The use of kick pads in professional wrestling has a varied history and purpose. Initially seen in promotions like UWFi in Japan, kick pads have evolved from protective gear to a stylistic choice. This article delves into the use of kick pads, their historical context, and related wrestling maneuvers.
Like you said in the topic, first time I saw them were on tape from UWFi in Japan. Now they mostly cover up for the boys who are too cheap to by a set of boots.
The use of kick pads in professional wrestling has a varied history and purpose. Initially seen in promotions like UWFi in Japan, kick pads have evolved from protective gear to a stylistic choice. This article delves into the use of kick pads, their historical context, and related wrestling maneuvers.
Originally posted by jorjorbynks: What about Battle Cat/Brady Boone? I cant find a good picture, but I remember that he wore some type of covering over his boots/shins, not sure if it was padded or just cloth/fabric to cover the laces on the boots.. He wore kick pads I'm pretty sure. Him and Lightning Kid were roughly the same time. Battle Cat might have beat him by a few months. Brady didn't wear them when he was himself as far as I know.
Wasn't Akira Maeda wearing them as far back as 1985? Not sure about what the date was but he definitely was wearing them during that âshootâ with Andre.
Read also: Higher Kicks in Martial Arts
Attacking maneuvers in the kayfabe of professional wrestling are mainly used to wear down an opponent for a submission hold or as a set up for a throw. There are a wide variety of attacking moves in pro wrestling, and many moves are known by several different names. Professional wrestlers frequently give their finishers new names.
Professional wrestling contains a variety of punches and kicks found in martial arts and other fighting sports; the moves listed below are more specific to wrestling itself. Moves are listed under general categories whenever possible.
Attacking Moves in Pro Wrestling
Professional wrestling showcases a diverse array of attacking maneuvers, drawing from various martial arts and combat sports. These moves are often used to weaken opponents, set up throws, or lead into submission holds. Wrestlers may also rename their signature moves, adding to the complexity and personalization of their in-ring personas.
Body Attacks
Body Press: Also known as a splash or body block, a body press involves an wrestler falling against the opponent with the core of their body. It is executed from a running or jumping position, using momentum and weight to impact the opponent, and most variations can seamlessly transition into a pin.
Big Splash: This press is executed while facing away from a standing opponent. The big splash involves a wrestler jumping forward and landing stomach-first across an opponent lying on the ground below.
Read also: Choosing the Right Kick Boxing Bag
Corner Body Splash: The wrestler charges into an opponent in the corner of the ring without leaving their feet, crushing them into the turnbuckle.
Crossbody: Also known as crossbody block, this is a maneuver in which a wrestler jumps onto his opponent and lands horizontally across the opponent's torso, forcing them to the mat and usually resulting in a pinfall attempt.
Running Corner Body Attack: This is an attack in which a wrestler runs at an opponent, who is upright in the corner, then jumps forward so that he splashes his whole body stomach-first, squashing his opponent between him and the turnbuckle.
Bronco Buster: In the Bronco buster, an opponent is seated in the corner of the ring while the attacking wrestler jumps in the corner, straddling his or her opponent's body, and bounces up and down on the opponent's chest.[2] Goldust added pelvic thrusts to his version of the Bronco buster.
Chest Slap: The act of a wrestler to slap the chest of his opponent with the palm of the hand using a backhand swing.[1] Many wrestlers use this chop, often referring to it as a knife edge chop, but it is best known for being used by Ric Flair. Sometimes referred to as a frying pan chop or an openhand chop.
Read also: Choosing the Right BJJ Knee Pads
Brain Chop: Also known as a brain chop or tomahawk chop, this move was made famous by the legendary Giant Baba.
Clotheslines
Standard Clothesline: Shelton Benjamin delivers a stiff clothesline to Lance Cade.
Clothesline from Hell: A clothesline used by JBL, named while he was working as one half of The Acolytes.
Flying Clothesline: While running towards an opponent, an attacking wrestler leaps up into the air, before connecting with a clothesline.
Short-Arm Clothesline: Also known as a short clothesline or short-range clothesline, this variation is set up by Irish-whipping the opponent, but holding onto the arm.
Three-Point Stance Clothesline: Also known as charging clothesline. In this move, a wrestler uses three-point stance and then clotheslines his opponent.
Hammer Attacks
Double Axe Handle: Also known as a Double Sledge or Polish Hammer, this attack sees the wrestler clutch both hands together and swing them at an opponent, hitting any part of them. The Polish Hammer name comes from its most noted user, Ivan Putski. The other names come from the attack mimicking the motion seen when people swing a sledgehammer or axe.
Backhand Chop: The wrestler either falls forward, or jumps up and drops down, hitting a lying opponent with a backhand chop on the way down.
Elbow Drops
An elbow drop is a move in which a wrestler jumps or falls down on an opponent driving his or her elbow into anywhere on the opponent's body.[1] A common elbow drop sees a wrestler raise one elbow before falling to one side and striking it across an opponent.
Inverted Facelock Elbow Drop: This is any elbow drop which is performed after applying a headlock, the most widely known variation is an inverted facelock elbow drop in which a wrestler puts his opponent into a inverted facelock, and then turns 180°, dropping the elbow across the opponent's chest, driving him down to the mat.
Fist Drops
Standard Fist Drop: John Cena hits a fist drop on Orlando Jordan. A fist drop is a move in which a wrestler jumps/falls down on an opponent driving his fist into anywhere on the opponent's body.[1] The falling variation was commonly used by 'The Million Dollar Man' Ted DiBiase, who hit a downed opponent with multiple fist drops.
Knee Attacks
Knee Drop: A version of a knee drop that involves the wrestler placing one knee against the base of the opponent's neck, who is leaning forward, then dropping. This forces the opponent's head down to the mat, while landing on the opponent's upper body, and driving his knee to the neck of the opponent.
Boot and Foot Attacks
Corner Foot Choke: With an opponent sitting against the bottom corner turnbuckle, an attacking wrestler repeatedly rubs the sole of their boot across the face of the opponent.
Forearm Attacks
An attacking wrestler uses one hand to take hold of an opponent (by their head or hair) and lean them forward while extending his or her other arm in a raised position and clenching the fist of that hand before throwing the arm forward down onto the opponent; using his or her forearm and clenched fist to club the opponent across the back of his or her head/neck.
Sliding Forearm Smash: With the opponent seated on the mat, the attacking wrestler does a slide across the mat, before connecting with a forearm smash.
Headbutt Attacks
An attack where a wrestler uses his head to strike a part of the opponent's body, usually the head or skull, to daze him.[1] Unlike a legitimate headbutt, the pro-wrestling version most often impacts with the opponent's forehead, counting on the superior hardness of the wrestler's head and the momentum delivered to hurt the opponent without hurting the wrestler. The headbutt is most often used by Samoan and Tongan wrestlers, who are generally portrayed in pro wrestling as having hard heads.
Diving Headbutt: The wrestler stands facing an upright opponent, lowers their head and then jumps or charges forwards, driving the top of their head into the abdomen of the opponent. This move was made famous by Harley Race.
Trapped Headbutt: The wrestler holds both the opponent's arms under his own, and delivers a series of headbutts to his opponent, who is unable to counter.
Knee Strike
Attacks where a wrestler will strike an opponent using their knees.
Go 2 Sleep (GTS): Also known as Go 2 Sleep or G.T.S. (Go To Sleep), this move, named and innovated by Kenta, sees a wrestler place an opponent in a fireman's carry and proceed to drop the opponent in front of them. While the opponent is falling, the wrestler quickly lifts a knee up, striking the opponent in the face.
Knee to Head on One Knee: A strike delivered to an opponent down on one knee. After stepping off the opponent's raised knee with one foot, the wrestler swings his other leg and strikes the opponent's head with either the side of his knee or his shin.
Rolling Koppou Kick: It is also known as an Abisegiri, Rolling Koppou kick or Spinning Wheel Kick. The most commonly used kick which is referred to as a "Savate kick" in wrestling is the chassé, a piston-action kick, with the sole of the foot to an opponent's head or chin.
Kick Attacks
Backflip Kick: While the wrestler has his or her back to the opponent, he or she performs a standing backflip and hits the opponent in the head with one or both his or her legs, with the wrestler usually landing on his or her hands and/or feet facing downward.[1] This maneuver is known for its use chiefly by Puroresu Legend Keiji Mutoh and, more recently, A.J.
Yakuza Kick: When this move is performed with the wrestler charging towards an opponent it is referred to as a Yakuza Kick, named by Masahiro Chono. Taking the naming convention in reference to the organized crime groups, the move is also referred to as a Mafia Kick in the United States, and Hooligan Kick in the United Kingdom.
Spinning Heel Kick: This is a leg lariat or Spinning heel-kick move which is performed after an opponent catches the leg of a wrestler who has attempted a kick of some sort (i.e. Enzuigiri was one of the signature moves by Antonio Inoki. The term Enzui is the Japanese word for medulla oblongata and giri means "to chop". Thus, an enzuigiri (often misspelled 'ensuigiri' or 'enzuiguri') is any attack that strikes the back of the head. It is usually associated with lighter weight class wrestlers, as well as wrestlers who have a martial arts background or gimmick. from his stint in Japan.
Bob 'Hardcore' Holly performing a spinning heel kick on Mr.
Soccer Kick: Sometimes also referred to as a soccer kick. The wrestler jumps up and kicks the opponent to the side of their head.
Low Blow: The wrestler positions the opponent facing the ropes, grabs both ankles lifting the lower half of the body, with the upper body now hanging over the ropes, and delivers a firm kick between the legs to the lower abdominal region of the opponent. Commonly used by Hardcore Holly.
Mule Kick: Usually done with the wrestler facing away from the opponent, sometimes done in a corner. The wrestler jumps and kicks backwards with both legs to the opponent, hitting them with both soles of their feet.
Punt Kick: Based on the punt kick used in American football, this sees the wrestler take a run up to a kneeling opponent and strike him in the head with the sole of his foot.
Savate Kick: The most commonly used kick which is referred to as a "Savate kick" in wrestling is the chassé, a piston-action kick, with the sole of the foot to an opponent's head or chin.
Jumping Leg Drop: A version of a leg drop, which is performed on an opponent who is standing, bent over, usually in the middle of the ring.[1] This sees a wrestler bounces off the ropes, jumps-driving his leg(s) into the back of the head and the neck of the opponent, forcing them face first into the floor.[1] Also known as a Jumping Axe Kick, or a Butterfly Kick.
Shin Kick: A kickboxing-style kick with the shin (generally protected by a shin guard) striking an opponent's face or chest.
Sole Butt Kick: A thrust kick where the wrestler turns his torso away from the opponent while at the same time lifting his leg horizontally and extending it forward, striking the opponent in the torso with the sole of his foot.
Rolling Sole Kick: A spin kick variation sees the wrestler spin around and then perform the sole butt kick with his outer leg, which is known as a Rolling sole kick in Japan.
Spinning Heel Kick: A high kick which gains power and momentum from spinning in place.[1] Similar to the spinning heel kick or a reverse roundhouse kick, but the wrestler does not jump off the ground, making the move a leg lariat of sorts.[1] It is common to see this move executed after an opponent is Irish whipped off the ropes.