I train with an ex SEAL, several cops, an ATF agent and several ex-military... I fail to see what the point is there. I'm not military, but both my parents were and I'm a bouncer by night, so I fight several times per week. Is the fact that he is military supposed to reinforce your technique's effectiveness? At any rate, the percentage of failure depends largely on WHO your opponent is. In the ring, it's definitely not the best thing, until the guy is worn down, or unless you have perfect timing. On the street, it can go either way, as the guy usually isn't trained. In the case of military personnel, they (similar to sport fighters) are training to fight other trained people. Considering that fact, no, high kick are not advisable for them. As for the comment about jumping off a cliff, yess, I would. That is the only way you will learn to be able to do it every time, right? You set up the environment to be realistic, but minimize the possibility of getting injured. For example, jump off of a cliff that is over deep water. People PAY MONEY to jump off of cliffs all the time, even though they know they can't fly, it's a rush. That said, you approach fighting the same way. If there is a technique that you can't do, how do you learn it? you have to repeatedly train it... you have to jump off of that cliff. But out in the street you cant make a safe environment! If one out of every five times it will suceed....it is highly improbable that i would use it! You train with a lot of ex service men, so what you should do is ask them if they would use high kicks to defend them selves when the outcome of any H2H is death...that should settle it!