That just proves that anything can happen in a street fight, and nobody should place all of their faith in their skill alone. Every time you deliver a kick you leave yourself vulnerable. Simply put, punches are simpler strikes, they connect faster, and they tend to be more accurate than kicks. That's why most boxers can beat most karatekas in a street fight. Very few people possess the kicking skill necessary to succeed in a street fight. A few MMA fighters can pull off a perfectly timed kick, but most of them would never lead with a kick. In order for a kick to be effective, your opponent 'usually' has be tired or caught off guard.
I am not a big fan of the roundhouse kick in a street fight. The best roundhouse kickers I have seen have had a ring mat, or at least a flexible cage to full back on when their kick missed its mark. In the street you have neither or these things, and no referee to stop the fight, so missing with a roundhouse kick can out you in a vulnerable position very fast.
Your friend does Taekwondo, and that is your problem. To quote KW, the Mcdojo's hand out blackbelts like candy.
Also, taekwondo practitioners tend to hold their hands low, leaving their head wide open.
Roundhouse kicks with the ball of the foot are made for knee and ankle, and sometimes to the jaw or temple. Never kick your opponent in the head when you can kick his ankle. Roundhouse Kicks with the instep are great for the temple, and shin kicks are great for thighs and ribs.
Everything taught in a legit school has a place in self defense. As the roundhouse is a basic kick in every standup martial art, it definitely has a place.
One last thing. A belt is nothing more than a Garment meant to hold up ones pants.
Simply do the following exercise to see why high kicks, and kicks in general, are a risky proposition to be engaged in strategically vs. relied on solely (like many a TKD practitioner is apt to do). Standing in a normal stance, lift one leg off of the ground an hold it there. Notice how you are off balance in every direction, all 360 degrees? This is why you must have very fast kicks deployed only at precise ranges with precise baiting/feinting techniques, otherwise you are just going to get run over while kicking. They certainly have their place, but 2 years and a black belt from your local neighborhood TKD franchise aren't going to get you that kind of knowledge.
Round house kicks only go to the knee or below in a street fight and usually for sweeping the leg unless ur Chuck Norris :D
Punches and palm strikes are much much safer
Kicking can be dangerous to the kicker too.
Nothing is assured in a protection situation, just the need to escape.
To stay and fight is foolish if escape is possible.
Don't engage in "fights", but if you need to protect, escape is the order of the day.
confusing thing. browse using yahoo or google. it could actually help!
Yes, they work. Kicks, like any strike, require the proper execution, intent, dedication, etc. to be effective.
That one guy that you witnessed does not represent the millions of martial artists in the world.
It's the artist, not the art.
Kicks have their place, but they require timing, technique, and practice (lots of practice) to be effective.
So today i saw one of my friend who is a black belt in taekwondo got knocked out in a fight.he was going to do a roundhouse kick to the ribs.
