The Sadistic Relationship Between My Right Foot and I

Today my private muay thai lesson focused on range finding the leg kick using the pendulum action of the heavy bag.

• Warm-Up Kicking Round: Alternating leg kicks, throw the kick, return to the “loaded” lead for this kick, then step backward to load the opposite side and kick. The idea is to have a relaxed and therefore rapid pattern of kicks, as these are leg kicks remained in the hunched position and bend the leg to lower the kick line
• Warm-Up Punching Round: Jab-cross-hook in the upper line, then jab, shift the weight over the lead foot to lower the cross line, and finish with a body hook. It is important that the lead knee does not over rotate creating a target for a oblique kick to the lateral side of the knee. Keep the lead hand slightly more extended, thumb toward your, shortening the distance to the target (greater speed) without overextending and not defending the head.
• Lead hand-rear leg kick: Throw a jab, lead hook, or jab-cross-lead hook followed by a rear leg kick, adjusting your stepping to allow the kick to be thrown and land effectively, depending on the changes in range due to the swinging of the bag.
• Jab-lead leg shift cross-body hook-rear leg kick.
• Lead tiip, rear leg kick, lead push, rear leg kick. Get the heavy bag swinging, as it come toward you meet it with the tiip. Hit with the flat of the foot to stop your opponent without sending them to far backward, the target would be just medial to the iliac crest trying to lock their leg out, the foot then drops anteriorly and laterally to allow the delivery to the follow-up leg kick. The push is an extension of the lead hand catching your opponent in the chest (e.g. when the bag swings back to you), followed immediately by the rear leg kick.
• Lead step push, rear leg kick. Your opponent is attempting to clinch, extend your lead hand and step, pushing them to kick range, throw the rear kick.

I'm a sick person

I have a problem.

I take particular pleasure in learning novel ways to maim other human beings.  I have no guilt regarding this.

Today my muay thai private reviewed the straight knee to the head.  Either you can jab and then grab with the lead hand, pulling the head down by pulling with the arms as the hips drop back or you can pull their jab inferiorly with your rear hand, catch the cross with your lead and then undertook as you rotate laterally while grabbing the back of their head with your rear hand.  Ian then noted that this same thing could be done when someone tries to block your knees with their forearm.  If they frame against your body, or simply try to block your thigh you can pull their arm out of the way by underhooking as above.  If they post their arm on their own body, knee them with the intent of breaking their arm.  Stupidity is punishable.

Next we worked on leg kicks (pun not intended).  The style that Ian teaches, has balance and speed as its central dogma.  To stay on balance while kicking the body stays erect and above the hips.  To deliver a higher kick the base leg and torso lengthen.  To deliver a low kick the base leg bends.  To throw the low kick the rear foot springs forward landing just behind where your lead foot was.  The lead shin should be hitting the target as your base foot lands.  Your shoulders turn over with the kick as if you were a stiff man trying to tie the laces on your base foot.

After practicing on the bag we went to the pads.  I threw the jab stepping into and out of range, when my opponent stays put I follow with the low kick.  If he stays put, bring the kicking foot back to a good stance (easy if I kept by balance)  and throw the cross.  If he evades backward, fake the right cross,  step the lead foot off to the diagonal as I lead slap hook and pivot my rear foot laterally, shifting off line from my opponent.  Throw the rear kick.

Note to self, throw jab-cross.  If you throw cross-jab (particularly when I switch stances) I might be better served with a lead hook.  And you can turn a rear uppercut into a cross.