calf muscles and Achilles tendon. The kick can be done with both right and left foot, from the basic position or with the step forward, or while changing the position through step back or jump.
2015-06-26. Moscow City (RUS). “RAMTL FIGHT-IV”. Rustam “Thong-Po” Ataev (UZB) vs Alexey “Spear” Kostikov (RUS).
Important note. Torso, right shoulder and left arm cover moves are similar to slipping to the left. The right hand is freely dropped to the right (opposite to the kick direction). This way, while making the kick the boxer slips to the left and protects himself from counter-punches – and makes the kick stronger through bending the left leg.
Depending on the tactical goals and the fight situation, low kick can be used in the attack, preventive attack or counter-attack. In the attack, it can be used as a stand-alone kick or as part of the series.
In a preventive attack, it is used against the opponent that attacks with punches (especially with straight punches) or the opponent who prepares to attack with the hand or leg, moving entire bodyweight to the leg (this leg will be targeted by counter low-kick).
2015-02-27. Moscow City (RUS). “Federation East” Tower. 31 floor, “RAMTL FIGHT-I”. Abdulvadut “Hammer” Eldarkhanov (RUS) vs Nikita “Lyon” Bushuev (RUS).
In a counter-attack, it is used after the boxer defended himself from the opponent’s punch.
Main roundhouse low kick mistakes:
The rear foot doesn’t rotate on its ball;
The kick is made without slipping, which makes it lose strength and lack cover from the counter-punch;
No left or right hand cover;
The rear leg is not bent, which makes the kick lose its strength;
Pulling back – it makes the boxer land a kick with his instep: this is inefficient and increases risk of injury;
In general, the instep should not touch the target, and the ball doesn’t have to be too expanded (further details on the ball position in “Defense from low kick”); the distance should allow to reach the target with a calf easily.
Defense from low kicks.
Calf cover-up;
Left foot step back;
Jump back;
Blocking front kick with left or right leg, that targets the thigh or to the hip.
Calf cover-up.
The cover up against right low kick should be done with the left calf. While executing the defense, the boxer puts upper part of the calf under the kick (in knee area).
In the basic position, the boxer quickly elevates his left leg, turning its ball as much as possible to the left. The calf is at right angle to the floor, the ball expanded. Left leg is tense while doing this defense, and hands cover the head from the punches.
That said, some Thai boxing schools have the opposite opinion about the ball position and presume it should be expanded upwards as much as possible.
The right calf cover-up is done is a similar way.
Main cover-up mistakes:
Left leg is bent in a sharp corner, or is not tense, or is raised too high. This mistake makes the opponent to get through the defense and land a kick on the inner thigh part, or the calf muscle, or the right knee;
No hand cover-up;
Left leg ball is not turned and left leg moves upwards, not left-upwards. This mistake can make the kick land on left calf muscle, which can lead to injury.
2004-10-12. Moscow (RUS). “RAMTL in ‘Capitalism’ casino”. ___ (THA) vs Ekaterina “Madonna” Tsepeleva (RUS).
After cover-up defense, the boxer can do counter attack with a round kick, low kick or punches (“one-two” combination of straight head punch).
Left roundhouse low kick.
2004-10-26. Moscow (RUS). “RAMTL in ‘Capitalism’ casino”. Sergey Shish (BLR) vs Elbrus Dzhumakov (RUS).
Left low kick is done in a similar way. In that case, the left leg is positioned behind. The boxer can land a kick on a right leg of the opponent regardless of the stance (right or left).
Middle roundhouse kicks.
2004-11-16. Moscow (RUS). “RAMTL in ‘Capitalism’ casino”. Wirochai Suhachen (THA) vs Marsel “Sailor” Adzhiniyazov (RUS).
While doing right body middle kick, the boxer transfers bodyweight to the left leg. After that, right shoulder, and then the hip are drawn forward, making circle movement to the right around vertical axis that goes through the left leg. At the same time, the shoulder goes ahead of the hip, and hip goes ahead of the thigh – which makes torso muscles, front part of the hip and front part of the thigh stretch.
Simultaneously, right leg elevates from the floor, left leg slightly pushes up on its ball, and the right hip starts the rotation from right to left along a circle trajectory. While moving to the target, the leg unbends at the knee. The kick is done with the lower part of the calf. In the end of the kick, the torso is turned to the opponent with its right side, right shoulder is drawn forward. Left leg is fully straightened, slightly pushed up on its ball and slightly turned to the left. Left palm covers the head from a counter-punch.
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2004-10-26. Moscow (RUS). “RAMTL in ‘Capitalism’ casino”. Vitaly Gurkov (BLR – Vitaly Hurkou) vs Tagir Magomedov (RUS). On the picture on the right: ___, T. Magomedov, V. Gurkov, A.Zelenevsky
Important note. Almost in all the pictures illustrating the kick, left leg is bent. Not to get confused, you should remember that left leg should be fully straightened at the knee. Moreover, left leg move is rapid and strong – it pushes up on its ball, calf muscles are working – and it should not be weakened by the bent knee.
Left pam covers the head from a counter-punch. Palm defense can be easily broken though with a counter-punch. That is why the defense should be made with a forearm, or even better – with the elbow (covering nose and chin), because the opponent would not even try to punch the elbow.
