Cisco’s Fight Corner: Front Kick to the Face!

Listen to your corner, or else...

So today’s post is a little behind the times, but it is something that I have been thinking about for some time now and I figured I might as well share it with the world. Besides, the news cycle in the MMA world is limited and this is what you get , so deal with it.

First things first let me say that what you are about to read is a nugget of knowledge that most in the fighting world would kill for (you’re welcome). At BETA Academy we train in a variety of martial arts such as Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and MMA with some of the most knowledgeable coaches and fighters in the nation. It is only because I know that you are ready as a member of the BETA Academy family, that I will reveal the secret behind the front kick knockout.

Steven Seagal himself revealed the secret of the front kick to me after I defeated him in a best of 101 series of rock, paper, scissors.

Fear the purple pajamas

Now for those of you who haven’t seen any of the ridiculous front kick knockouts, let me bring you up to speed. Anderson Silva knocked out Vitor Belfort with a front kick knock out and credited Steven Seagal with teaching him the move. A few months later Lyoto Machida knocked out Randy Couture with a jumping front kick (aka the Karate Kid crane kick) and again credited Steven Seagal for inventing the move. Up to speed? Good.

Vitor has a foot fetish

Now these spectacular finishes bring to light a series of questions regarding the viability of traditional martial arts in MMA, the apparent omnipotence of anything that Steven Seagal touches, and countless other issues that I don’t have the time to address.

What we will concentrate on here is the reason why the front kick works.

You're the best around...

First off we have to acknowledge the skill of the practitioners. You can’t just walk off the street and knock out a former UFC champion like Vitor or Randy. That being said, this technique has as much to do with the practitioner as the opponent. To understand the success of these kicks you must understand 2 main points.

Both Vitor and Randy have a strong boxing background and it shows in their stance. They “sit into their punches” meaning they are much lower with their knees bent ready to deliver heavy hands. This differs from traditional Muay Thai or Karate stances, because Muay Thai and Karate fighters traditionally stand taller. So for those of you keeping track that was point # 1.

Point # 2 is about the guard. In the boxing guard there tends to be a small opening down the middle (especially with MMA gloves). This space can quickly be closed in order to block punches (normally jabs, crosses, hooks and uppercuts). The guard against an uppercut or a body shot is a little slower than  the guard against jabs and crosses, but it usually works out, because the hooks and uppercuts tend to be a little more obvious/slower than the straight punches. When you throw kicks into the mix, the guard is similar. Elbows block the ribs and the hands guard the head. Normally.

So for the slower audience, lets put the two together. Anderson and Lyoto went against guys with a boxing stance and a boxing guard. As Randy and Vitor bent down to load up into their punches they lowered their level. Their hands were up preparing to guard punches and ready to move to the sides to block kicks. The speed of the front kick exploits the split second hole down the middle of the guard, because it comes from below without the telegraphing that often comes with the uppercut. That combined with the quick snapping concussive motion of the traditional front kick, provides us with the perfect recipe for a spectacular knockout.

The UFC 65 lbs Division Champion

Disclaimer: I’ve never met Steven Seagal and this is just my analysis of the handy-work of some amazing athletes. I will say that I still think I could beat Seagal in rock, paper, scissors. Now go practice your front kick.