Editing Kick (section)

===Practicality of high kicks===
[[File:Alan_Crist_doing_a_standing_splits.jpg|thumb|150px|American karateka shows off flexibility needed for a high kick]]
The utility of high kicks (above chest level) has been debated.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2013/5/13/4324768/kicking-mma-striking-styles-crocop-renan-barao-ufc-mma |title=Kicking is starting to impact MMA striking |work=Bloody Elbow |date=13 May 2013 |access-date=2014-01-17 |archive-date=2014-01-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140113113914/http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2013/5/13/4324768/kicking-mma-striking-styles-crocop-renan-barao-ufc-mma |url-status=live }}</ref> Proponents have viewed that some high front snap kicks are effective for striking the face or throat, particularly against charging opponents and flying kicks can be effective to scare off attackers.{{Citation needed|date=November 2019}} Martial arts systems that utilize high kicks also emphasize training of very efficient and technically perfected forms of kicks, include recovery techniques in the event of a miss or block and will employ a wide repertoire of kicks adapted to specific situations.

Detractors have asserted that the flying/jumping kicks performed in synthesis styles are primarily performed for conditioning or aesthetic reasons, while the high kicks as practiced in sport martial arts are privileged due to specialized tournament rules, such as limiting the contest to [[stand-up fighting]], or reducing the penalty resulting from a failed attempt at delivering a kick.

Although kicks can result in an easy [[takedown (grappling)|takedown]] for the opponent if they are caught or the resulting imbalance is exploited, kicks to all parts of the body are very present in [[mixed martial arts]], with some fighters employing them sporadically, while others, like [[Lyoto Machida]], [[Edson Barboza]] and [[Donald Cerrone]] rely heavily on their use and have multiple [[knockout]]s by kicks on their resume.