foot, spin, and thrust the rear foot to strike your target.
Another use is as a follow-up to a lead leg attack. For example, suppose you throw a lead hook kick at your opponent that barely misses, because your opponent retreats. Rather than do another lead leg attack, which the opponent may also evade, you can execute the spinning rear kick to reach your opponent.
A third use of this kick is as a counterattack to an opponent’s lateral movement. Suppose you face your opponent with your right side forward, when he or she suddenly darts diagonally to the left. Rather than change your position to try to track this movement, you can pivot on your lead foot and throw the spinning rear kick while your opponent is in transition.
Rear Oblique Kick
The rear oblique kick strikes the opponent’s front knee or shin with the arch of your rear foot. You can use it as either an attacking motion or an intercepting motion. For attacking, you lift your rear knee and turn your foot so that your toes face outward. Then thrust the kick at a slightly downward angle into your opponent’s front knee or shin.
To intercept, rather than lift up the rear knee, you glide it in an upward arc so that the foot lands on the target to stop your opponent’s forward movement. In either case, after landing the kick, you retract the leg to its original spot so that you remain in the same position as before. If your opponent steps back after you land the kick, however, you can set down your rear foot and shift your weight onto it as you step forward with the other foot, so that you move up toward your opponent. Alternately, you can kick with your lead foot after setting down your rear foot.
Knee Strikes
The knee is a lower-body tool that is typically used at close range. Both the front knee and the rear knee can be used to strike an opponent. Knee strikes can be executed along different angles. Either knee can be driven upward into the opponent—for example, as you pull your opponent’s torso down toward you. If you pull your opponent’s upper body to the side, you can drive your knee in an inward fashion into the body.
The knee can also shoot forward to strike your opponent’s legs. Finally, if your opponent is on the ground, you can drive the knee downward into the opponent.
The lower-body tools provide additional striking options that you can implement, particularly when you are at a farther distance from your opponent. In addition, they can be used to set an opponent up for different hand techniques. They enable the Jeet Kune Do student to become well-rounded and versatile.