when u plant your supporting for a RH kick, do you...?
A) step your foot down, already on a 90 degree angle
or
B) step down, and then twist on the ball of your foot (put out the cigarette butt)
I step out at a 45 degree angle onto the ball of my foot.
I post on the ball of the foot, heel about 90 degrees to opponent and rotate it so the heel ends up pointing towards him.
I try to begin the rotation of the kick with the initial step
I do both dependent on where the target is.
Both. The varying methods are situational depending on angles, implied power, setup or finish kick, and so on.
the pivot on the balls of the foot is most important. It allows you to fire a kick from directly in front of your opponent without telegraphing the kick by stepping out. Both are valid but the pivot is a numbe 1
zealot66 - the pivot on the balls of the foot is most important. It allows you to fire a kick from directly in front of your opponent without telegraphing the kick by stepping out. Both are valid but the pivot is a numbe 1
This man knows what he is talking about and I'm 100% in agreement. Pivoting (rotating) is also the hardest to learn how to do and actually create power. Many people cheat off the bat because they are focused on speed & power rather than form & technique and just decide not to rotate and simply step off the line. I've noticed that this then produces a kick that comes up more than in when the rotation is no installed. IMHO learn how to rotate, then how to step off the line and then combine the two for a mighty powerful kick.
Also, I was mentioning this in my class last night: A good pad holder is equally as important as a good kicker. If the pad holder holds off to the side too much it encourages the kicker not to rotate, straighten the leg and instead kick the pads with more of an upward "snap" kick. Similarly, if the pad holder holds the pads down at an angle (more parallel with the floor) it encourages the snap kick.
also the step or cut kick is different than a roundhouse kick. Most people lump the 'thai' kick into one thing. There are at least 3 distinctive round kicks.
zealot66 - also the step or cut kick is different than a roundhouse kick. Most people lump the 'thai' kick into one thing. There are at least 3 distinctive round kicks.
You are my best fren, fren. =) What are the three that you use?
well, I break them down into below the hip kicks which can be step or cut kicks or straight line leg kick which leaves you vulnerable to a counter right hand.
waist and to arm pit. A full on pivot with the center of your shin hitting the center line of the bag or peson. Basically getting the shin on the person and continuing to whip through. knee no cross center line, no good kick.
High Kicks. body kick gone high and arc back down with rotation of hips.
Its humerous to see so many newbs in the gym think they know a 'thai' kick.
The most common error I see is trying to throw a body kick with the knee arcing out and them still not crossing the center line. creates a slap and an offbalance kick.
I teach the body kick first and have them stand infront of eachother with elbows high and have the kicker lightly place the shin across the body and preach pivot pivot pivot. Then have them 'aim' with their knee instead of aiming with the foot which is natural for people because we kick balls with out feet. Aim the knee correctly and the shin is where its supposed to be.
ryangruhn -I always start people slowly and tell them that even if you think you are hitting it hard, you are hitting it wrong. Power is the outer layer of proper technique. Its the result of everything your body has done up to the impact. People focus on thai pads or mitts and get buck fever. Shadow boxing is important for boxing and doing slow kick drills on eachother is a good slow downer to get them to look at technique.zealot66 - the pivot on the balls of the foot is most important. It allows you to fire a kick from directly in front of your opponent without telegraphing the kick by stepping out. Both are valid but the pivot is a numbe 1
This man knows what he is talking about and I'm 100% in agreement. Pivoting (rotating) is also the hardest to learn how to do and actually create power. Many people cheat off the bat because they are focused on speed & power rather than form & technique and just decide not to rotate and simply step off the line. I've noticed that this then produces a kick that comes up more than in when the rotation is no installed. IMHO learn how to rotate, then how to step off the line and then combine the two for a mighty powerful kick.
Also, I was mentioning this in my class last night: A good pad holder is equally as important as a good kicker. If the pad holder holds off to the side too much it encourages the kicker not to rotate, straighten the leg and instead kick the pads with more of an upward "snap" kick. Similarly, if the pad holder holds the pads down at an angle (more parallel with the floor) it encourages the snap kick.
I let new guys hold focus mitts for eachother but rarely thai pads until they re intermediate. Holding thai pads properly is an art form. My trips to thailand taught me more about pad holding than anything else. The whole slap kick thing is funny. I always say, do you want a fly swatter or a baseball bat. Thud is more destructive than a slap.
For kicks I also start on thai pads with good straight knees. Because the roundhouse is just a knee whipped over if you look at thais kicking. When I spar , people say they cant tell whether its a knee or kick coming.
There are so many goofs out there that practice 'thai' or mooeey tai that I often have to really convince people that what Im saying and teaching is real muay thai because there is so much error out there.
zealot66,
I'm struck by the amount of knowledge you have. What is your background? I'm intrigued.
Ive been kickboxing since 94, muay thai since 98, went to thailand in 2000. I was also involved in mma. I trained Curtis Stout 2x ufc veteran,cage rage 7x etc. for 4 years. Never quite broke the top 10 but had a hell of a run around the world. Im a student of the sport always will be.only had 13 fights myself but right now Im just starting up anmma program at a fitness gym so Im teaching beginners right now.
^zealot66 is a nobody
You got that right Ryukyo =) Thanks for the info zealot66. Can you PM me or post where you train, we are on the east coast but do a great deal of traveling with fighters. I'd like stop by if I'm ever in town!
I train right now at a suburban kansas city location. Its a new franchise called titleboxingclub.com
Its a rip off of LA Boxing but its a beautiful gym and they compensate me for my time. I was teaching full time but do to some issues that came up I only teach 3 classes a week and I start a new job with Customs and Immigrations Services on nov 10. But I will still be teaching.
Funny thing, I ve tried to offer many new clubs springing up around town really Cheap seminars just to help out because I am not really involved in teh fight game and just want to pass on the knowledge Ive gained operating in the upper echelons of mma but everyone already knows how to throw a tai kick lol. their loss.
Well all of them already do Mooey Thai when they train UFC, why would they need you?
zealot, would you post a vid that demostrates what you consider to be proper kicking technique.
geez, there are a lot. youtube buakaw for some good kicking technique.