when kicking do you keep your hands up or throw your one down?

And like others have said, you should have your opposite hand protecting that side of the face while your chin is tucked into your kicking side shoulder to protect that side.
 
I think both ways can be correct...but your hand swining will always generate more force. I think the hand up can be used to throw a safer kick if you dont have your timing down.

i made a post a while back with this video of Duke showing a hand up variation of the low kick. it is still powerful but provides some extra protection.

YouTube - Duke Roufus, Muay Thai, Full Contact Kickboxing, MMA Kicks
 
deluxeMT said:
Duh you give up some defence by throwing your arm down, but the best defence is kicking at an appropriate time..
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Exactly. It's kind of interesting to see so few people discussing the fact that you should set up your kicks.
 
It all depends on the style, distance, and what kick is being thrown. A traditionally trained karate fighter chambers their kicks and keeps hands are normal punching level while throwing. A Thai boxer will use the same side arm as the leg being thrown to thrust, similar to how a sprinter thrusts their arms to generate force. Also this technique will put the thrusting arm down opon kick impact to help with balance, placing the other sides hand infront of the face acting as a guard.
 
deluxeMT said:
Duh you give up some defence by throwing your arm down, but the best defence is kicking at an appropriate time..
Click to expand...

Exactly.

For me, when i throw body kicks, i'll either swing my arm down or swing it in front of my opponents face, depending on what i'm setting up.

If i feel safe while low kicking, i'll swing my arm down fully. If i am just gauging my opponent's reactions i'll keep my hands up and maybe use a slight swing just to get my hips over.
 
It depends on what art you're training. In muay thai, I was taught to swing my arm so not doing so makes it awkward for me.
 
Swinging one arm for leverage and counter-balance while keeping the other one up for an insurance policy is always a good way to go.

Not to mention the fact that usually when you're kicking correctly your body should be angled away from your opponent.
 
vjvj said:
Exactly. It's kind of interesting to see so few people discussing the fact that you should set up your kicks.
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well its because so few people on sherdog actually even fight at all :(
 
Kellogg's said:
Swinging one arm for leverage and counter-balance while keeping the other one up for an insurance policy is always a good way to go.

Not to mention the fact that usually when you're kicking correctly your body should be angled away from your opponent.
Click to expand...

Actually in muay thai, they teach that you should always be in front of the opponent and facing him while kicking.
 
What others said:

- Set up the kick with a 1, 1-2, 1-2 loose 3 combo, or anything else to put the opponent on the defensive (and depending which side you're kicking from)
- Same side as the kick you chop down with the hand to add momentum and counter-balance
- Opposite hand goes across your face so that the back of your hand protects the jaw

That's what gets drilled into my head over and over at every kickboxing class.
 
Pahve said:
Actually in muay thai, they teach that you should always be in front of the opponent and facing him while kicking.
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No, you step to the outside 6-8 inches. This puts you off to an angle from your opponent.
 
Pahve said:
Actually in muay thai, they teach that you should always be in front of the opponent and facing him while kicking.
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The hips still turn over (if you're doing it right) and your upper body will go with the hips a little. If you're giving away your centerline to your opponent prepare to get your face pounded in.
 
AdamL said:
What others said:

- Set up the kick with a 1, 1-2, 1-2 loose 3 combo, or anything else to put the opponent on the defensive (and depending which side you're kicking from)
- Same side as the kick you chop down with the hand to add momentum and counter-balance
- Opposite hand goes across your face so that the back of your hand protects the jaw

That's what gets drilled into my head over and over at every kickboxing class.
Click to expand...

exactly!

a good drill I was taught to practice this is to stand in front of a heavy bag and use the hand on the same side the kick is coming from to reach out and pull you through the bag during the kick.

I.E: stand directly in front of the bag in your regular stance, step the front foot out putting your outside shoulder (right side if orthodox stance) just past the center of the bag, reach your right hand (like throwing a lazy cross) out across your body and place it palm side against bag with thumb facing down (your hand should be on the left side of the bag now). Come up on your front foot (to pivot through) and as your rear leg swings into the bag use the hand on the bag to pull yourself through the kick. In short, your pulling the bag into your shin at the same time the kicking leg comes through. Lastly, try to make the heel of the supporting leg turn towards the bag. If done correctly, your heel on the pivot leg will be pointed at the bag as your shin makes contact. This is how you know your hips are getting over and through the kick.
 
I get bitched at if my hand even moves. As long as your hand is up so the guy has to get past your hand to punch you. your arm shouldn't be swinging all over the place though.
 
DeadlyArt said:
Why even ask...?
You def. should be swinging that hand as hard as you can. There is a huge difference and all the posters who said there is a "slight" power difference are on crack.

There is a huge difference if you're doing it properly.
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nope dont agree... people who drill where their hands up for years can make up for the extra torque with hip rotation and conditioned abs... unless your a really fast and proficient fighter, i think sacrificing your head for a kick is dangerous..
 
AdamL said:
What others said:

- Set up the kick with a 1, 1-2, 1-2 loose 3 combo, or anything else to put the opponent on the defensive (and depending which side you're kicking from)
- Same side as the kick you chop down with the hand to add momentum and counter-balance
- Opposite hand goes across your face so that the back of your hand protects the jaw

That's what gets drilled into my head over and over at every kickboxing class.
Click to expand...

What about the back of your hand will be able to protect a strike to the jaw?
 
MiaWallace718 said:
What about the back of your hand will be able to protect a strike to the jaw?
Click to expand...

The same way your hands protect your jaw when you're in your defensive stance with your hands in the proper place. When you're throwing a kick one side of your face is going to be turned away from the opponent, so to protect the exposed side you cover it with your opposite hand and tuck your shoulder up as much as possible while you're at it.

Edited to add this image:



The guy almost has his left hand in the "textbook" correct position. Should be a little further down, closer to his jaw. Keep in mind that most people who are kickboxing are going to be wearing boxing gloves, and when your hands are positioned like this, and your shoulder is up, you've got a lot of good protection.
 
ssullivan80 said:
the opposite hand from the kicking leg come up across your face, hiding your chin behind your forearm/hand/elbow.

View attachment 40592
Click to expand...

so if your in orthodox stance your left hand comes across to protect the right side of your face (side your throwing your hand back).. i've fought people that block this way and most of the time i drive in with a jab or a hook, and that hand does very little to protect (it just hits the face).. i think for a beginner this is just a dangerous way to kick... if i can tell that your going to wind up that kick, my defense is going to be to drive in.. with nothing but the back of a hand (with no arm or elbow to help protect) your still going to get rocked with a counter...
 
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