How to Make a Toe Kick

A toe kick is a technique that requires a great deal of practice in order to perfect in the martial arts. The toe kick can be a very effective technique. It offers a good combination of speed along with the power that comes from using the leg rather than the hand to deliver a strike. However, flaws in technique when you attempt a toe kick provides a high degree of risk. It is very easy for a martial artist to injure himself instead of the opponent if a toe kick is delivered improperly.

Instructions

    • 1

      Stand in a fighting stance that you are comfortable with. Avoid the low formalized stances of traditional arts unless you are learning the toe kick in the context of a prescribed form.

    • 2

      Chamber your foot. Draw your leg up so that your thigh is roughly parallel to the ground. Keep your lower leg pointed down and the toe pointed straight at the ground. Keep the tension light in your leg and stay on balance at all times. You should be able to stop a kick from the chamber position and return to your stance easily without being off balance.

    • 3

      Flick your leg from the knee towards the target. Tense your foot at the last minute with the toes clenched tightly together and pointed down as much as you can. Do not let the toes curl up or they can snag or be caught and injured very easily.

    • 4

      Visualize your foot as kicking through the target rather than stopping at the point of impact. This increases your overall power, and is a principle that should be applied to all strikes. However, don't push at the target and fall off balance.

    • 5

      Retract the foot as quickly as you shot it forward back to the chamber position. Stay in balance. An experienced martial artist should be able to fire another kick if need be, without placing the foot back on the ground.

    • 6

      Place the kicking foot back on the ground.