AOKK Knee Strikes:
AOKK Knee Strikes:
This strike is delivered by springing the knee up towards the target. The striking part of this blow is the kneecap. This strike is most effective in a clinch, or the second range of attack. One thing you must keep in mind is that this strike is easy to block with a palm heel, forearm, or point of the elbow, so it must be delivered quickly. As quickly as the foot leaves the ground it should be placed back down. You are vulnerable while on one foot. Tie the opponent’s hands up to prevent the block, and slightly lean forward using the opponent for balance. If you lean too far forward, the opponent can break your balance and throw you to the ground with Tomoe nage. Another problem with a slow delivery of the knee strike, is that the opponent can grab your leg and the trapped leg can be used to take you to the ground. If the opponent can block the knee strike by driving an elbow into the top of your thigh, he/she can shutdown your leg. The main target of the knee strike is the opponent’s thigh muscle, ribs, hip joint, or groin. Try and drive the knee, as many times as possible, into the same spot on the thigh until the opponent loses his/her mobility. A prime target is to strike the inside of the thigh as well as the outside. This target area is difficult to strike if the fighter is in a balanced stance, but once he/she commits to a wide stance either forward or sideways this inside area opens up, as does the groin. The lead leg knee is not a powerful knockout type of strike, but if the opponent’s head can be pulled down the knee can be delivered to the opponent’s chin it can result in a knockout. Driving the lead leg into the groin can also end an altercation.
Note: Remember, as you deliver this strike do not lean backwards. To make this throw clinch or wrap your hands around the attacker’s neck.
Warning: Do not lace your fingers together as you grasp behind the opponent’s neck or they can be dislocated.
Vertical Knee Strike:
This strike is delivered by springing the rear knee straight up. This knee is like the lead leg strike and has the same vulnerabilities. You must keep the opponent’s hands tied up. Watch for the opponent to block this technique with his/her knee. You do not want to bang kneecap-to-kneecap, so twist the opponent’s body to strike the outside or inside of the opponent’s thigh. Coming off the back leg brings power. Lead leg knee strikes are like a boxers jab they keep the opponent of balance and cause some trauma, but the rear leg brings more power. The knee is a large bone, so it carries more mass. Mass and speed create power. A rear leg strike gains speed and momentum, and all this power is focused on an area the size of your kneecap. Again, the main target area is the opponent’s thigh muscle, but if this blow can be delivered to the ribs it can impede a fighter’s ability to breath. Loss of wind means loss of mobility. The vertical knee can be delivered off the front leg also. The lead leg knee is normally directed to the opponent’s groin.
Horizontal Knee Strike:
This strike is delivered by lifting the leg horizontal to the ground and using hip rotation to deliver the knee strike. Its main target area is ribs but is affective when delivered to the thighs or hip joints. With the horizontal knee strike you’re less likely to strike knee to knee, and the hip rotation generates power. It is easy to minimize the power of this strike. A forearm strike, a little above mid-thigh, minimizes the power of this attack. If the point of the elbow is be driven into the thigh, it can cause muscle trauma to the striking knee’s leg. Again, your balance is on one leg, and you must use the opponent for balance. This strike is slower than the lead leg knee strikes, so the foot must return the ground quickly to maintain a balanced attack. If the knee is caught your rear leg can easily be swept and you’ll be driven to the ground.
45˚ Knee Strike:
This knee is to the thigh. It is not fully horizontal, so it can be made more quickly. It may take several of these angular strikes to knot up the muscles of the opponent’s thigh. Once the thigh muscles are damaged it slows the adversary’s mobility. This strike can be made off the front or the rear leg. It should be in a spring like delivery. If the foot is off the ground, your balance can easily be compromised, so the foot must come up quickly make the strike and then return to the ground. This must be done in a rapid-fire application.
Side Knee:
This is not a strong strike with the knee, but it sets up the heel stomp to the top of the foot. This hit moves horizontally and strikes with the inside of the knee. Once the knee makes contact with the opponent’s hip joint, drive the heel of the foot down on top of the opponent’s foot