The Thai kick is a very powerful weapon to have in your arsenal. To help our students throw the best possible kick they can, we have this 10 point checklist to follow. That way when you train, you have all the details you need to hit like a pro.
1) Distance When performing this kick make sure you are at the correct distance from your opponent. Stepping sideways at an angle, rather than towards your target generated the momentum for this kick. The correct distance for this kick is when your opponent is just outside of punching range. You should be able to lean forward and touch your opponent with your hand. When you are at the distance to do this, you are in the best range for this kick.
2) Step and Lean In Step towards your opponent at a 45 degree angle to create power for the kick. As you step, your stepping foot should begin to rotate (see point 3). Make sure your foot is not flat, but rather you need to be stepping on the ball of your foot. Lean your body into the direction of the step to gain further momentum.
3) Proper Rotation Make sure your body rotates on the ball of your foot. The supporting foot should rotate at least 90 degrees (and sometimes more). Sometimes when the kick lands, your support foot should be rotated so much that the heel points at the opponent while that knee points away from them. Also, as you rotate and kick, lean your body away from the target to help keep your balance.
4) Extension Swing your leg in a 'dead legged' fashion - loose, like a wet towel. DO NOT 'SNAP' THE LEG! your leg should be relaxed and close to straight during the entire kick.
5) Unison The feet, hips and shoulders all move together. There should never be and twist to your body. Turn your hip and shoulder into the kick. For example, if the feet rotate to the left, your hips and shoulders rotate to the left with them.Rotating the entire body together and turning into the kick will give you maximum power.
6) Impact When the leg strikes the intended target, it should strike with the shinbone. Try to blast through the target and cut it in half! Proper follow through means that the KICK DOES NOT STOP AT IMPACT!. the follow through is probably the most important facet of this kick. Make sure you turn your upper body, both hips and shoulders, turn into the target (imagine if the kicker had a T-shirt with something written on the back, the pad holder should be able to read what it says!). Think of your leg as a baseball bat and swing all the way through the target and try to bust through everything through in its path. You should through the kick with enough follow through that if you were to miss, the momentum of the kick would spin you completely around.
7) Hand Position. There are actually three schools of thought on this, but this is the basic and easiest way. THE REAR HAND ALWAYS STAYS UP TO PROTECT THE FACE! Swing the lead arm back to generate additional power and to help keep your balance.
although the lead arm drops here, the lead shoulder does not.
8) Stay Out Of Reach When the Thai boxer kicks, he is leaning away from the kicking leg which adds more power to the kick and gets his head out of the way of a counter. When the kick lands, you should be leaning far enough away that your head is out of reach of your opponent's punches.
9) Return. Use the 'rebound' of the impact to get back to your stance (your default position)
10) Targets and Trajectory. The target for this kick can be the inner or outer thigh, body or head. The kick can be thrown in three ways. The 'Upper kick' which travels at an upper angle, the 'Horizontal kick' which travels straight across, and the 'Downward kick' which comes high and angeles down.
1) Distance When performing this kick make sure you are at the correct distance from your opponent. Stepping sideways at an angle, rather than towards your target generated the momentum for this kick. The correct distance for this kick is when your opponent is just outside of punching range. You should be able to lean forward and touch your opponent with your hand. When you are at the distance to do this, you are in the best range for this kick.
2) Step and Lean In Step towards your opponent at a 45 degree angle to create power for the kick. As you step, your stepping foot should begin to rotate (see point 3). Make sure your foot is not flat, but rather you need to be stepping on the ball of your foot. Lean your body into the direction of the step to gain further momentum.
3) Proper Rotation Make sure your body rotates on the ball of your foot. The supporting foot should rotate at least 90 degrees (and sometimes more). Sometimes when the kick lands, your support foot should be rotated so much that the heel points at the opponent while that knee points away from them. Also, as you rotate and kick, lean your body away from the target to help keep your balance.
4) Extension Swing your leg in a 'dead legged' fashion - loose, like a wet towel. DO NOT 'SNAP' THE LEG! your leg should be relaxed and close to straight during the entire kick.
5) Unison The feet, hips and shoulders all move together. There should never be and twist to your body. Turn your hip and shoulder into the kick. For example, if the feet rotate to the left, your hips and shoulders rotate to the left with them.Rotating the entire body together and turning into the kick will give you maximum power.
6) Impact When the leg strikes the intended target, it should strike with the shinbone. Try to blast through the target and cut it in half! Proper follow through means that the KICK DOES NOT STOP AT IMPACT!. the follow through is probably the most important facet of this kick. Make sure you turn your upper body, both hips and shoulders, turn into the target (imagine if the kicker had a T-shirt with something written on the back, the pad holder should be able to read what it says!). Think of your leg as a baseball bat and swing all the way through the target and try to bust through everything through in its path. You should through the kick with enough follow through that if you were to miss, the momentum of the kick would spin you completely around.
7) Hand Position. There are actually three schools of thought on this, but this is the basic and easiest way. THE REAR HAND ALWAYS STAYS UP TO PROTECT THE FACE! Swing the lead arm back to generate additional power and to help keep your balance.
although the lead arm drops here, the lead shoulder does not.
8) Stay Out Of Reach When the Thai boxer kicks, he is leaning away from the kicking leg which adds more power to the kick and gets his head out of the way of a counter. When the kick lands, you should be leaning far enough away that your head is out of reach of your opponent's punches.
9) Return. Use the 'rebound' of the impact to get back to your stance (your default position)
10) Targets and Trajectory. The target for this kick can be the inner or outer thigh, body or head. The kick can be thrown in three ways. The 'Upper kick' which travels at an upper angle, the 'Horizontal kick' which travels straight across, and the 'Downward kick' which comes high and angeles down.
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