Master Haywood's 'invisible kicks' - low-line kicks delivered without ever looking at the attacker. By staying calm and non-threatening, the defender creates surprise while taking away the attacker's mobility and ability to continue the assault. Rooted in the karate principle: break the base, break the fight.
Take a street fighter out before they strike by breaking the support leg with a low side-blade kick delivered without ever looking at the target.
The invisible kick begins with your face and your hands. Eyes on theirs, palms open, voice calm - nothing about you announces the strike. You never glance at the leg. The target is felt, not seen.
From that non-threatening posture, the lead foot steps a shoulder-width off the line and the rear leg fires a low side-blade kick into the front or inside of their knee. Contact is the blade of the foot - the outside edge - not the instep. The intent is to disrupt balance and, in a worst-case scenario, break the leg so the assault cannot continue.
The goal is to stop the skilled street fighter before they ever throw. Recover immediately to a strong stance, both feet under you, hands still up, ready to disengage or defend if the threat continues.
- 1Never look at the leg you are about to kick
- 2Strike with the blade of the foot, not the instep
- 3Target the front or inside of the knee to break the base
- Looking down at the target and telegraphing the kick
- Kicking with the instep - soft weapon, hard target
- Chambering high before the strike; the low line reveals itself
- Standing on the target leg after impact
- Attacking the same leg twice without moving your angle