Throwing a proper muay thai kick

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Leafs42084

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Hi everyone,

I realize this is a really basic question, but ive been training for a little over a year and heard different opinions on how to throw a kick.

By the way, im not pretending to know more than the coach training me or anything, I just want opinions. At the first gym I attended, I was told to pivot on all my punches and kicks. And thats the only way ive known to do it... if I were to throw a kick, I would pivot as I threw the kick. Same goes for punches and it just seemed natural after a while, after all, they say all your power comes from your legs/hips

I have also heard from a different coach that you should step out with your left foot (orthodox) at a 45 degree angle, and then when you throw the kick, there should be no pivot.

Have I really been kicking/punching incorrectly the whole time? Should I be pivoting with my kicks or not? Based on how ive learned, and what ive read, I would assume the answer is yes... but I was recently told not to after the 45 degree step.

Was there something lost in translation? are there times when you should step at a 45 degree angle and then not pivot at all?

Thank you for your insight. I hope im not disrespecting any coach at all by questioning their methods... just wanted to get some feedback
 
i do the 45 with a tiny pivot, defs the pivot for high kicks but your question has me questioning.
 
Not an expert opinion, but as I see it

45 degree step = power
pivot on the spot = speed.
 
both. i'm not being a smartass, both are correct and both are valid. add both ways to your arsenal and use them when appropriate. that's what i do. obviously you don't always have the room to step out and kick if your opponent is close so that's when i'll throw a kick with a pivot to get the power from the hips. plus stepping out also telegraphs the kick more. if i want to cover more distance or want a little more power or am cutting the base leg when they throw a left kick i'll step out.

different coaches, slightly different styles. neither is wrong or right in my opinion.
 
Also if you step out and your kick is intercepted you will be more off balance than if you had pivoted
 
I was originally taught to step out 90 degrees, but my new coach says 45. Anyone else ever done 90?
 
dat1978 said:
both. i'm not being a smartass, both are correct and both are valid. add both ways to your arsenal and use them when appropriate. that's what i do. obviously you don't always have the room to step out and kick if your opponent is close so that's when i'll throw a kick with a pivot to get the power from the hips. plus stepping out also telegraphs the kick more. if i want to cover more distance or want a little more power or am cutting the base leg when they throw a left kick i'll step out.

different coaches, slightly different styles. neither is wrong or right in my opinion.
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Absolutely correct.

There are times when you will step, and times when you'll just pivot. The fight dictates when you do one or the other.
 
I don't wanna be that guy who name drops, but my current striking coach is a multiple-time champion in both Muay Thai and MMA and any time I ask him a "should I do it this way or that way?" kind of question, his answer is pretty much always along the lines of "both work do what's right for the situation/feels natural to you". This open-minded style of looking at striking in general has allowed me to become a lot looser and more creative with my game. Helps me remember that there's always more than just one right way to do things, and different things work well for different people. I've noticed a lot of improvements since I've started training with him and I credit it to his attitude and teaching approach as much as his technique. That being said, in one of the first classes I took with him, we were working leg kicks and I was stepping out 45 like my old teacher taught me and he told me to pivot. :icon_lol:
 
So when you use the stepping into it method, your NOT supposed to pivot??? I thought u always were supposed to pivot?? Please enlighten me.

What exactly ARE the situations where you would use one way compared to the other more effectively?
 
i step out and pivot. i think they are 2 different kicks, but personally i pivot even after that step out. but yeah as others have said, use what works in the situation.
 
i learned to step and pivot. the pivot allow for more hip opening, plus won't mess ur knees up
 
The only way you're going to be able to step out WITHOUT the pivot is to turn the foot out as you step or kick at more of a forward vector. Generally you'll naturally pivot for either way because (1) its better for your standing knee to avoid injury, and (2) it automatically happens if you're kicking with power anyway since you shouldnt be flat footed in the first place.
 
the point of stepping out is to avoid getting hit with a straight punch ,jab , or cross , when you step out your foot is already in a pivoted situation ,me personally it depends on if im doing a combo kick , sometimes after i step out i pivot as well for more reach and to set up another kick , muay thai fighters are very close combat so the step works great as moving back is not part of muay thai language , but when you fight mma th guys are moving back alot more so you have to develop a step or pivot or both in order for you to pursue ,,, just my opinion

on another note we also work on stepping or jumping ahead with a pivoted step and then delivering the low kick ,, try that one ,you will like it (ala thiago alves )
 
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Good point Peanut.

As a further elaboration I have at times stepped 90 or 45 where need be to kick off angles. For example I might throw a tight hand combination and to kick with the left leg after I'd step out with my right foot to plant a kick to their front midsection.

The same idea is implemented with the 90* left leg or right leg step out if you're "slipping" with the step and kicking at the same time.
 
Genki Pseudo said:
Also if you step out and your kick is intercepted you will be more off balance than if you had pivoted
Click to expand...

only problem with that is the kick is more telegraphed. I'd advise stepping if you're going for a leg kick. But for a headkick the step makes it easier to see coming.
 
MMAnon said:
only problem with that is the kick is more telegraphed. I'd advise stepping if you're going for a leg kick. But for a headkick the step makes it easier to see coming.
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The telegraph argument can be used on any technique.

Technically if I see someone load up their weight on either leg I know either a punch is coming from that side, or a kick is coming from the opposite side. Does it mean someone shouldn't load up or shift weight?
 
vankuen said:
The telegraph argument can be used on any technique.

Technically if I see someone load up their weight on either leg I know either a punch is coming from that side, or a kick is coming from the opposite side. Does it mean someone shouldn't load up or shift weight?
Click to expand...

well no I'm not saying don't do it. but it is a fact that it's more telegraphed then just pivoting on the foot. Some people don't like it. I personally step with the kick when i do leg kicks or body kicks. I was only pointing out for TS that it's a more telegraphed shot but you trade for better balance and I find a little more power.
 
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