Damn This Style!!!!!

[AAAhmed46]

HOW IN GODS NAME DO I DEFEND AGAINST YOUR STYLES LOWER KICKS!!!!

Whenever i throw an upper or middle kick against thai boxers, they sweep my leg with thier lower kicks. As soon as i raise my knee, im down. Can How do i defend myself against that?

[Khun Kao]

You have to setup your kick first. If you just try to lift your leg to kick, you'll get "submarined". You have to do something first to either draw the attention away from the kick, or strike your opponent first in such a way he is unable to counter the kick.

Khun Kao

[retired]

"THERE'S SOMEBODY BEHIND YOU" WHAM!!!!

(ok it only works once)

[Tom Yum]

Oh Yeahh, getting used to contact!

Thaiboxer start off fights trying to soften their opponents up with kicks. The roundhouse kick to the thigh is HARD! You want to mix up your combos and not posture yourself like a karate or TKD fighter Ahhmed. When they see you facing side ways to them with your weight on your back leg, they will know that your either posturing for a side kick, hook kick or a back fist.

And also that by posturing 'sideways' is the worse stance for sparring with low thai kicks, because one will knock you off your feet. Throw a couple of punches and land the round kick as the last strike in your combo.

[darrianation]

I like retired's answer.

Seriously though dont lead with a kick. use combos Like jab, right cross, low kick. or double jab middle kick etc,etc. There are so many.

If your leading with kicks or weak feint you'll get nailed a good percentage of time. You have to make your set up believable. You got to make him buy it and react to it then kick. I know retired and others have said it a few times. "punch high kick low". This has always done well for me.

Also don't be trying any of those fancy tae kwon do kicks. If you like them then get used to being on your ass a lot. A good MT fighter loves that stuff.

Work on your boxing skills, feints, and your combos.

[retired]

Yeah dont go to "side on" or you'll show him your kick as you lean or twist to start it, if your going to kick try a "teep" or throw a punch like JP does holding it out at the end to obstruct his face THEN kick him.

[Tom Yum]

There are only a few salvagable kicks from TKD that are worth keeping - side kick, axe kick, spinning hook kick and back kick. Drop your tkd stances and kick leads; fight like a kickboxer.

"but I did TKD for x years" attitude that some bring into the gym is interesting. TKD is not bad for begginers, but you will soon get tired of being dropped from kicks to your thigh with difficulty walking and get banged up in the clinch unless you try to adapt.

Another thing I've noticed is how different traditional MT gyms are from ring MT gyms. Most ring MT folks have sharper boxing skills and better mobility, while the traditional folks are awesome in the clinch and have fierce rear leg roundhouse kicks.

[Kiwi]

Stance

Thai fighters naturally take a much squarer stance. They are well trained to look for a stance that is flattening sideways. When they spot it, they do exactly what you described. I have seen it when a thai fighter takes down a less experienced fghter when their stance got too flat. Even if you do not use a thai stance, you should never let the feet cross the 45 degree point. Also look for any "preparing habits" that might be giving away your kicks. Eg. do you transfer weight from foot to foot in a rhythm and then only kick on the beat? Do you drop the hands slightly immediately prior? Do you try to close the distance before your attack?

You might try feinting the kick to draw out the roundhouse and then follow with the hands??

These are just some thoughts in addition to the above replies. I agree with setting up the kicks, and even then, using them sparingly.

Good luck,
Kiwi

[JP Prideaux]

Originally posted by retired
or throw a punch like JP does holding it out at the end to obstruct his face THEN kick him.

It works. Trust me. You can make it your hardest kick with less chance of it connecting with his knee (and messing up your mobility for the rest of the round / session

Recently Ive found it works well for setting up a good side-thrust kick to the ribs. Distance is perfect (there's a shot of me doing it in those pics i sent you, retired)