Learning to check a leg kick is an essential skill for any style of striking which involves being kicked in the thigh. The thigh kick is both debilitating and painful; it stops you moving and also hurts like hell. The leg kick slows a fighter down and makes them less agile and therefore, easier to hit. The other thing is that the mind tends to focus on things that hurt. Once pain sets in, it effectively distracts you from everything else that’s going on and creates greater vulnerability to other strikes.
There are four possible leg kicks you’re going to be met with, but the technique for blocking them is largely the same
The first is a simple side kick that comes straight in front of your body. The second is a roundhouse kick that comes from behind your head. The third is a one-two punch with the foot, followed by the heel coming down on top of your toes.
The fourth type of leg kick you are likely to encounter is often used as an evasive tactic. It consists of depressing or tucking one’s hip to create more space below their thigh, sending their foot towards the ground and then kicking up into it.
- Keep your chin up and get on the balls of your feet
- Push their leg down with your hands, not your arms
- Turn the heel of your foot inwards to meet their heel
- Use your shin to catch the kick
- Bring up your knee and place it on top of theirs
- Raise your upper body
Bend at the waist and keep your back straight
This will help you to avoid being hit in the head with the other leg, which is often accompanied by a straight punch to the face.
Push off with one leg while you raise the other knee to hip height
To stop a leg kick, you need to be agile and react quickly. One of the most important things is to keep your guard up and push off with one leg while you raise the other knee to hip height. The best way to do this is to turn the heel of your foot inwards to meet their heel and use your shin to catch the kick. This will help you avoid being hit in the head with the other leg, which is often accompanied by a straight punch to the face.
Put pressure on the ball of your foot, not just toes or heel
When you put pressure on the ball of your foot, you will be able to exert more force and cause your opponent to fall over. Remember to keep your chin up and get on the balls of your feet when performing the check; this will allow you to be in a good position for controlling their leg and they can’t easily headbutt you.
Bring the knee down forcefully so it makes contact with shin pad
This part of the technique is important because it will cause an opponent to lose their balance and fall. You also need to make sure you bend at the waist and keep your back straight when performing the check; this will help you to avoid being hit in the head with the other leg, which is often accompanied by a straight punch to the face. Put pressure on the ball of your foot rather than toes or heel for maximum power and control. The best way to do this is to turn the heel of your foot inwards to meet their heel and use your shin pad to catch the kick.
Repeat process for other leg
Conclusion
The correct way to check a leg kick is an essential skill for any style of striking which involves being kicked in the thigh. The other thing is that the mind tends to focus on things that hurt once pain sets in, it effectively distracts you from everything else and creates vulnerability to other strikes. Keep your guard up and push off with one leg while you raise the other knee to hip height; this will help avoid getting hit in the head by the opponent’s second strike. When checking a leg kick make sure you put pressure on the ball of the foot not just toes or heel-this maximizes power and control over the opponent’s limb.
