[MA] Push and Push Kick differences?

[Mr Frost]

Originally Posted by Ultraviolet

Unless I misread the Push Kick technique from MA, these two attacks do the same 'damage'; Thr x2 (for knockback purposes only). This seems the ok damage, since kicks are straight thrust, right?
Alternatively I misremember the 'ordinary' Push, which should be thr-1, like most punches. Although this isn't a punch, but a two-handed attack, or what? Is there any difference whether you push with one or two hands?

Or should the Push Kick somehow be based on ST+2, like most leg-techniques use +2 ST but -2 DX?

And would a Push get bonus damage from Sumo (only), while a Push Kick from either Brawling or Karate?

Note, there seems to be some slight difference in the two attacks, where a Push Kick aimed at a leg, confers a -2 DX for the foe to keep standing up.

Last question: Has anybody had any luck with a Push in actual play? My ST 12, Sumo at DX+1 guy failed to cause any knockback the times he tried...bad luck perhaps?

A pushkick doesn't always push the target back very far .
In Muay Thai , it's mostly used to either throw the other guy off His rythm or to get a bit more room between you if He is getting too close {trying to grapple etc} .

It can cause what in G.U.R.P.S. is knockback , but this is either when the opponents' footing is off {caught mid stride at a bad moment} or you have taken a sort of "walk up" {like a run up but only 2 steps :) } .

I remember a combination I used to practise when I taught Muay Thai that was a push kick followed by a sort of very tight yet circular low sissors kick {we rarely bothered naming things , the moves themselves were what mattered} that you would use on very agressive opponents that you could count on to step forward imediately following the pushkick {a predictable opponent is a gift that keeps on giving :) } and thus walk straight into the actually damaging part of the combination .
It worked because a push kick against someone of equal size and strength will quite often be still standing and still in the "same hex" so to speak .

Against a weaker target or if you have significant buildup {extra effort I suppose} it can throw knock them on their arse though .
Get that Sumo to the Jym stat !