Welcome back to Muay Thai Times!

Few strikes are as brutal and effective as the low kick. When thrown correctly, it can chop down even the toughest opponents, taking away their mobility and forcing them to fight on your terms. Legends like Leg Kick King Lowen, Buakaw, and Ernesto Hoost built their careers around this devastating strike.

In todays issue, we’re diving deep into the technique, setups, and training drills to help you sharpen your low kicks and make them fight-ending weapons.  

Why the Low Kick is So Effective.

A well-placed low kick can completely change a fight. Here’s why:  

✅ Targets the opponent’s balance and movement – A damaged lead leg makes it harder for them to move, block, or counter.  

✅ Accumulates damage quickly – Just a few heavy low kicks can cause swelling, bruising, and even knockouts.  

✅ Opens up other attacks – When your opponent worries about low kicks, their guard drops, exposing the head and body.  

🔥 Pro Tip: The goal isn’t just to kick hard—it’s to kick smart by setting it up properly.  

Perfecting Low Kick Technique.

To land a powerful and effective low kick, focus on these key mechanics:

⚡ Step & Pivot – Step slightly outward with your lead foot to create a better angle and pivot on the ball of your foot.  

⚡ Turn Your Hip Over – Power comes from the hips, not just the leg. Rotate your hip fully for maximum impact.  

⚡ Strike with the Shin – Avoid using the foot as it’s more fragile. Your shin is the hardest weapon for chopping down an opponent.  

⚡ Keep Your Guard Up – Stay defensively aware to avoid counterpunches as you kick.  

🔥 Drill:  

• 50 low kicks per leg on a heavy bag, focusing on technique before power.  

• Work on speed, accuracy, and snapping your kick back quickly (this makes it harder to be countered) 
  

Setting Up the Low Kick.

A predictable low kick is easy to block, so you need to set it up smartly.

🥊 1. Fake a Punch, Then Kick  

- Throw a jab or cross to distract, then immediately fire the low kick.  

- This works well because opponents instinctively react to punches by blocking high.  

🥊 2. Attack the Body First  

- Land a teep or body kick a few times before switching to the leg.  

- Your opponent will drop their hands to protect their ribs, leaving the leg open.  

🥊 3. Catch & Counter  

- If your opponent throws a kick, catch it and sweep out their standing leg with a low kick.  

- Fighters like Buakaw use this to great effect.  

🔥 Drill:  

- When on the bag, work on ending every combination with a low kick. This will build the habit and improve your technique, and as a result lead to you throwing it more in a fight situation.

How to Defend Against Low Kicks.

If you want to use low kicks, you also need to know how to defend them to avoid getting chopped down yourself.  

🛡 Check the Kick – Lift your knee and angle your shin outward. A strong check can hurt your opponent’s shin and make them hesitant to throw. You can use your front leg for this to block both sides (I find this very effective). 

🛡 Step Back – Instead of absorbing the kick, simply move your leg out of range so it misses completely.  

🛡 Counter Immediately – After a checked kick, fire back with a punch, teep, or return kick to make them think twice.  

🔥 Drill:  

- Partner A throws low kicks while Partner B works on checking, stepping, or countering.  

Final Thoughts: Make Your Low Kick a Fight-Ending Weapon

The low kick isn’t just a strike, it’s a tactical weapon that can break down any opponent. Train your kicks consistently, focus on perfect technique and smart setups, and soon you’ll be chopping down your training partners with ease.  

💬 Who has the best low kicks in Muay Thai? Reply and let me know!  

Don’t forget to follow the Instagram for daily content and other updates.

📢 *Next issue:* The Science of Knockouts – How to develop fight ending power 

Thanks for reading once again, share with your friends and training partners if you enjoyed this weeks edition.   

Until next time, keep training hard and stay sharp

See you in the next round

Muay Thai Times