Muay Thai hips - turning hips 'in'

Hatake88

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Hey everyone

One of the things I found that really helped me 'whip' my kicks is to focus on turning my hip inwards (by that I mean towards the centreline).

Does anyone also turn their hip this way when teeping or throwing knees? Again, I don't mean pushing your hips forwards (that you should definitely do) but towards the centreline....
 
For me it goes like this:

Lift up from the floor, kicking straight up - pivoting on the ball of the foot so that the heel faces the target while the leg comes up and in.

Optimum is your hand being outstretched on the other side of the opponents face, which will guard from punches (maximum safety) while also helping to act as a lever potentially to pull the opponent into the kick, or to post on them if the kick is caught or if they react with something you weren't expecting.



Arjan Surat demonstrates a few moments where he pivots round the opponent and pulls their head down on the kick.

A good thing with that arm position is that it actually helps you visualise where your hips need to turn over, in order to throw the kick properly

Hand swinging down is okay for more power, but not ideal for me, it's better to dull the opponents reactions to allow you to cobra punch, like Sagat would. Kicking and then following from a punch from the same side is a big thing in my coach's method.
 
These guys both pivot.

You can see the difference very clearly when it's done right...

 
Hey everyone

One of the things I found that really helped me 'whip' my kicks is to focus on turning my hip inwards (by that I mean towards the centreline).
..

You are correct. What happens is that it feels like the hip has turned over when it actually hasn't, and that's where poor technique stems from. Any motion that is unnatural and exaggerated is harder to ingrain, and turning the hip in is such a thing.

So the best way is to visualize what you just wrote with your hip.
 
You would ideally kick hard without over committing since this compromises your recovery post kick.

That's where technique comes into the equation. The better technique you have, the less commitment into your strike is required to generate significant power, and you're recovery to strike again or defend, or move out, is not hampered.

Think of it has chopping down a tree. You want to take stab right at the center but not go past it.

One of my favorite fighters when it comes to roundhouse kicks is Changpuek Kietsongrit. He's both snappy and hard hitting without overdoing it.
 
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