Running enemy and headbutt question

[Shorin Ryuu]

Correct me if im wrong, but im assuming most of you are not small females. Im 5' 3" and not much over 100 lbs, it would be pure stupidity for me to try and stop any sort of rush at me. I dont care how hard of a kick i deliver, ill do next to no damage and get bowled over. My immediate responce would be to side step and send him on his way. Either trip him, grab the top of his shirt n pull him downwards, a knee to the gut, whatever... Either way, standing in his direct line would be the absolute last thing to do.

Exactly. The thing is, your logic isn't restricted to your case, but most cases in general. It is one thing if your opponent starts his motion from several feet away and another if he starts his motion from all the way across the room. Even if he starts his motion from within arms reach or just outside of it, I would use a kick more to unbalance him (striking his leg or hip as I mentioned in a previous post) and use my arms in conjunction. At any rate, I'm going to shift out of the way provided I have time (less time due to making his starting point in close proximity as opposed to across the room as originally proposed).

In grade 10 this idiot football player charged at me. I stepped to the side a bit and initiated an jumping back kick to his solar plexus. He dropped like a sack of potatoes and started to vomit his lunch.

In here, the emphasis on "I did a jumping back kick" is entirely misplaced. While it was quite fortunate of you to land it correctly on a moving opponent, the true crux of your situation occured at the "I stepped to the side a bit" moment. Whatever technique you performed to otherwise drop the opponent is not the driving force of your success (although I never would be doing a jumping back kick). It was getting off-line which allowed you to do so.