Techniques
High kick
The High kick is a striking technique in Muay Thai aimed at a head-level target. Executed from a high guard stance, it uses the shin as the primary striking surface to deliver power through full hip rotation.
To execute the kick, you step or pivot on the supporting foot, swing the kicking leg through, and let the shoulders rotate naturally. The movement ends with an immediate recovery back to your fighting stance to maintain balance and control.
This kick is used in training and sparring when targeting an opponent at head level. It requires sufficient setup and control to ensure you turn the hip fully while maintaining the balance needed to recover immediately.
How to do it
- Step 1 Start in your Muay Thai stance with your guard high.
- Step 2 Step or pivot on the supporting foot and rotate the hips toward the head-level target.
- Step 3 Swing the kicking leg through with the shin leading the strike.
- Step 4 Let the shoulders rotate naturally while maintaining balance and control.
- Step 5 Recover the leg and return immediately to your stance.
Turn the supporting foot and hip fully. Strike through the target with the shin while keeping enough balance to recover quickly.
Common mistakes
- Failing to turn the supporting foot and hip fully into the kick.
- Striking with the foot or toes instead of leading with the shin.
- Dropping your high guard during shoulder rotation.
- Losing balance at the peak of the kick and failing to recover quickly into stance.
Programs that train it
- Beginner 1
- Beginner 2
- Intermediate 2
- Kicks Mastery
- Footwork
Related programs
Kicks Mastery Programs · 20 min Was this helpful?
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