Leg-kick checking

sohocanaan22

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Just watched a rerun of Bendo v. Nate Diaz. Henderson murdered him with leg-kicks--as have others, obv.

Is there any reasoning behind the guys who get torn up like that but never seem to check? (Rampage is another that comes to mind--same with Faber v. Aldo.) The commentary guys make it sound like it's such and easy, obvious solution.

Is it a difficult technique/response? Is there any value to be had by keeping weight-forward for those split seconds?
 
Just watched a rerun of Bendo v. Nate Diaz. Henderson murdered him with leg-kicks--as have others, obv.

Is there any reasoning behind the guys who get torn up like that but never seem to check? (Rampage is another that comes to mind--same with Faber v. Aldo.) The commentary guys make it sound like it's such and easy, obvious solution.

Is it a difficult technique/response? Is there any value to be had by keeping weight-forward for those split seconds?

In some cases fighters truly believe the kicks won't affect them. The Diaz brothers for example.

In other cases it's just a matter of trying to teach an old dog new tricks. Some of the most simple movements are next to impossible to teach people especially if they have fought a certain way their entire careers.

Checking a leg kick IS an obvious solution and learning how to do it correctly isn't hard. Putting it in practice is considerably more difficult however especially against top notch strikers like Aldo, Pettis etc.
 
Checking kicks is not easy or intuitive to do. It's an awkward motion when you first try to do it and if you haven't practiced them in training, trying to use them in a fight is difficult. However, you can train and practice them to a point where it is instinctive and they do help to reduce damage from low kicks, but still hurt.
 
taking a leg kick is lazy, checking a leg kick hurts but you quickly lose the ability to check kicks if you take a few on the thigh.

its better in the long run to check leg kicks!
 
Also, if someone fakes a kick and you try to check it, you are standing on one leg and are open to takedowns.
 
Checking kicks is not easy or intuitive to do. It's an awkward motion when you first try to do it and if you haven't practiced them in training, trying to use them in a fight is difficult. However, you can train and practice them to a point where it is instinctive and they do help to reduce damage from low kicks, but still hurt.

And checking inside leg kicks hurts just as much as getting kicked.
Better to counter cross hard enough so they won't throw that kick again.
 
Like others said, it is not an easy defense to learn. It requires quickness and shifting of weight. Some might find it too hard to do quickly, others might not like the shift in weight and vulnerability in being off-center. Requires a lot of drilling to be proficient at it.

Also, it still hurts to check against a good, powerful kicker. Just not as much as if you don't check the kicks.
 
humans are inherently lazy
some cover that up with "i can take it" or "kicks don't matter"

bla bla bla
 
Rampage and the Diaz brothers are more punch orientated. Committing to coming within punching range and then sitting on your punches means that you are going to be somewhat vulnerable to leg kicks.
 
checking hurts

perhaps they just haven't committed the time (or don't want to commit the time) to practising a manouver that is defensive to the degree necessary that the pain is less accute... and some guys will just think "fuck it, i can eat that leg kick" and try to focus solely on their boxing attack.. i.e. rampage as you mentioned
 
People are seriously saying that checking is hard to learn? YOU LEARN IT THE FIRST DAY IN ANY MUAY THAI CLASS!
 
Rampage and the Diaz brothers are more punch orientated. Committing to coming within punching range and then sitting on your punches means that you are going to be somewhat vulnerable to leg kicks.

I think this was what I was wondering. What kind of style/fighter would intentionally risk that damage for the sake a reasonably expected reward. (That, and I hadn't thought about the risk of takedown.)

Any advice on what to look for as a viewer interested in the technique? To the untrained eye it sort of looks like you need only lift your leg off the mat before the impact.
 
People are seriously saying that checking is hard to learn? YOU LEARN IT THE FIRST DAY IN ANY MUAY THAI CLASS!

You also learn how to jab in your first day of boxing, it doesn't means it's simple to do it or that people tend to use properly.
 
You also learn how to jab in your first day of boxing, it doesn't it's simple to do it or that people tend to use properly.

That doesnt stop them from even attempting. Not even attempting the check means that they are intentionally leaving it out. Either to focus on their hands enough that they never bother with kicks (sound like anyone we know) or they think they can tough it out.
 
That doesnt stop them from even attempting. Not even attempting the check means that they are intentionally leaving it out. Either to focus on their hands enough that they never bother with kicks (sound like anyone we know) or they think they can tough it out.

You are partially right on that one. They don't try it, but it's a more complicated move than a jab. But yeah, at least they throw a jab, I'll agree with you on this.

That aren't that many of good leg kickers that can stop a guy from actually checking their kicks. Lamas tried but Aldo was just to good of a striker, using set ups and combos.
 
Guys the are heavy on their front leg are much less apt to check in time or at all. Fighting off your front leg is good for a forward moving punch oriented fighter. Also, if you fight very bladed (sideways stance, think Nate, Connor, Rory, Machida) then the low kick to the outside thigh is much more difficult to check, as that lead foot is often turned toes in a bit and the motion is further and awkward. This is why Thai fighters are much more square in stance.
 

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