Knee Strike

If a front kick is analogous to a straight punch, then knee strikes are analogous to elbow strikes. That is, they are for the close-in fight, and they can be devastating.

Starting Position: Left-leg-forward fighting stance in close proximity to your opponent.

Grab your opponent’s right arm and shoulder firmly by grabbing handfuls of skin. Push your right forearm against your opponent’s neck, keeping your elbow down. This prevents your opponent from dropping down and “shooting in” to grab your legs.

Pull your opponent’s body forward and/or down while bringing your right knee up sharply, striking the groin, midsection, or face with the point just above your kneecap. Drive your hip forward and up to generate power.

Tips: If you grab the attacker’s left arm and shoulder, strike with your left knee.

Be sure your knee is bent sharply. If your target is the groin, drive your hip forward and pull your opponent’s body toward you.

If your target is the midsection or head, pull your opponent’s body down while driving your knee upward.

Variation: If you place one hand on either side of your opponent’s head (a Muay Thai clinch), use either knee for the strike. Grab the attacker by the head with one arm on each side, elbows down and tight. Your hands should be laid one over the other, with your fingers up the back of his head and pushing down to create pressure on his neck, which gives better control. Be sure you squeeze your elbows together to keep your opponent from slipping his head down and out.

Round Knee Strike

Knee strikes may be applied from different angles. Like a round kick, a round knee starts like the standard strike, relatively straight, and then the hip rolls over. This variation should be practiced after you’ve mastered the basic knee strike; it’s quite effective if your opponent is in front of you but leaving his side open to your attack.

Starting Position: Left-leg-forward fighting stance in close proximity to your opponent.

Grab your opponent’s right arm and shoulder firmly by grabbing handfuls of skin. Push your right forearm against your opponent’s neck, keeping your elbow down. This prevents your opponent from dropping down and “shooting in” to grab your legs.

Pull your opponent’s body forward and/or down while bringing your right knee up; roll your hip over in a motion similar to a round kick so that your knee strikes at a more horizontal angle. This strike is normally delivered to the ribs, stomach, or head. Drive your hip forward and up to generate power.

Front Kick/Hammerfist

Starting Position: Left-leg-forward fighting stance.

Deliver a regular front kick to the groin. For this combination, recoil and land with your right (kicking) foot forward and to the outside of your target, not right in front.

As your right foot steps to the ground, use your right hand to deliver a hammerfist to the back of your opponent’s neck.

Tips: The hammerfist should land almost simultaneously with the foot touching the ground.