The calf kicks had been widely in use in Ashihara Karate a full contact karate form which evolved out of Kyokushin Kai Karate with more focus on Sabaki or circular footwork system. Someone somewhere found the effectiveness and started using it in modern MMA and as always If it works it will find its way to the top. Thanks a lot for this comparative analysis of the 3 dominant low kicks. Highly appreciated 👍

Love it. What someone can do to build power for the ankle sweeps: Invest some time in training "outside-to-inside-crescent-kicks". Mainly because you pull your leg with the hip abductor muscles, which is very different from the muscles used for roundkicks.

Maybe it's also worth mentioning that all those kicks have a slightly different range with the body kick having the longest range as the leg extends straight away from your body. High kick to the head and low kicks extend at an angle thus shortening the range. It gets a bit mitigated as your opponents' legs, depending on their stance, are also slightly closer to you than their body (or head). So it's important to gauge the distance to the individual target. A nice variant of the calf kick is targeting the back-leg calf. Condition your opponent with regular low (thigh) kicks until he automatically starts lifting his leg to check, then make an "obvious" low kick but go under the lifted leg and hit the rear leg calf. He won't be able to defend as while his front leg is up to check the supposed low kick, all his weight is on the rear leg making it impossible to move away.

I have never heard about that way defend the calf kick, gotta try it out in my next sparring session. I only know how to turn the shin out so the calf kick hits the shin

Good video I've been an advocate of kicks to the calf and ankle and front of the shin for 30 plus years

We did this in TKD (ITF), years ago I believe we called it a "sweep kick".

Tommy you're back! .... Oh. RIP.

Fantastic. Thanks 🙏🏻

GREAT VIDEO-- and YES agreed!!!!

Very informative Thank you.

As an instructor (self defense/jkd) I always talk about this, I'm amazed that usually nobody does, and I'm glad to see this video (great summary, by the way)

Ashi barai / foot sweep is a truly effective technique followed up with a punch ⚡️🥋

JOLLY GOOD SHOW OLD CHAP

You earned my subscription !!!

Nice man

Love your stuff brother!! Don't know why I didn't find you earlier....let's stay in touch please.

Eyyyy Tommy!

Love me some low kicks. Lot more practical for both sport and self defense. I found kicking higher, if I was not fully warmed up or anything I would pull a muscle or eat shit 😂

Conor McGregor disagrees.