EvilGun

Good afternoon all, how does one kick effectively with the front leg? Are most of you able to produce a lot of power and speed with your front leg? Is the front leg kind of a "jab" in that its not ment to do much damage? And lastly, what types of kick, with the front leg, are most effective? I'm getting rather frustrated with my complete lack of a good lead leg, using it completely throws me off balance and is dreadfully weak.
any help or suggestion would be greatly appreciated

thanks

jeremy

Tom Yum

Its just a matter of practice. Most people have power and balance in their back leg when they start doing muay thai, but not front leg. you just have to practice.

If you have a fast and hard cut kick (lead leg thai kick), you can really throw your opponent off and work the inside, counter his rear thai kick and his lead hand (assuming he's orthodox) other wise things change a bit if he's south paw.

Keep banging the pads with that cut kick. When your not at the gym hold onto the wall or a chair and practice it. Remember your rear leg rotation and hip power lead the kick; the kick doesnt lead the hip/rear leg rotation.

Graduate to heavier and harder thai pads. When you can knock the pad holder off his balance, then you've got decent power.

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EvilGun

For what types of kicks would ones feet be planted flat? I was told this during a private lesson when i was being shown some kicks that chopped downward. It didn't feel right to have anything planted like that? The kick started with my front foot sliding forward and then making a kind of circular motion so my foot would be pointing directly left almost. My foot would stay planted and then my knee would come up high and then hips twist and leg chops downward. sound right?

Khun Kao

In the styles of Muay Thai that I have been trained in, there are no kicks where you plant your foot flat. You should ALWAYS stand on your toes! Even when your kicking angle is "chopping down" onto the target.

But, in regards to the lead kick.... I was actually working with one of my students last night on this very issue. There are three principle ways we teach to throw the lead kick....

1. Kicking from a "standstill". Just as it sounds, there is not setup with your footwork prior to your kick. You just kick directly from your stance.

2. Step and Kick. Take an angled step forward with your rear leg. How deep you step depends on the distance to the target. You may only take a 1/2 step (or less), or a fairly deep step if you need to cover some ground.

3. Skip Kick. You skip your feet so that your rear foot becomes your lead foot, and your lead foot moves to the rear so that you can generate more torque behind your kick. A very important aspect of this kick is that the hips and shoulders do NOT switch positions with the feet!!!! This will take TOO LONG and TELEGRAPH your intentions too much!

Techniques #2 and #3 are much easier to generate some power into as you get the bodys momentum moving into the kick. The one that is tough for boxers to master is kicking with power from a standstill. My advice to my student last night, and to you, is that you have to really exaggerate your upper bodys movement into the kick. You literally SNAP your upper body to the opposite side to lend its force into the kick.

It'll definately take some practice. You want work with your instructor/coach to make sure you are not putting your upper body and head into the wrong position.

Hope this helps!
Brooks (Khun Kao)

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Kru Brooks C. Miller
GCA MuayThai Board of Advisors
USMTA Director of DC, MD, and VA
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EvilGun

Thanks very much Kao, i'm going to work on that. On impact, ones leg should not be locked, correct? Your knee should be ahead of your shin? or am i way off. I'm going to class today so i'll make sure to get some pointers from my instructor, like you said.

thanks again

jeremy

Khun Kao

No the knee should not be "locked", but the bend in your knee is so slight as to almost be unnoticeable. There are scenarios to kick with a bent leg, but you should make a practice of kicking with your leg straightened out almost all the way. So, the "knee before the shin" is kinda of a non-issue, IMHO.

Brooks (Khun Kao)

__________________
Kru Brooks C. Miller
GCA MuayThai Board of Advisors
USMTA Director of DC, MD, and VA
http://khunkao.com/

old skool dude

You want a good lead leg kicking technique? strap on a pair of steel toe timberland boots, and front kick to the shin/knee/groin area. That'll about do it.

In sparring situations I've used a modified wing chun kick (with the foot angled out 45 degrees) done best while the opponent is rushing in and with my hands covering my face if my timing is off, or he rushes in too fast.

Hoyce Gracie used a front leg kick to close the gap on his opponents and also to keep them at bay in the earlier UFC bouts if you look at old video footage. The power of a front leg kick is really determined by the target.. which brings me back to what I said in the beginning....

KopyKat

"old skool dude] In sparring situations I've used a modified wing chun kick (with the foot angled out 45 degrees)"

Can you please explain this kick? How is it done?

old skool dude

ok, heres how its done. start with your strong side foward. just do a regular front kick . Your striking area will be the flat of your foot or your heel. Your toes will be facing the OUTSIDE on a 45 degree angle, sorta tilted. For some reason its a very powerful kick although it looks strange.