Thai Kick Angles

[SamuraiGuy]

Hmmmm few questions about Thai Kicking Angles for MMA purposes.

I've learnt thai kicks to the leg and body... so I believe I have the form and technique down... (not gonna bother with the head cause of flexibility and... wouldnt go over too well anyway).

Now my question, when learning thai kicks.. I've always been taught on the leg kick you are supposed to bring your leg up , pivot, and chop down like an axe into the leg....

Makes sense...

But in alot of MMA fights you always see leg kicks coming on an upward angle.

I understand for the inside leg kicks this is necessary, and lead leg too.

But which is right?... Both?.... Is it just out of neccessity they have to throw em like this.. I can see how it would be easier (quicker etc) to throw it upwards.

For the body I'm not sure, are you supposed to be chopping into them on an upward angle, or horizontally like you were cutting them in half...

Hopefully someone can answer this.

(Remember its concerning MMA not Thai Bouts)

[Tom Yum]

Good question, Samuraiguy.

To the body both angles seem good, don't they? To the leg and head its better to chop down... Hurts alot more.

[Ryukyu Damashi]

There is no single correct angle for a thai round kick. The angle will depend on the situation and target.

[Khun Kao]

Ryukyu is correct. There is no one correct angle for the roundhouse kick. There are upwards kicks, horizontal kicks, downwards kicks, and 'thrusting' kick. There are kicks designed to distract, create openings, sting, and destroy. Each kick has its time and place.

The "upwards" round kicks are most often used in situations where speed is of the essence. You target the insides of the legs, the ribs, and the head.... ESPECIALLY if your opponent bends over. You can also knock someone off their feet by kicking their support leg and "scooping" it upwards with this kicking angle.

The "downwards" round kicks are meant for power/destruction. You attack the outsides of someones leg, their hip, and their neck. You can also use this attack to knock someone down by "chopping" your kick down into the the ankle of their support leg.

[Rhanor]

I agree with the above, the angle depends on the situation. I have found that if I can sneak a quick left kick ( I stand orthodox) into the body I go almost straight up, like at a 100 degree angle then at the last second kinda pivot and push off the target. It gives you enough snap to come back, and is a really good liver or kidney kick. I always determine the angle of my kick, the angle of my shin, where exactly I want to hit with on my shin all before I kick. And its all in the situation. If you can get a good body kick, and add all that stuff in you either have to kick really fast, or just have a good oppertunity. Hope I was of some help.

[SamuraiGuy]

Thanks for the tips guys... start throwing some at an upwards angle in practice.

[Rhanor]

Hey just another tip...I found a nice little trick while sparring at the gym tonite. When in your fighitng stance, I fight orthadox for reference with your left leg, do a sweep kick the the front leg of the person you are sparring. Its a quick kick that almost always throws them off balance. Its worked 3/4 times tonite. You want to kick them just above the ankle, and it should be more of a push then a hard kick to damage them. What this does is leaves them open upstairs. I was able to get in some nice left hooks, Left upper cuts, and some damaging jabs.

Use this technique when you get a chance, and let me know how it turns out. I love it... Ill be using it a lot more, once I perfect it a little more.

[Rhanor]

Hey just another tip...I found a nice little trick while sparring at the gym tonite. When in your fighitng stance, I fight orthadox for reference... with your left leg, do a sweep kick the the front leg of the person you are sparring. Its a quick kick that almost always throws them off balance. Its worked 3/4 times tonite. You want to kick them just above the ankle, and it should be more of a push then a hard kick to damage them. What this does is leaves them open upstairs. I was able to get in some nice left hooks, Left upper cuts, and some damaging jabs.

Use this technique when you get a chance, and let me know how it turns out. I love it... Ill be using it a lot more, once I perfect it a little more.

[gabbah]

I agree with Khun kao and the other, each kick has it place. I'd like to add the following.
The horisontal kick to the body is a bit slower but a bit harder and costs you less energy to throw. If you throw it at an upward angle it will cost you more energy but it's faster. So the differance is energy cost and speed. Also, the upward angle variant is easier to sneak in below your opponents elbow.

About leg kicks, I recently saw "Pat Miletich - Vol 3 - Muay Thai Pad Combos". he talked about how thai fighters can throw the chopping down kind of low kick, but that is not recommended in MMA. This is beacuse if you miss it will leave you more open to a takedown. So you want to use a lowkick that is more of a soccer kick, in an upward angle, and the force should be more forward, not so much rotating. If you miss you it should not make you rotate and turn your back.