Shin, top of the foot, ball of the foot, toes? 🦶 That is the question!

At some point, I realized that one self defense technique I have rarely mentioned is the front testicle kick commonly known as the groin kick. Well, this is definitely not because I do not consider it useful, but this blog mainly focuses on overlooked last-resort self defense methods and kicking is rather a first-response move suitable mainly for the initial stages of an attack. However, I think all of you agree, it would be a big mistake not to discuss it thoroughly.

Although regarded as a staple classical technique of female self defense, it is again associated with many controversies and mixed opinions; some ‘experts’ even suggest ‘groin kicks’ should be avoided completely. The inconvenient truth is, if not mastered enough they can just fail, he might grab your leg and throw you, or if mistargeted it can just enrage him. On the other hand, a properly executed unexpected kick to the most sensitive male bits can be an immediate stop for even the most dangerous and determined attacker.

Legs offer different striking areas for kicking. 

Firstly, it is important to remember, like with kneeing, force, and precision are the most important elements of a successful kick. The up-from-under motion of the leg ensures the testicles are crushed against the pubic bone. Important is gaining the greatest momentum of your leg possible; in this way, you can lift him off the ground similarly as when kneeing testicles. When quick and unexpected, he has little chance to block or counteract it in any way. A powerful kick can be achieved by slightly stepping back and shooting the leg explosively toward the imaginary target above the genitals.  An ideal situation is when the attacker has his legs open at the point, he approaches you and squares off.

However, when reading articles and comments about female self defense there is always one unresolved issue always coming up: what should be the preferred striking area: shin, top of the foot, toes, or ball of the foot?

In one of my earlier posts, I already mentioned the testicle scoop kick, using which even the weakest woman can do a number on the attacker’s testicles combining both impact and jerking force of her toes. But what about other striking areas in normal types of kicking? You often hear advice like: Do not kick with your toes, they are too soft, you will just hurt yourself. Or: By kicking with the top of the foot you can miss, it is safer to use shin, etc. So how is it? You are probably quite interested in what Linda said about this issue. Well to be honest, there is no one right answer, it all depends on the situation and circumstances, for instance, the distance between you and him, your and his clothing or the type of your shoes, or if barefoot.

Let’s now discuss more closely and critically the different possible striking areas one by one.

The mechanics of different striking areas: (A) shin, (B) top of the foot, (C) ball of the foot, (D) toes. 

Shin (A): A very sturdy area of the leg can be used when the attacker is not close enough to be kneed in the testicles but too far away to be kicked with any distal parts of the foot. Because a quite large area, aiming does not need to be that precise, you just need to get your shin between his leg and move up, and your shin will find the desired target. The effect is like him falling on a handrailing (we all have seen the funny home videos). On the other hand, it is more difficult to get enough upward momentum without trying to kick much higher and the shin can be slowed down with his thighs.

Top of the foot (B): It is a more distal part of the leg so you can get a much better swing momentum and penetration. This area is fortified with tarsal bones, and wearing any hard shoes makes it even sturdier. Normally, the impact of the top of the foot comes from the bottom and a little bit from the back, which is advantageous, because as you already know the back of the testicles is the most sensitive due to the presence of delicate epididymis.  On the other hand, to use this area, there needs to be the right distance between you and him. Creating or getting in a convenient distance for a particular move is an overlook but essential part of self defense skills.

Kuba Kickz are handy tools
to add spikes to the top of the foot which can
do significant damage to his ballsack

Interestingly, there is a very handy self defense tool available on the market called Kuba Kickz. This small plastic thing is to be fastened between the shoelaces which just adds sharp spikes to your foot making the top of the foot a devastating prongy weapon. Linda owned one of these and showed us what those spikes do on a kicking dummy leathery bottom. Believe me, there were some indentations left behind! So don’t worry, luckily for them, Bob or Peter were excluded from the demonstration this time even if they wore cups. Still, it is not difficult to imagine what it would do with real scrotum content after a hard kick. I like they come in pink, and they are not an overly big object, but still not that inconspicuous, it is something one can wear for jogging but not a stylish piece for a formal meeting, date, or party.  I would rather avoid explaining if somebody asks: What’s that thing on your shoes?

The ball of the foot (C): In a normal situation hard to use as the whole foot would have to be raised up at a 90° angle. Also, this striking area is relatively soft and would generate rather pushing force from the front against his penis which would provide some cushion. It is hard to ensure up and under movement and crushing testicles against hard backing. On the other hand, it is a good striking area when kicking for instance from a sitting or lying position (these situations will be for sure discussed later).

Toes (D): As mentioned, toes should be utilized during scoop kicking to generate the right hooking/jerking motion. Toes are the most distal part of the limb and therefore can get the greatest momentum. On the other hand, bare toes are floppy and not as sturdy as for instance the top of the foot and a direct hit on the pelvic floor can be painful (but not even close as it is for the attacker). When wearing any pointy shoes, there is no doubt that this is the striking area of choice. Raise the tip of your shoe and drive it into his bulge explosively. The tip of the shoe has a great penetrating capacity and usually impacts just one testicle. When well placed the effect is great and can lead to testicle rupturing and him passing out. If possible, repeat the kick to ensure the complete defeat of the thug.

In conclusion, regardless of the striking area, kicking is an effective means of female self defense. There are so many more aspects to discuss in detail and of course, practicing kicking during the course was as much fun as kneeing or other techniques. I will cover it more thoroughly in some future posts.

To scoop nuts

During one of our class we learned different types of kicks. At the beginning Linda asked us: Have you ever been on a beach, standing in the water till your ankles, and suddenly you had that urge to scoop some water with your foot. To take as much of it as possible and bring it up and then to have some joy seeing the water splashing, drops floating and glowing in the air? 

A woman’s foot can be used as an effective

scoop, her leg as a strong handle. This is a principle of a special kick I want to teach you today called the testicle scoop kick, in short, the scoop kick. It comes from a martial art called American Kenpo. Many highly effective moves which can be used by women for self defense were actually originally invented by Kenpo fighters.

This kick can be used when the attacker is neither too close nor in a relatively far distance. This means you can use it when he is slowly approaching you or when you already pushed him from you, for instance after an eye gouge or an Adam’s apple strike and for a knee he is already too far away. The principle is different that the instep front kick in which you want to drive his testicles up and crush them against his pelvis. In this case you kick with the foot in a raised position between the attacker’s thighs (A) so your toes make a hard contact with the sensitive back of the testicles (B) and instead of bringing your leg back on the ground in the same trajectory, you pull it towards yourself scooping the testicles and sharply yanking them with your foot (C). Your foot should make a more circular than a linear movement. Imagine you have a box full of walnuts and you want to get some with a scoop. In this case, the scoop is your foot and the walnuts his testicles. 

Linda then explained us that there are several important aspects which make it such an a highly effective technique. Testicles are to some extend adapted to resist pressure directed in (for instance they are mobile within the scrotum and can slip away from the impact) but not for a sudden and violent yank outwards which causes an incredible sharp pain. Moreover, female toes can pierce between man’s thighs more easily than a full instep and his penis cannot provide any protection or cushion. Finally, the first impact happens at the back of his testicles which, as already discussed, is highly sensitized by the presence of the epididymis. Logically, this kick is more easily performed and the most effective when he is naked, and his scrotum hangs loose, but is still well applicable when he is clothed. As with the other self defense techniques, the precision and mnemonics needs to be properly practiced. Needless to say, but this can be really fun, I remember it was so hilarious to see the silicone testicles flying up and down after some precise ‘scooping’. To finish this post, regardless of his stature, strength, or determination he will drop to his knees after a well-executed scoop kick.

How to react when surprised by a flasher

A couple of days ago I read an interesting article in a local newspaper. A girl was walking in a local park when she was suddenly surprised by a young man with his pants down. He shamelessly started to masturbate in front of her. She did not panic and reacted by taking her cell phone and trying to take a picture. Unfortunately, she did not manage to do so, as he immediately pulled up his pants and fled like a rabbit. It is understandable, he did not want to have pictures of his filthy private parts posted all over the interned and maybe to appear in the TV news. She reacted cool headed and it worked for her, the pictures could help to identify him by the police. However, in the discussion there were some controversies if this should be the recommended reaction to such a situation. Some argued that this might made him angry and maybe violently attacking her and harming her. 

A man with his pants down 
is extremely vulnerable. 
Flashers, exhibitionists 
and public onanists 
can be easily eliminated.

The question is, is there a better woman's response action to this? Two years ago, I actually read a very similar story, but the outcome was different. A flasher accosted a young woman in the woods, the unexpected sight of his penis made her to fell down and he approached her closer. When he leaned over her, she suddenly swung her leg and forcefully kicked his exposed freely dangling testicles using her instep. His reaction was predictable. He just cried and folded over in incredible pain. She could get up and run to safety. I have to say that both women should be praised for their actions, but I liked the second approach more. A flasher always exposes his most vulnerable part giving you a chance for quick and easy immobilisation and total elimination of any threat he can pose. And you can take a picture of him then if you want. If you have any thought on this please post them in the comments below

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Groin or testicles?

Whether clothed or not, the actual
target is testicles not the groin

Most instructors of  self defense courses and authors of books about self defense for women refer to the ‘groin’ as one of the primary targets. Accordingly, taught techniques are called kick to the groin,  knee to the groin or groin grab. Maybe the instructors are too shy or their intention is not to embarrass or not to scare the girls out of the classes so they use a more neutral term. However, this is misleading and affecting the girls’  training. Sugar-coating of some of the most important (although maybe cringy for someone) aspects rather than to be specific, exact, and freely open in giving the proper information, even if it is uneasy, is a common negative issue in current self defense programs. Squeamishness and over-carefulness definitely do not help girls to prime for a violent attack.

In my guide I’ll be honest and I won’t hide that the real target women should aim for is actually the testicles. Definition in the dictionary says groin is the ‘the area between the abdomen and the upper thigh on either side of the body’. Clearly too general and vague description. For instance, the penis is also a part of this area, however, quite insensitive to most type of strikes. There are some techniques targeting penis as well but are designed for specific scenarios. Hitting a man’s upper thighs, pubic bone or perineum might cause some discomfort but is not incapacitating.  Instead of instructing ‘knee him in the groin’ one should correctly say: shoot your knee sharply up in a 45 degree angle, deep between his legs so his testicles are hit from below and crushed between your patella and his pelvis. Visualise the target to be around his belly so your knee goes all the way through, and the forceful impact should even lift your attacker from the ground. Repeat in a successive fast sequence and stop once your attacker is non-responsive.

A knee to the testicles can be a devastating move when executed correctly.