So what about letting a kicker who gets hit during a kick get a knockdown. It might work with a minimum amount of raw damage(20?) as a threshold or a minimum amount of real damage(5?). Either way if you get whacked while kicking you land on your ass. Any objections?
Only if there's a limited window during the kick where the kicker can get knocked down. A fairly small window, long enough for reflex to matter. Typically, a knockdown would then mostly happen if the other person has an attack chambered. Also acts as a psychological counter to kickers, if they see someone with a chambered attack, they'd be more careful to kick.
And one more thing. Only if the kicker gets hit on the left leg, combined with a minimum base weight of the weapon. That way, you need some skill to aim the swing in order to punish your opponent.
Don't fuck this up, Paul.