Boxing Techniques Article
The Main Defense For A Round Kick In Muay Thai Is The Same For Low, Middle, Or High Targets...Here's How To Prepare For Them All
The Muay Thai round kick is not chambered and therefore it is hard to see where your opponent is intending to land it. Because of this the easiest and safest way to block it is to shield the whole side of the body that is being attacked.
As with all Muay Thai defense there are 5 basic tactics to employ.
1. You can move out of the way; with low kicks you can slide or step back the leg being kicked at or use footwork to retreat away, with middle kicks you could dance away or arch your body to make the kick miss, with high kicks you can dance away or sway your head and upper body backwards to make the kick miss.
2. The second tactic is parrying; you can't do this with low kicks but with middle kicks you can arch your torso so the kick misses and use your cupped hand to help it continue on it's way.
This leaves your opponent open and defenseless for a second. You can also parry the high round kick by letting it hit your guard and using one hand to simultaneously cup the leg and then continue it on it's way.
3. The third (and main) tactic is to shield the body, head, and legs by creating a wall on the side being attacked. You do this by raising the knee up about a foot high, bringing the elbow down to meet the knee, and fixing your fist against the side of your forehead.
This makes the wall of your fist, forearm, elbow, knee, and shin so that no matter where your opponent lands his kick it won't get through.
3. Make sure that your elbow is on the outside of your knee or the force of the kick will just plow your elbow into your ribs which defeats the purpose of trying to block in the first place.
4. The fourth tactic is to neutralize the kick with your own attack which could be a push kick off the front leg or a punch which is quick off the mark.
5. The third tactic is grabbing the weapon which is only used against the middle kick. You would move slightly in the direction of the kick to dissipate the power and as it hits your torso you wrap your arm around the leg and hold it close to you.
