Kicking with the heel
My brother Nenad demonstrates his typically excellent form on the front heel kick. Note the slight outward angle of the foot. Something that crops up every now and again is the debate about heel kicks vs ball of foot kicks. I hear practitioners of some arts (particularly certain Chinese systems) insisting that the heel kick is better. (Sometimes this is based on the persistent myth that kicking with the ball of foot requires bare feet , which of course it doesn't, but usually this simply reflects a technical preference.) I hear other practitioners (particularly karateka) insisting that the ball of foot is better. (Sometimes this is based on the "snap kick non-issue" to which I refer below, but again, usually this reflects a mere technical preference.) As far as I'm concerned the truth of the matter is that both are excellent weapons: their applicability depends principally on range . The ball of foot kick is suitable for a longer range because it gives ...