Muay Thai kick techniques

Muay Thai kick techniques is one of the important techniques in Thai Boxing because kicks are violent and powerful weapons. The official word for kicks in Thai is “Tae”. There are many variations and tricks for Thaiboxing kick techniques depend on the application in each part of Thailand.

Muay Thai kicks commonly use in competition, due to its power that may give the opponent knock out in one shot. Normally, we use only some part of lower leg from shin to foot to kick. However, use shin to kick is much more powerful than using foot, but its disadvantage is opponent can grab your leg easier and attack.

The Techniques in Thai Boxing Kicks

Five kinds of popular kicks in Muay Thai KickBoxing :

Tae Tad (Side Kick or Round Kick)
Tae Chiang (Diagonal Kick)
Tae Kod (Hook kick or Down round kick)
Tae Pub Nok (Kick to the outside of the knee joint)
Tae Pub Nai (Kick to the inside of the knee joint)

Muay Thai Kick Technique 1. Tae Tad (Side kick or Round kick)

Tae Tad are commonly used in Muay Thai as they are very easy to control and we can maintain the balance after the kick to defend opponent's strike back. Tae Tad can be done by swing the leg to attack the target, and in the same time, your hip should also be twisted in the same direction of the swing
The correct movement for this kind of Thai Boxing kick is that the boxer must bend his legs a little and sing the kick to the area around the knee-joint or the back of the knee joint. The kicking leg, to be really powerful, should be straightened. One should move forward to kick with the hand guard up securely. Do not drop the guard, or you might suffer from the counter-punch.

Muay Thai Kick Technique 2. Tae Chiang (Diagonal Kick)

The main target of the diagonal kick is to attack lower rib-cage and we normally use shin to attack. The kick can be done by swing leg diagonally upwards to attack against the target.
Generally, a proper kick must be Tae Chiang or Diagonal kick to attain maximum efficiency, the kick should make an angle of 45 degree against the floor. This kick is quite straight forward. You should kick by letting the instep or the back of foot hit the target. Incline the body a little in the opposite direction to that of the kick. Swing your leg upwards in the appropriate angle. Before the point of impact, twist the foot so that the arch faces downwards, and the instep would hit the back of the neck.

Hook kicks are also commonly used due to its full of power, which more than side kick or diagonal kick. This is because when you kick, your hip and body will fully twisted in the same direction of the swing, which will increase the power of the kick. The hook kick can be used to attack opponent when he is ducking down or in the lower position. However, the major disadvantage of the hook kick is if you miss the target, you may totally lost the balance and give a chance to opponent to strike back.

Muay Thai Kick Technique 3. Tae Kod (Down round kick )

Hook kicks are also commonly used due to its full of power, which more than side kick or diagonal kick. This is because when you kick, your hip and body will fully twisted in the same direction of the swing, which will increase the power of the kick. The hook kick can be used to attack opponent when he is ducking down or in the lower position. However, the major disadvantage of the hook kick is if you miss the target, you may totally lost the balance and give a chance to opponent to strike back.

Muay Thai Kick Technique 4. Tae Pub Nok

Tae Pub Nok is the kick that kicks to the outside of the knee joints. For a proper kick, the boxer must sway his body a little away from the opponent, then move right up to the opponent with this of kick as a greeting (althougn unwelcomed) gesture.

Muay Thai Kick Technique 5. Tae Pub Nai

Tae Pub Nok is the kick that kicks to the inside of the knee joints by stepping closer to the opponent by swinging the kick to the inside. When the foot hits the target, the opponent's leg will be blasted sideways, thus making him lose balance. At this moment, one has many options for doing damage.