Karate ・ Kick ・ Standing, close range

Valeri Kick

A low kick from full-contact karate, named after Valeri Dimitrov. Keep the knee bent, swing the leg up and out, then drop the heel like a sickle into the side or back of the opponent's thigh. It hits a single point, so it gets through even a tensed thigh.

Steps

1. At close range, open your body and square up to your opponent.
2. Keeping the right knee bent, swing it up and out at an angle, as if bow-legged.
3. Bring your shin around the outside of the opponent's thigh and fold the lower leg like a sickle.
4. Do not pull the foot back. Drop the heel from above and drive it into the side or back of the thigh.
5. Put the foot down right away and return to your guard.

Key points

• Stay relaxed. Simply let the heel fall from the lifted thigh.
• Strike with the heel, not the shin or instep. Think of stabbing with an awl rather than chopping with a hatchet.
• Aim at the leg carrying their weight, such as the rear leg. A loaded leg cannot give, so the kick hurts more.

Defense

• Lift the knee of the targeted leg and turn it outward to block with the shin.
• Do not leave all your weight on the leg being kicked.
• Close in to take away the room to swing the knee up, or step back out of range.