How do you check a Head Kick?

[Retry]

Just wondering guys if it is possible to check a head kick? The knees don't seem to reach that high up unless you are leaning your head over along with the spine. Is it possible to check a head kick in the traditional sense of using the thick part of the knee? (Bottom Area)

 

[GOATMOON]

With the way I was taught to check, your elbow should be pressed against the top of your knee so that your arm blocks whatever your leg can't. You're probably better off just pulling your head back and avoiding it entirely though mate.

 

[BJ@LW&WW]

if your opponent throws a right high kick, counter it with a right hook to the shin.

 

[Harukaze]

With your teeth.

 

[7437]

The sort answer is no. I prefer a wing block if I cant get out of the way. Getting out of the way is a lot better though.

 

[KhabibTheBeagle]

You can't. You run, lock the doors, hide in the closet, and hope it doesn't find you.

 

[TheFinerDetails]

You fed the trolls bruh

 

[James L]

Anthony Hardonk has a good vid on Sherdog Technique of The Week you can look up. You can try what I believe is called a pole block, which involves bringing your elbows, forearms, and fist together, your rear having the back of the arm and your fists, facing out, with your lead sides fist facing in and arm not very manipulated.

Keep in mind, this is when facing a typical flick kicker, if you face a power kicker it's best to move out of the way until you have a good grasp on the various catches and counters you can do, because blocking at that level requires impressive bone conditioning and recognition of when to block and when to gtfo of the way. Catching usually is tricky for most and comes naturally to some. It takes a lot of sparring at different levels, the progression usually comes steady, but can have a quick rise if with a very good coach. It's also up to your dedication and research. Look up people like Saenchai and other Muay Thai beasts, very good at blocking &/or punishing kick attempts at all levels & their varieties too.

 

[sourdiesel209]

You can but you need to stand on your head first, like Saenchai.

 

[HookRight]

With the way I was taught to check, your elbow should be pressed against the top of your knee so that your arm blocks whatever your leg can't. You're probably better off just pulling your head back and avoiding it entirely though mate.

yup, thats how fedor blocked them

 

[PivotPunch]

Fedor did it Thai style with the knee high to block middle kicks but I guess whether you block middle kicks with the arms or the leg the hand position against head kicks stays the same.

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[Tug]

if you're in full check with both gloves (NOT arms) taking the impact and you are not moved, how would the opponent score from it? i presume they wouldn't? like so:

it would at best be a C score if it hits your arms, otherwise it would be ineffective? additionally if checked and the attacker loses balance from it while you stand strong, then it is an automatic non-score for them as well?

reference: http://www.mymuaythai.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Screen-Shot-2015-03-12-at-20.51.59.png

 

[NAKMUAY18]

if you're in full check with both gloves (NOT arms) taking the impact and you are not moved, how would the opponent score from it? i presume they wouldn't? like so:

it would at best be a C score if it hits your arms, otherwise it would be ineffective? additionally if checked and the attacker loses balance from it while you stand strong, then it is an automatic non-score for them as well?

reference: http://www.mymuaythai.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Screen-Shot-2015-03-12-at-20.51.59.png

If you HAD to check a high kick, the ideal would be this upper body position with both feet planted. The impact should be dispersed across both forearms and and your rear upper arm. If you synch down and have your feet planted you won't be off balanced as much, and have a more effective counter. But you have to be sure it's coming high....


I know some advice to use the forward glove to "catch" the kick, but it tends to be the upper and lower part of the rear arm. I tend to use both forearms and upper arm.


As far as scoring goes, it has to be taken in context. Muay Thai in Thailand and at higher levels tends to score the fight overall, where as at lower levers in most of the rest of the world it's a 10points must system.

In Thailand, it would be gauged on how effective the technique was. So if it was off balancing the oppo, it scores. If it caused damage to the arm, it scores. If it stopped forward momentum, it scores. If the oppo was blasting him, quick check, then straight back to blasting him, it doesn't really count. The judge can wait till later in the fight to see if the technique is accumulating damage, or if it's just a point scoring tap.

In the 10 point must system the judge can't wait to see if the damage from the kicks are going to accumulate, they have to decide there and then and put a number on the card. That means that although a checked kick obviously doesn't score as highly as a clean on, it still carries a little more weight.
Also remember that there's no points for defence, only offence. You can check and slip all you like, if your not throwing back, you lose.

 

[Tug]

thanks for the reply and clarification. i suppose i'm getting confused as the full check ensures a *body kick* does not score as the arm is not against the body in that situation. for a headkick, the gloves/arms will be against the head already so there is no benefit to having the leg check in place, except for being covered in case of a body kick.

 

[roventu]

just catch it on your forearm and hope the impact doesnt break your jaw lol (just thinknig of cerrone's last fight)

but yeah,evading is much better. a lot of thais just lean back like a boss to avoid it (saenchai)

nice breakdown nm18, some good things to think about on scoring.

 

[DoctorTaco]

If you can step in as the kick is starting, you can check it with your shin on its way up. Otherwise, I prefer Dutch style X-blocks

 

[Paradigm]

If you HAD to check a high kick, the ideal would be this upper body position with both feet planted. The impact should be dispersed across both forearms and and your rear upper arm. If you synch down and have your feet planted you won't be off balanced as much, and have a more effective counter. But you have to be sure it's coming high....


I know some advice to use the forward glove to "catch" the kick, but it tends to be the upper and lower part of the rear arm. I tend to use both forearms and upper arm.

Essentially this...I use the near side arm in a wing block "V" against my head and the far side hand to "catch" the kick (with both guys orthodox and a right rear houndhouse, wing block with left arm and catch with the right glove). Reverse for a lead leg high kick.

Hard to find a pic online of it but basically this but with the "V" wing block held a bit higher so the impact is spread between your near side upper arm/forearm and the palm of the far side glove:

Don't catch a kick like this:

 

[roventu]

Essentially this...I use the near side arm in a wing block "V" against my head and the far side hand to "catch" the kick

by catch, do you mean you actually catch the leg by wrapping your hand over the top, or you mean just stopping it with the opposite side hand?

i do that with body kicks, but catching with opposide-side hand i go under the leg, that pic it looks like you're catching it over (im not sure if i explained that well)

 

[Paradigm]

by catch, do you mean you actually catch the leg by wrapping your hand over the top, or you mean just stopping it with the opposite side hand?

i do that with body kicks, but catching with opposide-side hand i go under the leg, that pic it looks like you're catching it over (im not sure if i explained that well)

I wrote "catch" because that's the term Nakmuay18 used...its more stopping it with the palm of the other hand.

Not me in the pic, btw...just something I found online that's close to what I meant. My wing block arm is higher and covers more of my head and my palm hand is more perpendicular to the ground. I don't really like the use of forearms on their own to stop a block, as it's an easy bone to break. The heel of the palm is one of the hardest points on your body (or so I've read in the past).

On a somewhat related not, one of the Thais I used to train under would wing block a head kick on the receiving side and then use his other arm to hook under your leg (trapping it against his blocking arm...never seen anyone use this before). From there he could just drive you backwards until you fell on your ass or swing your leg to the other side and sweep you. Think of someone catching a teep or body kick and swinging the leg across to the other side to off balance and sweep.

 

[cakemuncher]

If you block with shin + forearm, should your elbow be inside or outside your leg/knee?

One coach told me outside, but for me it makes more sense inside. Otherwise, I feel my face would be too open for straight punches.