Leg/body kicks in the cage, risk vs reward

***WhiteShark*** · Posted On: 6/06/2011 8:56am

Haha, Thats what I was going to say Sang. The MMA guys that haven't done MT are terrible leg kickers. I don't even bother checking anymore. I can hollow out and kick across both legs so easily or just catch them and plow. I think its a matter of not having a good guard. I still throw tons of kicks because I really don't care if I get taken down. I can always sub off my back or sweep. I realize this didn't work for Pettis but I'm not training with Clay Guida.

***Omega Supreme*** · Posted On: 6/06/2011 9:33am

Originally Posted by Sang

When you counter kicks by hitting the supporting leg are you aiming for the thigh for damage or lower for the offbalance/sweep? We did a lot of this stuff in MT, most just preferred to check then counter with a leg kick. I haven't had to check at all since i started mma, the kickers at this gym telegraph their kicks a mile off.

6 of one 1/2 a dozen of another.

**elbowtko** · Posted On: 10/04/2011 11:11pm

Checking kicks in Muay Thai is done often because kicks are normally set up really nicely by putting the opponent off balance before hand. Checking is an easy way to defend when being thrown off by combinations.

In MMA however, these leg kicks are rarely set up by anyone of high striking skill. Thus giving you more time and concentration to execute moves such as a cut kick, or evading by footwork.

**Chen Zen fromFA** · Posted On: 5/09/2012 2:33pm

Originally Posted by elbowtko

Checking kicks in Muay Thai is done often because kicks are normally set up really nicely by putting the opponent off balance before hand. Checking is an easy way to defend when being thrown off by combinations.

In MMA however, these leg kicks are rarely set up by anyone of high striking skill. Thus giving you more time and concentration to execute moves such as a cut kick, or evading by footwork.

I agree. Most MMA fighters dont know the proper use of a leg kick. There's no reason a guy should have to throw 20 to 3kicks and still lose a fight. Often this is the opening gambit in a match or exchange simply because they know it will give points or at least make them look aggressive to the judges.

Good leg kicks are kicks that strike the opponent as he is moving and is planting his weight upon it.. Just above the knee but lower than the thick quadracept muscle. And its not a solitary movement. If the kick hits, checked or not, if contact is made then the strikes should keep coming, not a game of leg kick tag.