View source for Low kick

{{Short description|Martial arts strike}}
{{infobox Chinese
| pic     = Low kick.jpg
| picsize = 250px
| piccap  = A fighter kicking with his shin.
}}
A '''low kick''' (also known as a '''leg kick''') is a [[kick]] in which the attacker strikes the opponent's lower body ([[thigh]] or [[calf (leg)|calf]]) with the [[shinbone]] or foot. This type of kick, under different names, is utilized in numerous [[martial arts]] such as [[Chinese martial arts|Kung fu]], [[karate]], [[taekwondo]], [[kūdō]], [[kickboxing]], [[pradal serey]], [[lethwei]], [[Muay Thai]], and [[Mixed martial arts|MMA]].
==Damage==
<gallery>
Image:Semi1.jpg|An outside leg kick.
Image:Semi2.jpg|An inside leg kick.
Image: saisie_fauchage.jpg|Catching the opponent's leg kick and [[Sweep (martial arts)|sweeping]] their supporting leg.
</gallery>
Low kicks are utilized to damage the opponents legs, which causes the loss of dexterity, stability, and mobility. Being struck repeatedly by low kicks can often result in damage to [[bone]]s, [[joint]]s, [[ligament]]s and [[muscle tissue]].<ref>[http://www.cagepotato.com/cage-potato-tribute-leg-kick/ Cage Potato Tribute: The Leg Kick]</ref> The [[sciatic nerve]], which is the longest and widest nerve in the human body, beginning in the lower back and running through the buttocks all the way to the lower limb, is a frequent target for low kicks.<ref>[http://fightercorner.com/the-anatomy-of-the-leg-kick/ The Anatomy of the Leg Kick]</ref>
<gallery>
Image:Kick checking diagram.svg|A low kick being checked.
</gallery>
==Checking==
The most common defense against a low kick is known as "checking", where the leg is bent and brought up to protect the thigh. This causes the kicker to slam his/her shin into the defending fighters' shin or knee, causing pain and damage to the offender. In some instances, a well executed check of a low kick can break the leg of the offender — as it was the case when [[Chris Weidman]] checked [[Anderson Silva]]’s inside low kick in [[UFC 168]], and most recently, when [[Uriah Hall]] checked [[Chris Weidman|Chris Weidman's]] inside low kick with the same result at [[UFC 261]]<ref>[http://www.vegan-fighter.com/articles/how-to-practice-low-kicks.html How to practice low kicks]</ref><ref>[http://www.mmamania.com/2011/8/22/2373511/the-striking-zone-why-legs-kicks-are-game-changers The Striking Zone: Why leg kicks are game changers in MMA]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://damagecontrolmma.com/2010/04/leg-kick-defenses-the-basics/ |title=How To Destroy Leg Kicks: Defense & Counters |access-date=2013-04-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130421110610/http://damagecontrolmma.com/2010/04/leg-kick-defenses-the-basics |archive-date=2013-04-21 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://damagecontrolmma.com/2009/09/the-anatomy-of-the-muay-thai-kickboxing-mma-leg-kick-and-beyond/ |title=The Anatomy of the Muay Thai MMA Leg Kick and Beyond |access-date=2013-04-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130409130610/http://damagecontrolmma.com/2009/09/the-anatomy-of-the-muay-thai-kickboxing-mma-leg-kick-and-beyond/ |archive-date=2013-04-09 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ufc/2013/12/29/ufc-168-chris-weidman-wins-anderson-silva-gruesome-leg-injury/4238605/ Chris Weidman retains UFC belt after gruesome Anderson Silva leg injury ends fight<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
==Use of low kicks in competition==
Low kicks are prohibited under [[Kickboxing#Full contact|American kickboxing full contact rules]]{{Broken anchor|date=2024-07-19|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=Kickboxing#Full contact|reason=Anchor "Kickboxing#Full contact" links to a specific web page: "Full-contact". The anchor (Full contact) [[Special:Diff/1065031658|has been deleted]].}}.{{citation needed|date=April 2016}}
However, they are allowed in [[kickboxing]] under [[Kickboxing#International|International rules]]{{Broken anchor|date=2024-07-19|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=Kickboxing#International|reason= The anchor (International) [[Special:Diff/1162015749|has been deleted]].}} and [[Kickboxing#European rules|Oriental rules]]{{Broken anchor|date=2024-07-19|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=Kickboxing#European rules|reason= The anchor (European rules) [[Special:Diff/1018107190|has been deleted]].}} as well as in its variants such as [[muay Thai]], [[sanshou]], and [[shoot boxing]]. They are also one of the most commonly used weapons in [[full contact karate]] styles like [[Ashihara kaikan|Ashihara]], [[Enshin kaikan|Enshin]], [[Kyokushin kaikan|Kyokushin]] and [[Seidokaikan]].
Notable examples of fighters using low kicks which affected the outcome of a match:
*[[Maurice Smith (kickboxer)|Maurice Smith]] stopped Travis Everett to retain the [[World Kickboxing Association|WKA]] World Heavyweight Championship in Mexico City, Mexico in 1983.
*[[Maurice Smith (kickboxer)|Maurice Smith]] stopped Raymond Horsey to retain the [[World Kickboxing Association|WKA]] World Heavyweight Championship in Atlanta, Georgia, USA in 1986.
*[[Maurice Smith (kickboxer)|Maurice Smith]] stopped [[Bill Morrison (kickboxer)|Bill Morrison]] to retain the [[World Kickboxing Association|WKA]] World Heavyweight Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA in 1987.
*[[Changpuek Kiatsongrit]] stopped Rick Roufus in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA on November 5, 1988.
*[[Maurice Smith (kickboxer)|Maurice Smith]] stopped Steven Kruwell at the ''World Martial Arts Challenge'' (Las Vegas, Nevada, USA) on March 16, 1992.
*[[Stan Longinidis]] broke [[Dennis Alexio]]'s leg to win the [[International Sport Karate Association|ISKA]] World Heavyweight Oriental Championship at ''Clash of the Titans'' (Melbourne, Australia) on December 6, 1992.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=DdIDAAAAMBAJ&dq=dennis+alexio+stan+longinidis&pg=PA15 Alexio breaks leg, loses kickboxing title]</ref>
*[[Marco Ruas]] stopped [[Paul Varelans]] at ''[[UFC 7]]'' (Buffalo, New York, USA) on September 8, 1995.<ref name=autogenerated1>[http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1485128-nate-marquardt-tarec-saffiedine-and-the-10-most-brutal-leg-kick-performances/page/7 Nate Marquardt, Tarec Saffiedine and the 10 Most Brutal Leg-Kick Performances]</ref>
*[[Maurice Smith (kickboxer)|Maurice Smith]] stopped [[Tank Abbott]] at ''[[UFC 15]]'' (Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, USA) on October 17, 1997.
*[[Pedro Rizzo]] utilized low kicks heavily against [[Randy Couture]] but lost by split decision in a [[UFC Heavyweight Championship]] match at ''[[UFC 31]]'' (Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA) on May 4, 2001.<ref>[http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1485128-nate-marquardt-tarec-saffiedine-and-the-10-most-brutal-leg-kick-performances/page/5 Nate Marquardt, Tarec Saffiedine and the 10 Most Brutal Leg-Kick Performances]</ref>
*[[Paul Slowinski]] stopped [[Faisal Zakaria]] to win the [[World Muaythai Council|WMC]] in Bangkok, Thailand on December 23, 2001.
*[[Antoni Hardonk]] stopped [[Ibragim Magomedov]] at ''Bushido Europe: Rotterdam Rumble'' (Rotterdam, Netherlands) on October 9, 2005.
*[[Paul Slowinski]] stopped Abdumalik Gadzhiev at ''Knees of Fury 12'' (Adelaide, Australia) on February 2, 2006.
*[[Paul Slowinski]] stopped [[Peter Graham (kickboxer)|Peter Graham]] at the ''[[K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 in Auckland]]'' (Auckland, New Zealand) on March 5, 2006.
*[[Daniel Ghiță]] stopped Muhammad Ali Durmaz at ''LocalKombat 21'' (Bacău, Romania) on June 2, 2006.
*[[Mirko Filipović|Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipović]] stopped [[Hidehiko Yoshida]] at ''[[Pride Critical Countdown Absolute]]'' (Saitama, Japan) on July 1, 2006.<ref>[http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1485128-nate-marquardt-tarec-saffiedine-and-the-10-most-brutal-leg-kick-performances/page/11 Nate Marquardt, Tarec Saffiedine and the 10 Most Brutal Leg-Kick Performances]</ref>
*[[Bas Rutten]] stopped Ruben Villareal at ''[[WFA: King of the Streets]]'' (Los Angeles, California, USA) on July 22, 2006.
*[[Antoni Hardonk]] stopped Sherman Pendergarst at ''[[UFC 65]]'' (Sacramento, California, United States) on November 18, 2006.
*[[Paul Slowinski]] stopped Abbas Asaraki at ''Fury in Macau'' (Macau, China) on June 2, 2007.
*[[Daniel Ghiță]] stopped [[James Phillips (kickboxer)|James Phillips]] at ''LocalKombat 27'' (Drobeta-Turnu Severin, Romania) on November 3, 2007.
*[[Paul Slowinski]] stopped [[Mighty Mo (kickboxer)|Mighty Mo]] at the ''[[K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 Final]]'' (Tokyo, Japan) on December 8, 2007.
*[[Daniel Ghiță]] stopped Tadas Rimkevičius at ''LocalKombat 28'' (Braşov, Romania) on December 14, 2007.
*[[Antoni Hardonk]] stopped Colin Robinson at ''[[UFC 80]]'' (Newcastle, England) on January 19, 2008.
*[[Forrest Griffin]] utilized low kicks heavily against [[Quinton Jackson|Quinton "Rampage" Jackson]] to win the [[UFC Light Heavyweight Championship]] by unanimous decision at ''[[UFC 86]]'' (Las Vegas, Nevada, USA) on July 5, 2008.<ref>[http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1485128-nate-marquardt-tarec-saffiedine-and-the-10-most-brutal-leg-kick-performances/page/2 Nate Marquardt, Tarec Saffiedine and the 10 Most Brutal Leg-Kick Performances]</ref>
*[[Thiago Alves (fighter)|Thiago Alves]] utilized low kicks heavily against [[Josh Koscheck]] to win by unanimous decision at ''[[UFC 90]]'' (Rosemont, Illinois, USA) on October 25, 2008.<ref>[http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1485128-nate-marquardt-tarec-saffiedine-and-the-10-most-brutal-leg-kick-performances/page/9 Nate Marquardt, Tarec Saffiedine and the 10 Most Brutal Leg-Kick Performances]</ref>
*[[Pat Barry (fighter)|Pat Barry]] stopped [[Dan Evensen]] at ''[[UFC 92]]'' (Las Vegas, Nevada, USA) on December 27, 2008.<ref name=autogenerated1 />
*[[Mirko Filipović|Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipović]] stopped [[Choi Hong-man]] at ''[[Dynamite!! 2008]]'' (Saitama, Japan) on December 31, 2008.
*[[Daniel Ghiță]] stopped [[Igor Mihaljević]] at the ''[[K-1 Rules Tournament 2009 in Budapest]]'' (Budapest, Hungary) on February 28, 2009.
*[[Brandon Vera]] stopped Mike Patt at ''[[UFC 96]]'' (Columbus, Ohio, USA) on March 7, 2009.
*[[Daniel Ghiță]] stopped [[Tomáš Hron]] at ''[[It's Showtime 2009 Amsterdam]]'' (Amsterdam, Netherlands) on May 16, 2009.
*[[Daniel Ghiță]] stopped Yuki Niimura and [[Sergei Lascenko]] to win the ''[[K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 in Tokyo Final 16 Qualifying GP]]'' (Tokyo, Japan) on August 11, 2009.
*[[Paul Slowinski]] stopped [[Ben Edwards (kickboxer)|Ben Edwards]] at ''Evolution 18'' (Melbourne, Australia) on October 9, 2009.
*[[Daniel Ghiță]] stopped [[Sergei Kharitonov]] at the ''[[K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 Final]]'' (Tokyo, Japan) on December 5, 2009.
*[[José Aldo]] utilized low kicks heavily against [[Urijah Faber]] to retain the [[WEC Featherweight Championship]] by unanimous decision at ''[[WEC 48]]'' (Sacramento, California, USA) on April 24, 2010.<ref>[http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1485128-nate-marquardt-tarec-saffiedine-and-the-10-most-brutal-leg-kick-performances/page/6 Nate Marquardt, Tarec Saffiedine and the 10 Most Brutal Leg-Kick Performances]</ref>
*[[Mauricio Rua]] effectively uses leg kicks in his fights, most notably in his first bout against [[Lyoto Machida]] at ''[[UFC 104]]''
*[[Edson Barboza]] stopped Mike Lullo at ''[[UFC 123]]'' (Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA) on November 20, 2010.<ref>[http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1061088-most-vicious-leg-kicks-in-mma/page/4 Most Vicious Leg Kicks in MMA]</ref>
*[[Pat Barry (fighter)|Pat Barry]] utilized low kicks heavily against [[Joey Beltran]] to win by unanimous decision at ''[[UFC: Fight For The Troops 2]]'' (Fort Hood, Texas, USA) on January 22, 2011.<ref>[http://www.mmabay.co.uk/2011/01/22/ufn-23-%E2%80%93-pat-barry-leg-kick%E2%80%99s-his-way-to-a-victory-over-joey-beltran-in-fort-hood-texas/ UFN 23 – Pat Barry leg-kick’s his way to a victory over Joey Beltran in Fort Hood, Texas] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130505032816/http://www.mmabay.co.uk/2011/01/22/ufn-23-%E2%80%93-pat-barry-leg-kick%E2%80%99s-his-way-to-a-victory-over-joey-beltran-in-fort-hood-texas/ |date=2013-05-05 }}</ref>
*[[Daniel Ghiță]] stopped Fikri Ameziane at ''[[It's Showtime 2011 Lyon]]'' (Lyon, France) on May 14, 2011.
*[[Paul Slowinski]] stopped Chris Knowles at ''Knees of Fury 35'' (Adelaide, Australia) on November 26, 2011.
*[[Paul Slowinski]] stopped Steve Banks at ''Knees of Fury 36'' (Adelaide, Australia) on February 25, 2012.
*[[Tarec Saffiedine]] utilized low kicks heavily against [[Nate Marquardt]] to win the Strikeforce Welterweight Championship by unanimous decision at ''[[Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine]]'' (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA) on January 12, 2013.<ref>[http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1485128-nate-marquardt-tarec-saffiedine-and-the-10-most-brutal-leg-kick-performances/page/4 Nate Marquardt, Tarec Saffiedine and the 10 Most Brutal Leg-Kick Performances]</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Kicks]]
[[Category:Kickboxing terminology]]