Who would do a kick like this in self defense? http://youtu.be/hLJSPtafCd0?

I would never use anything like that. I knew exactly where this was going before I even watched the video. On the street that would be beyond reckless. Miss and you are at the mercy of your attacker while prone. Not a good thing.

Believe it or not, it's a rather safe kick - if not difficult.

There are many jump spin kicks in martial arts - we have a ton of them we do regularly in Taekwondo. But it would not be wise to use them on the street. Most are jump (meaning, upwards; and also, what goes up must come down) and spin (meaning, you're still spinning when you land). These kicks are highly susceptible to reversals because once in the air, you really can't do much by rely on centrifugal force and a nice, easy landing. Good luck with that on uneven pavement! when you land, you're still turning, and you generally rely on knee and ankle to break the spin. People get hurt all the time on "safe" mats. But they use them in sparring with awesome results. The street, though, is another matter.

This kick is a suicide forward roll TOWARD the floor. The kick is a "get what you can" maneuver... if you land it, great; if not, you come out still rolling away from the opponent. Notice the kicker was cornered against a boundary. On the street, it could have been a wall or some impediment. The kicker found a fast route away from that location.

I can't do that kick, it's not part of my style and I've never been taught it. But I would label this as more safe than any that we do. It's very difficult, that's for sure. Then again, I wonder how much more difficult than, say, a tornado spin kick we do in Taekwondo - such kicks are legendary for KOs.

Are there better techniques to get out of this situation? Of course. There are dozens, probably. The best technique to use would be the one that is well practiced, which can differ from person to persn. If this kind of kick is what this guy does all the time in practice, it might be better than a poke to the eyes if he's not use to such a strike or his hands weren't strong enough.

Good answers, but I could only pick one. I only gave thumbs ups. The kick was nice because it accomplished it resulted in a knock out. However, I would not do this kick outside of the safety of the dojo mats. The guy landed on his neck and head. That can't be safe. Also, if he missed as he couldn't see his target and place the kick he would have been open to any attack of the other guy.

If I did a kick like that I might not be getting back up, even if I did it with better form as well.

Besides I subscribe to the philosophy that kicks are meant for striking from the waste down

I'm not trained in any sort of kick like that, and if I was to attempt such a thing I'd probably break my neck lol. It also seems to be a sacrificial kick, as in, if you don't connect or do it right, your sacrificing yourself to openings and perhaps falling on your back.

In short, I wouldn't try it. The only spinning kicks I ever throw are:

Spinning Heel Kick

Wheel Kick

"Tornado Kick"

Spinning Hook

Whatever other names you prefer calling them.

... I couldn't do that kick in a dojo. I just do not possess that kind of athleticism.

But if that kick does not connect, or does not damage your opponent. You are flat on your back, and thoroughly bollixed. But I doubt seriously that that karateka would attempt the kick outside of a controlled environment. Kicks like that are great in the dojo, but that's about it.

No way. Self defence is much diferent from comptition where the expectation is that if you mess up you still go home in one piece with maby a few brusis to brag on. In self defence you lose you may never go home.

Just think of falling like tht on rocky ground or concrete........

Hell to the NO! That was a combination of a an opponent that was way too stiff not having good movement and being really lucky.

Eff no, he didn't even seem to do a proper fall. Just threw himself down on the mat, took most of the impact to the shoulder, head hit the floor and everything, a lot of outside is concrete

I didn't see ANY kicks in the video that are very workable for protection.

Those are demo techniques for audiences, not for pragmatic use.

The really applicable kicks are very simple kicks.