THE TYPES OF KICKS FOUND IN STREET FIGHTS, MUGGINGS, AND GANG BEATINGS ARE ANALYZED FIRST. THE SITE OF THE KICK (GENERALLY TO THE FEET AND LEGS FIRST, THEN TO THE HEAD AND UPPER TORSO), THE CHARACTERISTIC SHAPE OF THE BRUISE MARKS LEFT BY A SHOE OR BOOT, AND THE DEPTH OF THE INJURY ARE ALL CLUES THAT THE FOOT WAS USED AS A WEAPON. IN GREAT BRITAIN POLICE HAVE WIDE POWERS TO STOP PERSONS AND SEARCH FOR DEADLY WEAPONS AND PUNISHMENTS FOR CARRYING A CONCEALED WEAPON ARE SEVERE. FOR THIS REASON, KICKING IS BECOMING AN INCREASINGLY COMMON MEANS OF ATTACK AND IS RANKED THIRD IN ORDER OF FREQUENCY AS A MEANS OF HOMICIDE. (STABBING AND MANUAL STRANGULATION ARE FIRST AND SECOND.) DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THE TYPES OF INJURIES CAUSED BY KICKING IS GIVEN. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE INJURY AND THE TYPE OF SHOE PROBABLY WORN IS GIVEN WHERE POSSIBLE. IF POSSIBLE, THE BOOTS OR SHOES OF THE SUSPECT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE IN THE AUTOPSY ROOM. FOOTWEAR SHOULD ALSO BE EXAMINED FOR BITS OF BLOOD, HAIR, AND BODY TISSUE. BLOWS DELIVERED BY SOMEONE EXPERIENCED IN KARATE ARE VASTLY DIFFERENT FROM RANDOM KICKING AND STOMPING. THE SHARP KNIFE-LIKE HAND TECHNIQUE AND HIGH FLYING KICK LEAVE CHARACTERISTIC INJURIES. SUCH INJURY IS DESCRIBED. DEGREES OF INJURY ARE REVIEWED. A CASE OF MURDER USING A KARATE CHOP IS CITED. KING FU IS ESSENTIALLY A PEACEFUL DISCIPLINE WHICH EMPHASIZES SELF-RESTRAINT AND SELF-DEFENSE. IT HAS BECOME DANGEROUS BECAUSE CONTEMPORARY YOUTHS HAVE COMBINED IT WITH KARATE. THE ARTICLE IS ILLUSTRATED WITH PHOTOGRAPHS. REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)