Risks and Rewards of Push Kicking a Rushing Opponent
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On the streets I think the risk is pretty minimal. Very few people are going to be able to catch your kick, it's much more likely to knock the wind out of a completely unprepared opponent.
In the ring, it's fine. Sometimes they get caught, but other than taking 1-2 hard shots off the catch or getting dumped there's not an extra risk vs any other body kick. That they continue to be used at all levels shows that's it's not such a big deal.
In MMA it's slightly different, as the element of risk is greater. Many fighters look to catch kicks for takedowns, and once you're on the bottom against someone with good top control you will either spend the round there or expend a lot of energy to get up. This is not to say you shouldn't throw them (Bobby Knuckles threw a bunch against Romero, even though Yoel is a great wrestler), just that you should be more careful about when and how you do it because of the elevated risk.
In the ring, it's fine. Sometimes they get caught, but other than taking 1-2 hard shots off the catch or getting dumped there's not an extra risk vs any other body kick. That they continue to be used at all levels shows that's it's not such a big deal.
In MMA it's slightly different, as the element of risk is greater. Many fighters look to catch kicks for takedowns, and once you're on the bottom against someone with good top control you will either spend the round there or expend a lot of energy to get up. This is not to say you shouldn't throw them (Bobby Knuckles threw a bunch against Romero, even though Yoel is a great wrestler), just that you should be more careful about when and how you do it because of the elevated risk.
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You can fall down... but if they are literally rushing you that's the only risk. It's safer than an overhand right because they may be trying a flying knee. But I'm willing to bet 9/10 an overhand is more rewarding...
(See fedor/arlovski)
(See fedor/arlovski)
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I wont go for a push when the opponent is rushing, i would prefer a teep. You may not have enough power/good balance to extend your leg... With the teep, you meet him while your leg is already (almost) fully extended.
The teep, with the side kick, it's the longest technique you can use. That means that he can't reach you with anything. That's for me the most important fact about the teep. And since it's in the "straight" family, he can't advance through it. (unlike a roundhouse, or a hook)
You can throw it, and at the same time decide where to land it (hip, plexus, face, throat). The technique doesn't really change depending if you want to go mid or high. That means you don't have to think about the target before throwing it. You start the motion and you can alter it midway depending on the opening you see.
A guy running into a good teep, will get hurt, will get stopped.
It's a relatively fast technique.
You don't need great flexibility. (obviously you need some, but not as much as a side kick for example)
It's a kick that you can throw while keepin both hand high to protect the chin.
Variations between push, teep, and front kick are easy and fast to readjust on the fly.
As for the cons, it's the same as most of the kicks... Risk to catch it (but less than a mid roundhouse). Risk to loose balance if you haven't trained enough.
If you go high and you miss, you might be in a bad position with your foot resting on his shoulder, and with him rushing, you gonna go down.
I've heard stories about people dislocating their hip when they were pushed back while teeping (?).
It's one of those techniques that seems very simple, and its easy to learn the basic form, but it needs a lot of training to really master (MMA vs MT)
The teep, with the side kick, it's the longest technique you can use. That means that he can't reach you with anything. That's for me the most important fact about the teep. And since it's in the "straight" family, he can't advance through it. (unlike a roundhouse, or a hook)
You can throw it, and at the same time decide where to land it (hip, plexus, face, throat). The technique doesn't really change depending if you want to go mid or high. That means you don't have to think about the target before throwing it. You start the motion and you can alter it midway depending on the opening you see.
A guy running into a good teep, will get hurt, will get stopped.
It's a relatively fast technique.
You don't need great flexibility. (obviously you need some, but not as much as a side kick for example)
It's a kick that you can throw while keepin both hand high to protect the chin.
Variations between push, teep, and front kick are easy and fast to readjust on the fly.
As for the cons, it's the same as most of the kicks... Risk to catch it (but less than a mid roundhouse). Risk to loose balance if you haven't trained enough.
If you go high and you miss, you might be in a bad position with your foot resting on his shoulder, and with him rushing, you gonna go down.
I've heard stories about people dislocating their hip when they were pushed back while teeping (?).
It's one of those techniques that seems very simple, and its easy to learn the basic form, but it needs a lot of training to really master (MMA vs MT)
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That's a thing? They must have pretty weak joints... Wouldn't you just get pushed back if you're teeping properly? If you have a floppy leg I can see your leg being pushed back into your hip and dislocating it but if you have a strong flexed teep I'd imagine you'd just be pushed back.
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Easy technique and good for managing distance but potential for the kick to be caught and/or loss of balance.
Same pros and cons in a street fight, except for some weird 'moral code' of street fighting where kicking is deemed to be off limits. Therefore, its likely the kick clean will land clean and do damage, but if your opponent has any mates watching they will pile in and give you a royal beating.
Same pros and cons in a street fight, except for some weird 'moral code' of street fighting where kicking is deemed to be off limits. Therefore, its likely the kick clean will land clean and do damage, but if your opponent has any mates watching they will pile in and give you a royal beating.
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@AJay
I've never experienced. or even seen it, that's why a put an ? at the end of the sentence... But it's something i heard from different sources for different accident, so i kind of believe it.
And personally i believe its easier to happen if you have a strong "locked" in extension leg than floppy...
I've never experienced. or even seen it, that's why a put an ? at the end of the sentence... But it's something i heard from different sources for different accident, so i kind of believe it.
And personally i believe its easier to happen if you have a strong "locked" in extension leg than floppy...
Super easy to catch push kicks with no/small gloves. Your high single and knee tap defense better be on point if you're throwing those against a competent kick catcher in MMA. Also, if you try to throw that push kick too late once the opponent is already charging, they're gonna crack you in the mouth while you're on one leg. It has to be timed really well.
What's the difference between a push kick and a teep?
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It's a question that comes often around here, so i usually copy paste an older answer I've made:
Front kick, Teep, and push kick are 3 different things...
Simply put:
The front kick, you see it mostly in Karate and Taekwon-Do, you raise your knee and snap your foot upwards. You hit with the ball of the foot in an upward movement . (think uppercut)
The teep is mostly use in Muay Thai. You raise your knee, but you use your hips to extend your foot forward. You hit with the ball of the foot in a straight/direct movement. (think straight punches)
For the push kick, the contact is made while the leg is still chambered. You push your opponent while you straightened your leg. Most of the sole of the foot is in contact. (think shove)
Of course, when you fight those lines tent to blur and you may mix voluntarily or not those 3 techniques.
Front kick, Teep, and push kick are 3 different things...
Simply put:
The front kick, you see it mostly in Karate and Taekwon-Do, you raise your knee and snap your foot upwards. You hit with the ball of the foot in an upward movement . (think uppercut)
The teep is mostly use in Muay Thai. You raise your knee, but you use your hips to extend your foot forward. You hit with the ball of the foot in a straight/direct movement. (think straight punches)
For the push kick, the contact is made while the leg is still chambered. You push your opponent while you straightened your leg. Most of the sole of the foot is in contact. (think shove)
Of course, when you fight those lines tent to blur and you may mix voluntarily or not those 3 techniques.
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better for the streets most people dont have abs and the ones that do have abs dont know how to use them to stop a blow, risk of falling over and becoming vulnerable on the street but not that high imo ive used it a ok multiple times wo falling over on the street, also you can aim it at the balls/pubic bone for maybe some pain/damage
in sport theres a risk of being countered with something much worse like a round kick which might be why K1 kickboxers dont use it much, the thais on the other hand know the right time and place for the kick, in MMA theres a risk of takedowns and counters and theres little reward because it barely ever stops anyone
high risk in mma
lower risk in KB/ the street although not an ideal self defense idea
in sport theres a risk of being countered with something much worse like a round kick which might be why K1 kickboxers dont use it much, the thais on the other hand know the right time and place for the kick, in MMA theres a risk of takedowns and counters and theres little reward because it barely ever stops anyone
high risk in mma
lower risk in KB/ the street although not an ideal self defense idea
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Fortunately competent kick catchers are almost non-existent in MMA, it's very rare for a front kick or teep to get caught into a takedown, it doesn't happen nearly as often as a round kick getting caught into a takedown. Most MMA fighters, especially wrestlers, know how to block a round kick into an easy single or double leg takedown, very few have figured out how to counter push kicks.
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What about the soccer kick? (uses the hips in a different way if its a real soccer kick like from english football)
Also what about the toe punt? (Its a front kick but no chamber just a stiff leg, it is also from soccer)
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You catch their foot then swing them in a circle till they fall over, the key to being proficient in this technique is to swing them fast that way they will pass their max hop speed and fall over, then you can lay on top of them
For now. Not many guys are catching them for takedowns, but a lot are parrying or sidestepping them then countering with punches. That's how Rumble rocked Gus initially, then his teammate actually got knocked out the same way (can't remember the name). It's also why most guys who use front kicks are throwing them as snaps rather than as pushes.
Kick catching is weirdly one of the most underdeveloped striking skills in MMA considering how useful it is for grapplers, especially as the overall level of TDD is generally surpassing the overall level of wrestling offense.
