Fighters Only

Issue 049

May 2009

With Pete Irving.

Dictating the distance

When faced with a superior kicker, dictating the range is critical. If you stand off, the kicker will pick you off and run rings around you. One good option is to use ‘pressure fighting’ tactics, namely getting in close and staying in their face.

Step 1 Pete (black) and Rob (grey) square up.

Step 2 If at range, Rob can pick Pete off with his kicks to the leg…

Step 3 …or high to the head.

Step 4 Pete closes in to fight Rob on the inside.

Step 5 Rob’s effective kicking distance is taken away and Pete can counter with his hands when Rob is off balance.

Leg kick

When your opponent commits to a kick, he leaves himself momentarily balanced on one leg. If you time your takedown correctly, half the work is essentially already done.

Step 1 Rob throws the low kick to Pete’s lead leg.

Step 2 As the kick lands, Pete changes levels and catches the kick, trapping Rob’s leg against his own. Pete steps his trail leg right through, switching stances and burying his head in Rob’s ribs.

Step 3 Pete drives through, whipping Rob’s legs away from underneath him, pushing forward with his head.

Body kick

Catching body kicks requires perfect timing so as not to drop your guard too early, or receive the kick while it’s still ‘live’ and take it at full power. Anticipating the kick from the back leg is easier as the kick has further to travel. Lead leg kicks can be harder to see coming in time to evade.

Step 1 Pete and Rob square up.

Step 2 Rob throws the body kick. Pete steps laterally, giving the kick further to travel. The power dissipates the further the kick travels, so Pete is able to catch Rob’s leg now that the kick is essentially ‘dead’.

Step 3 Pete counters with a right cross…

Step 4 …or a kick to the back leg

Step 5 Pete kicks right through the leg, sweeping Rob off his feet.

Spinning kick

Spinning techniques are often considered to be flashy but ineffective for MMA. A few very skilful practitioners have, however, used spinning back-kicks to great effect. Take a look at David Loiseau’s knockout of Charles McCarthy from UFC 53 for a good example.