Issue 051

June 2009

3 minute clinic

Hands up 

The lead hand reaches to provide balance, the back hand provides cover.  

All in the hips 

It is important to develop balance and flexibility in the hips, or the fighter will lean back to compensate, thus leaving himself vulnerable to counter techniques.  

Stand your ground 

The supporting foot must rotate as the kick is delivered or the kick will be shortened and lacking in power. Likewise, the lead hip must extend.  

The front kick (or teep) is an effective weapon from Muay Thai.  Underutilized in MMA to date, the front kick is only just starting to emerge as an effective part of the fighter’s arsenal.  

Front kicks can be used both offensively and defensively with either the lead or back leg, targeting legs, body and head. The front kick can be used to push the opponent back, stop them from advancing, or as a ‘foot-jab’ to find the range for follow-up techniques.  

The MMA fighter must be wary, when employing the front kick, not to offer the opponent a limb to catch or redirect, giving away the takedown or leaving himself disastrously out of position. The key to effective front kicking, as with any strike, is understanding your distance and timing.  

Defensive kick to body kick

Step 1 Pete (black) and Knox (white) square off. 

Step 2 Pete uses his lead leg to jam Knox’s advance by front kicking his lead leg above the knee.

Step 3 Pete pushes Knox back with lead leg strike to the abdomen or solar plexus.  

Front kick, low-point combo

Step 1 Pete and Knox square off.

Step 2 Pete front kicks Knox’s abdomen with the lead leg… 

Step 3 …and delivers a leg kick from his trail leg.

Front kick, power-kick combo

Step 1 Pete and Knox square off.  

Step 2 Pete powerfully kicks with his back leg.

Step 3 Pete lands forward, leaving him in a southpaw stance.

Step 4 His left kick is now his power leg. Pete kicks to the body (targeting the liver).