right and left roundhouse mechanics

[deltron3030]

Last night I sat down to watch the The Fairtex instructional Muay Thai video with instruction from the late Alex Gong. In volume two, Alex shows the right roundhouse kick in a way I haven't seen or practiced before... He shows a full extention of the kicking leg without much bend in the knee... moreover, he also demostrates that one should step in a 45 degree angle with they're oposite foot before striking... for example, if kicking with the right leg, you should step with your left leg 45 degrees to your left and kick...

I had always been taught to keep you left leg planted... and just pivot... keeping your kicking leg's knee bent...

But that wasn't all, I had also been taught to switch kick when kicking with my left leg... the switch kick, as I understand it is a simple quick step... prior to kicking... that in one motion moves the right foot forward and the left foot back to generate more power from the left leg... (sorry if that doesn't make a lot of sense)...

The way Alex Gong presents the left roundhouse is completely different... instead of the switch he teaches to step forward and to 45 degrees with right leg and then deliver the left kick...

So in my confusion I'd like to ask what is the correct form... is one way better than the other... is one way the old way, and one a newer way... any info would be greatly appreciated...

thanks

D

[Derekwl]

Wow, I havent really heard of doing a roundhouse that way. Interesting...

I was definitely taught using the left ball of the foot pivot. I dont understand 100% what he was doing, did he incorporate a little hop forward with the left foot while throwing a right roundhouse and vice versa?

If so, I have seen that done before, a guy who trained in Thailand said the camp he trained at seemed to encourage a little hop in order to generate that much more momentum, but the thing is (not to be cocky) but I think if I spotted someone who consistently did that I would definitely aim to knock off that supporting leg on the hop. Just my $0.02.

Hope you find some more info! and if you do post it on here!
Thanks
D-rokk

[EmptyneSs]

that step before the kick is actually pretty important. taking that step will give your kick much more power, and it will also allow u to get out of your opponents range so he cant hit u when u throw the kick. notice u dont step foreward, u step off to the side, getting out of opponents range. if u step str8 foreward u will get knocked out. also many times i find that if i dont take the step, im off balance a bit when i kick. the step lets me keep better balance while kicking. oh yeah, and taking that step will help u pivot out and away from your opponent when bringing your leg back after the kick has been thrown. when u bring ur leg back, u dont wanna be stuck right in front of ur opponent, u wanna be off to his side. this will not only take you out of his attacking range, but he will have to readjust his position in order to attack u.

[deltron3030]

thanks emptyness,

That is exactly what Alex gong mentions in the video, by moving left during the right roundhouse, you move out of your opponents range... I do believe that this way of kicking is superior to the way I had learned in the past, as I believe it better suits the movement in a ring situation... I also think that the movement helps to conceal the kicks, and doesn't telegraph as much...

Derek... the pivot is still there on all the kicks... I learned to pivot so much that my toes are suppose to face away from my target... in Alex's kicks, it's not so dramatic... As far as the step is concerned, it's just a small movement maybe about 8 inches diagonally from your regular position.

[Freedom]

Yeah when i train the left roundhouse i skip back the left leg first. I was told by my instructors that it gave the kick added power!

[WhiteTiger]

the litel step in is what I trained in bouth Thailand and often att my own gym. It gives more power to the kick. Its good and you sulde practis so our opponent dont see the litel step.

[theprophet]

Kicks

Last night I sat down to watch the The Fairtex instructional Muay Thai video with instruction from the late Alex Gong. In volume two, Alex shows the right roundhouse kick in a way I haven't seen or practiced before... He shows a full extention of the kicking leg without much bend in the knee... moreover, he also demostrates that one should step in a 45 degree angle with they're oposite foot before striking... for example, if kicking with the right leg, you should step with your left leg 45 degrees to your left and kick...

D

We are taught to take the step out 45 degrees and also point the stepping foot out on a 45 degree angle. I am told this opens up the hips and makes the kick much stronger as well as the other mentioned benefits. I still have a habit of not stepping to the side enough

We also do switch kicks for the left kick, something about inertia...

[seany85]

I have been taught to kick on the 45 aswell, as for......

"But that wasn't all, I had also been taught to switch kick when kicking with my left leg... the switch kick, as I understand it is a simple quick step... prior to kicking... that in one motion moves the right foot forward and the left foot back to generate more power from the left leg... (sorry if that doesn't make a lot of sense)..."

that sounds like Yam Sum Khum footwork,(3 steps of 3) well one of the five variations.

I was shown not as much of a skip but to bounce the left leg on the ball of the foot, step right leg then kick, is that it.... I hope that makes sense.

[Gunza Kicka]

yeah at the gym i go to we do the 45 degree step to the side when doing roundhouse kicks, as said previously it helps open up the hips to add to power and gives you more balance when you strike, aswell as kinda strafing (spelling?) from opponents range. we also keep the knee a little bent to. our instructor has also said to lift leg up like your going for a check, and then when going for the kick, swing your leg down. (kinda like chopping a tree down, you chop it from a angle above the horizion, not directly level with it.) hope it makes sence..

[seppuku]

ill have to try the step now, that was new to me. kicking downwards really does make a difference to, makes sure you hit wih the bone. Somewhat sharper that way round. it might add a little power to the kick since gravity is workign in your favour, but i dont think the difference is a particularly big one. definitely makes the kick sharper tho

[Khun Kao]

Wow. I'm amazed that this isn't part of everyones MuayThai curriculum. I learned to kick that way from the get-go.

Actually, I should clarify. I was taught a variety of styles of footwork for the roundhouse kick: With a step, with no step, with a step-hop, switching kicks....

I mean, c'mon, thats MuayThai

[JkD187]

the way i was taught was think of your leg thats not doing the kick (basicly your lead leg) as the arms of a clock and the ground as the face. when your foot is facingstraight in front of you its 12 o clock, pivot that foot to 3 oclock then bring ur rear leg(the one that kicks) out completely relaxed and straight hitting the leg with all your body behind it (cuz of the front pivot) then bouncing it off so it comes right bac and your into your stance again.I tweeked it around a bit to make it work for my size and it worked great for me, ive knocked quite a few people down with just one leg kick.