dancingalone
Grandmaster
I've been push-kicked hard by a taller opponent trying to keep me from getting inside, and it can be quite effective; but it has to be fast or I'll slip it like I would a punch; I'm not quick, but I seem to have a knack for catching kicks as they're thrown. And I *love* to see the look on a tall guy's face when I jam his kick and raise it over his head while moving in with the opposite side straight punch. He's going over backwards and he knows it at that point. If a tall guy can effectively keep my outside, they can destroy me. So I try very hard to get inside those long arms and legs.
I like the push kick as an offensive tactic in sparring as part of a combo, rather than as a reactive counter. Get him to cover up top with some punches and then go for the set up push kick. Even if you don't land it flush, frequently you can get the other guy moving towards a direction you want him too, perhaps off-balanced. After that, you can close in for a decisive barrage of strikes if you're sparring for points. It can be really effective if you are near a wall where you can use it to close off one side of the opponent.