Kicking Drill for Sparring and Fighting

Are you kicker? If so, I’ve got a kicking drill that’s going to make you a better fighter on the mats, in the ring, or on the street.

If the video doesn’t play, you can find a summary below. Happy kicking!

The Problem…

Many martial artists throw solid kicks, but then let their foot fall wherever. They let gravity decide where their foot lands.

That’s a BAD HABIT because where you put your foot down determines what you can and cannot do next as a follow-up. And that’s not something you should leave to chance!

If you want to be a smart fighter and not just a scrapper, consider this—

A kick doesn’t end when your foot hits the target… a kick ends when your foot hits the ground.

If you think about it, a kick is really just a step. A violent step.

For example, let’s say I want to cut an angle to your outside. I could just step to the side, but the odds are you’ll see that coming. So, what else can I do?

I can throw some punches to hide my footwork. That works great!

But a third option is to throw a front kick then step down to the outside. In this way, a kick is just a detour on the way to where I want to go.

Of course, I can also kick and step in… or step across… or step back. Step wherever you like, just remember this—

A kick sets up your step… your step sets up your follow-up.

It’s like shooting pool—amateurs play one ball at a time, but the smart players, the pros, play the whole table.

Smart players order their shots so that the cue ball always ends up in a good position for the next shot. That’s how you get to keep shooting. That’s how you clear the table. That’s how you win! And it’s the same for kicks.

Kicking Drill for Sparring and Fighting

Here’s a drill to help you improve your follow-ups and design killer combinations.

STEP #1: Kick and stop.

Throw a front kick and hold it in the air. Obviously, you won’t stop in a real fight, this is just a drill to develop body control so you can put your foot down anywhere you want.

Make sure you always kick and step, never kick and fall!

STEP #2: Choose a spot to put your foot down.

Start off with the three spots we already talked about: outside, straight, across. Make it harder by imagining you’re standing on a clock.

The Clock Drill: Throw 12 front kicks and put your foot down on a different number each time.

Work your way around the clock or call out random numbers. The goal is to be able to put your foot down into a solid fighting stance on any number.

Of course, in a real fight, you may not get to choose where you put your foot down because it gets jammed or you take a hit, so practicing follow-ups from every position on the clock is important whether you’re on the attack or recovering from a mistake.

Step #3: Work out your combinations.

Mix and match your favorite moves to see what feels good and what doesn’t from every position. Here are some basic ideas to build combos off a front leg Front Kick in an orthodox stance.

KICK AND STEP STRAIGHT (12:00). Follow up with straight punches, a right straight knee, a clinch, or a double leg takedown.

KICK AND STEP OUT (11:00). Follow up with an overhand right, a right hook to the body, or a right round kick.

KICK AND STEP ACROSS (1:00). Follow up with a side kick, spinning elbow, or a spinning back kick.

Ultimately, it’s your art, so it’s up to you to work out combinations that fit your goals and abilities.

Oh—and don’t stop with your front kick! Try the Clock Drill with your side kick, round kick, and any other kick you know.

Step #4: Try it out!

Once you find a couple of combos you really like, work them into your next sparring session. Trust me—if your combinations make sense, with a little practice, you’ll be landing more shots than ever.

So, don’t be a scrapper—be a smart fighter. Plan ahead!

Practice this kicking drill so you can put your foot down exactly where you want it to go and do exactly what you want to do.