"The Muay Thai Side Knee Is Less Powerful Than The Straight Knee But More Sneaky"

The side knee in Thai boxing can be performed both free standing and in the clinch but is most likely to be done in the clinch. It is a very close quarters technique and therefore you are more likely to be in the clinch anyway before you can throw it.

You can throw the side knee even when the clinch is very tight and that's why it is so sneaky because you generally can't see it. The more experienced you get at Muay Thai, however, you will be able to 'feel' it more than see it coming.

To begin get into clinch range by throwing some type of technique like a punch to bridge the gap. Grasp your opponents head and neck and pull them in close. The knee comes up at a 45 degree angle to the side of your opponents legs or body. You point the toes of your kneeing foot to the floor and come up on the toes of your support leg.

You should turn your hip and knee over as much as you can to generate as much power as you can. You use the side knee when you are in a clinch position where you can push your opponent forward to create space and then pull him back into your knee.

You can also turn your opponent in a circle where they build up momentum and can't stop as they run into your knee. To do both of these techniques where you control your opponent and place them in a good position to knee them you usually must have good head and neck control of your opponent...get the inside clinch position - see the clinch techniques page.

This video is a quick demonstration of the side knee in action. It has no sound and shows the knee free standing which isn't typical for this knee.

That's why he looks a little awkward became he has no one to hold on to to make the knee more powerful.

Remember, when your in the clinch and pull your opponent into your knee it works twice as powerfully.