Do you kick with your shins?

Yes, but not to the targets that we see used often. We kick using our shin to kick the inside of an attackers leg. The inside of everyone's leg is much easier to injure or cause pain to than the outside of the leg. If you don;t believe me pinch the inside of your leg and then the outside of your leg. The arms are the same in that the inside hurts more when pinched than the outside. We kick to the inside of the leg when we are close enough to use it and might be to close to use other kicks. I like it because it is very effective, requires no conditioning of my shins, and puts me in reach to use my hands without having to move in. A good shin kick to the inside of an attacker leg can in some cases end the fight. It can result in the attacker shifting his weight on the leg that was kicked. when that happens he may shift his weight so that he rolls his foot to the outside of the foot causing him to break or sprain his ankle.

Edit: I see people saying the risk of injury is high....... ? I do not agree. If you use the shin of your leg to kick the soft inside of the attackers leg there is little risk of you injuring yourself. And it requires no conditioning of your shins.

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Only to low targets.

Back in the day when I sparred a lot - sport - then it is not good to use the shin; first, because in Taekwondo, that's an illegal strike (though in other styles like muay thai it's allowed). And second, because the shin doesn't move as fast as the foot, and so, there's less power with the shin than with the foot.

However, due to age and years of pushing myself, I can no longer throw a roundhouse as high as I used to - and I also don't compete. I'll occasionally spar competition style just to keep in shape. But roundhouses are hip-rippers for me, and so I don't throw them as much.

As to self-defense, I can't throw the kick powerfully anyway, let alone at a high target. I might use it as a sweep, but other than that, I've categorically removed the kick from my arsenal. Even then, it's better to use the instep in this case.

As Kokoro says, if I'm that close to use the shin, I'd rather use the knee. I just don't generate enough power or speed to use the shin effectively.

The shin, by the way, does not appear in any Taekwondo form, oddly enough. I suppose any roundhouse kick could be an implicit shin strike - but even the roundhouse isn't used often - almost always the front and side kick are the most popular.

So bottom line... no, I don't use the shin. The high movement is a hip ripper, and I prefer the instep used at low height to sweep and is easy on the hips; or the knee, which doesn't require much of a turn and so doesn't hurt the hips.

I will if the distance is right and the target I am aiming for is right for this. Otherwise then I kick with the instep or ball of the foot. Leg kicks are a good example of what I am saying and then it is with the shin or instep depending on how close I am and if it is a leg kick to the upper or lower leg. A kick to the head or face I am almost always using the instep or ball of the foot since you have to be much closer to kick with the shin that high.

Kicks to the body it sometimes depends on other things. A lot of fighters can get an arm or glove partially on a kick with the instep since you are laying that foot and ankle out there for them to more easily block. Kicking with the shin makes this even easier for them as well as requires you to be closer, making it easier for them to counter off of then as well. A lot of times I will instead use the ball of my foot and can sneak that in there much more easily than using the instep or shin when kicking to the body.

Shin kicks uses on of the strongest bones in your body like a bat. Landing it well is a powerful attack. Just watch out for shin to shin contact as it will hurt without a lot of conditioning. There is a terrible video on YouTube showing a Shin Kick gone wrong. I linked it below.

You kick with the shin. However you need to condition your shin first. The intent why majority prefers the shin is in view that that you can conveniently damage the ball of your foot and bruise them as good. The shin is tougher and might let you kick at the same time hanging more weight on to the kick which gives more harm.

My shins are not as conditioned as the shins of some of the people who have trained longer than me.

I was taught some roundhouse type shin kicks to the opponent's thighs. I wouldn't do them in a street situation because of my tight hips.

I was also taught a shuffle in right front leg shin kick where I just lift my leg and plant my shin in between the opponent's legs at the same time grabbing opponent's head with my right hand and palm striking the opponent's face with the left hand. As a typical Kajukenbo practitioner, we do not have names for those moves. I associate those moves with Grab Counter #3 Emperado Method.

The shuffle in lift my shin up to the opponent's groin kick, I would do, because it does not put a strain on my hips.

No I'd do a body kick with the aide of my calve or a knee to the stomach if to close range or a side kick go the face your shins don't have much protection via bone

It has been a long time since I've had to kick someone. I haven't had to use my self defense in years.

But I do teach my student to use the shin when kicking to the inner part of the leg. That hurts pretty bad. We also practice strikes there using just a slap. It kind of temporarily paralyzes you. LOL It's not that you can't move from the slap, but it the pain sort of freezes you.

My white belts learn t pinch the inner thigh to escape a headlock. that is just one of the escapes that they must know.

Like a lot of people, I too will use my shins if the range is suitable. Pugpaws has it right I generally try to go for soft targets (like inside of the leg). A kick is merely an extension of a knee strike that was out of range so, go ahead and use any part of your leg to strike with.

No it can hurt unless wearing protection, but when receiving a kick I sometimes lift my leg up a bit and block with my shin