What kind of kick is harder? one that pushs through or one that explodes and is pulled back?

Question

Im comparing TKD style kicks that slap then are pulled straight back to Muay Thai style kicks which push through the target. Some people say exploding all of your power into one point works, but others say you have to aim through the target.

I'd like to know what the most powerful is as far as force, and also as far as potential damage to whatever/whoever you're kicking.

Answer 1

The one where you try to kick through all the way with your shin, or the one where you hit the opponent with the tip/ball of your foot and snap back? Shin kick already proved to be the most painful and devastating.

I'm guessing you never experienced one of the kicks or probably neither. It's better to experience it in my opinion.

Answer 2

I study Isshin-Ryu karate, and we do use snapping kicks, but they are far more then a slap when executed correctly. First while many people use the top of the foot, we use the ball of the foot. Many people also do not realize that they should not be hitting just surface. The kick actually penetrates 3-4", or at least that is where the focus is. After it penetrates it snaps back out to chamber. Using the ball of the foot makes up for some of the raw power lost by not driving through the target.

I am mainly talking about the round kick here. A proper front snap kick will definetly do much more damage then a push front kick.

Each has it's advantages and disadvantages. A Muya Thai round kick focused through the target probably has more power, but if you miss you winde up in a much worse position then with a snap kick. With a snap kick you are not throwing your balance off. We actually use both, depending on the situation. The Muay thai style is great for if they are already stunned or you have grabbed an arm and have control.

Answer 3

Your presumption is incorrect.  Both styles have have kicks that "re-chamber" immediately, as well as kicks that are "follow through".  Both styles rarely throw single kicks and are often used in combination and set up.

To answer you question, kicks that follow through the target have more power than kicks that re-chamber.  

Example, board breaking, you are taught to go through the target, not slap the target, even though slapping can break single boards, it won't have the power to break multiple boards or a slab of concrete.  

That being said, power is generated by physics, mass (your foot) x velocity (your speed) = force.  

The great the speed, the greater the force.  

Then why are bigger slower guys more powerful than smaller faster guys?  Because the mass is greater, even though the velocity is less, the greater mass helps increase the force.

James

Answer 4

If you throw a regular roundhouse kick to someones face, and their hands are down, then you most likely are going to knock them the f**k out. Push kicks are good to the body for damage, and to get your oppponent back so you can set up for a combo

Answer 5

I'd say each way in it's own sense is more harmful than the other.  The damage done while kicking through a target can sometimes depend on what is behind the person to fly into. A quick snap could probably do more internal damage (to the internal organs and such) due to the whiplash factor on the bones and the whole body.

Answer 6

TKD and Muay Thai have both types of kicks. They aren't exclusive (And yes I've taken both).

It depends as one answer said. Would you rather be hit by a baseball bat, or a hammer? If you practice snapping kicks well enough, they'll be just like highly accurate hammers to small areas. Thrusting kicks? They'll be like bats. The only difference I could see having an effect is what part you're kicking with, but that also depends on your conditioning too. If you condition your shin, but don't condition your instep, well you know the rest.

Other than that: It would depend on the situation and where you're trying to hit.

Answer 7

Push kicks because u add more pressure than pull backs, but it also depends were u kick

Answer 8

Ok well here's the point...

A kick on the surface of the skin with everything focused at the surface will do nothing to you. A push will do nothing to you but move you off balance.

The target is always inside or behind the point of landing. So essentially what is happening is the explosive power of the kick is going through the opponent's body. That's why you follow through in the strike.  After the strike is over you immediately pull back the leg to get it out of harms way, in case anything went wrong during execution, and to regain balance.

Answer 9

You're basically asking the difference between thrusting kicks, and snapping kicks.

Though a snapping kick can break bone, thrusting kicks tend to do a lot more damage. For the most part, a snapping kick is intended to stun, in order to allow the user just enough time to connect with the real power move, which might just be a thrusting kick.

Answer 10

A kick that goes through the target is much harder than one that strikes and pulls back.  The slapping type kicks are louder, so that's why some times people think that they are powerful also.  They're not.  Clap your hand, and then punch your hand.  Weaker is actually louder because of the way the energy is dissipated.

Not picking one style over the other, but because of the distinct intrinsic natures of each sport the part of the body that strikes with the kick is a distinct power factor as well.   Tae Kwon Do kicks strike with the top of the foot, edge of the foot, ball of the foot, or back of the heel because those kicks our faster, and pop louder to let judges know the attacker has scored a point.  The kicks are fine for the sport, but they are not designed to significantly damage the human body.  Muay Thai kicks strike with the shin or bottom of the heel, because the kicks are designed to damage the target and not the attacker.

Answer 11

I would say that the Muay Thai kicks would be more devasting considering the amount of force used and the fact that you are trying to go through an object rather than just "slap it".Imagine slapping a wall and then putting your hand through the same wall,which do you think would create more damage?

Answer 12

well .. would you rather be hit with a baseball bat (Muay Thai round kick) or a sledge hammer (a TKD side kick)... I dont want to be hit by either... they both hurt .. alot!  TKD style kicks require pin point accuracy, and it takes many years to really become effective... and if taught correctly it is not some sort of extreme ballet...  The Muay Thai round kick can flat out destroy a knee of a would-be attacker who is untrained, within a second.. the fight is over... and the margin of error is much better for someone who hasnt trained for many years... as far as which one is better? let me round kick your leg then side kick your ribs, and tell me which one hurts more... sorry being a smart-azs... as far as shear force the side kick is by far the most devestating strike.. but against a trained fighter.. it is much more difficult to land and not be out of posistion ... not to mention moving your body sideways is a terrible thing to do if you are in a competetion against a trained opponent, when leg kicks and take downs are legal..... good luck