Thrust kick: the good and bad of it

It is a commonly used kick and also learnt easily by beginners. But that should not underscore its importance. In the body of a good fighter it is a very powerful weapon.

• The thrust kick is used to push off the opponent and then use some other technique to finish off that move. In that sense, it is the first stage of any offense or defence and is not complete in itself. 
• It target on the body is the face (if you can kick that high), chest, stomach or even the pelvic region. 
• It has to be super-fast to be effective. Especially if you are using it as the first stage of an attack or defence. Meaning, you are creating time for yourself to give another blow to your opponent. So the first part of it, which is the thrust kick (also called foot jab or theep in Thai) has to be really fast. 
• It needs a lot of technique. Because if the opponent is a trained fighter, he can lock your foot and you will lose your balance. 
• So the balance has to be good. 
• The advantage of the thrust kick is that if you learn to use it fast, then you can keep your intention (of the kick) hidden from the opponent. This is very important in a fight, that you do it so fast as to surpise the target. A slow thrust kick will make the target prepare himself (he can move back/sideways and/or drag you down with his hand), so the most defining quality of a thrust kick is its speed. 
• You use your heel /or the front ball of your foot to deliver the kick. 
• It involves folding the leg at the knee and opening it with precision and speed. This is what makes it a very cunning kick. 

How to deflect a thrust kick:

• The most common technique is to ward it off with the hand. 
• Grab/lock the thrusting leg with your hand (so the attacker loses balance) and then land a kick or punch yourself. 
• Ward off the kick with the hand. From the opposite side (meaning, if you moved the target to the left side then kick from the right)deliver a low kick that lands at his knee or shin to destabilise him.