Learn the Basic Muay Thai Kicks for Beginners
Muay Thai, known as the “Art of Eight Limbs,” demands that you excel in a few kicks, including the push kick, roundhouse kick, axe kick, low kick, switch kick, jumping kick, and more. For fighters, kicks are the most popular attacks used in Muay Thai bouts. Mastering these kicks matters for self-defense, ring performance, and even general fitness. While learning these techniques, always wear proper Muay Thai gear, including a mouthguard, groin protector, gloves, and shin guards. Shin guards are particularly important during partner drills and sparring, helping beginners practice kicks with greater protection as they develop proper technique. Using the correct muscles and body mechanics lets a Muay Thai fighter deliver kicks that can genuinely incapacitate an opponent.
What are the Best Muay Thai Kicks for Beginners
The roundhouse kick is one of the most commonly used and efficient kicks in Muay Thai. A 2017 biomechanical study published in PLOS ONE broke the kick down into four phases by percentage of total movement time, the Recoil phase accounted for 69%, followed by Chamber (14%), Extension (11%), and Preparation (6%). But the list isn’t limited to roundhouse kicks. Here are the most effective Muay Thai kicks a beginner can learn to add versatility and deception to a fighter’s repertoire.
1. Push Kick (Teep)
Target Areas: Stomach, chest, or even face
Technique: Push up on the ball of your post foot, raise your knee high towards your chest, and extend your leg forward. Your foot should hit the target with the ball of the foot for maximum impact.
The roundhouse kick is used as both a defensive and offensive move in martial arts, with a high success rate in stopping aggressive moves. With the force generated through a rotational movement from the hips, a well-executed roundhouse kick can generate up to 1,000 pounds of force. Its primary purpose is to maintain distance and push an opponent off balance. In high-level competition, fighters use it 5 to 10 times per round to disrupt rhythm and regain control.
2. Roundhouse Kick (Teh)
Target Areas: Legs, body, head
Technique: Focus on rotating your hips and pivoting on your supporting leg. Keep your arms loose for balance. Keep your arms loose for balance. You cannot be a Muay Thai pro until you master a roundhouse kick known for its power, using the shin to strike with a rotational force generated from the hips. This kick can generate up to 1,000 pounds of force, which is 2.9 times more than that of a side kick, making it one of the deadliest strikes in this combat sport. This kick is highly effective for body shots or head strikes and is often used to wear down opponents or end fights.
3. Axe Kick (Teh Khao)
Target Areas: Head, shoulders, collarbone
Technique: Lift your leg straight up as high as possible, then bring your heel down onto the target, using gravity to increase the impact. Maintain balance and avoid over-committing.
The axe kick is a powerful Muay Thai weapon in which you swing your leg high and bring it down onto the opponent like an axe. It’s most effective when the opponent is crouched or has just slipped a strike. Though powerful, it leaves the user vulnerable if the kick misses, so it’s generally used as a finishing move or when the opponent is already stunned or off-balance.
Did you know? The axe kick is used less often in Muay Thai because of its risk, but when it lands clean, it can deliver serious damage to the head or collarbone.
4. Diagonal Kick (Teh Wiang)
Target Areas: Ribs, arms, legs
Technique: Focus on striking at a 45-degree angle with your shin, aiming for the ribs or legs. Keep your hips open, and don’t rotate as much as you would with a traditional roundhouse.
The diagonal kick is a hybrid between a round kick and a straight kick, which makes it more deceptive. It comes in at a diagonal angle, targeting either the body or legs, and it’s highly effective for slipping past an opponent’s guard to land a clean strike on the midsection.
Did you know? This kick shows up more often in advanced fighters’ arsenals, since the unusual angle confuses opponents used to reading more straightforward strikes.
5. Low Kick (Teh Low)
Target Areas: Thigh and calves
Technique: The key to a strong low kick is hitting the right spot on the thigh, just above the knee where the quadriceps muscle is vulnerable. This ensures maximum impact and effectiveness.
The low kick weakens an opponent’s legs, disrupting their movement and reducing their striking power over the course of a fight. Repeated low kicks to the same spot compound in effect; a leg that’s absorbed several hard low kicks moves and checks noticeably worse than a fresh one, which is why fighters often target the same thigh again and again rather than switching sides.
6. Switch Kick
Target Areas: Body, legs, and head
Technique: Quickly switch your stance by stepping the rear foot forward and drawing the lead foot back, then immediately kick with the new rear leg.
The switch kick works by quickly swapping your lead leg and kicking with the opposite leg. The stance switch happens fast enough that opponents rarely see it coming, which is what makes it effective even though it carries somewhat less raw power than a standard rear-leg roundhouse kick thrown from a set stance. Master it on a durable Muay Thai kick pad to get the winning edge in the game. Practice the switch kick repeatedly on a durable Muay Thai kick pad to improve your stance transition, timing, balance, and kicking accuracy.
7. Kradot Chok (Jumping Punch)
Target Areas: Head and chin
Technique: While technically a punch, Kradot Chok involves jumping and delivering a powerful strike. It’s a unique Muay Thai move that combines agility and power.
The Kradot Chok is often called the Superman Punch because of its dynamic execution. It was popularized in modern combat sports like MMA, but it has roots in Muay Thai, where agility and power go hand in hand. Fighters use the jump to feint or close distance, adding force to the punch while disguising their intent. It lands best against an opponent who’s retreating or already on the defensive, since a retreating fighter usually lowers their guard expecting a different kind of attack.
Summary
For many elite Muay Thai athletes, mastering basic kicks is the foundation of becoming a well-rounded fighter. Each kick requires consistent practice, proper technique, balance, and timing to use effectively in a fight. Good training gear also helps beginners practice these techniques safely, especially during pad work and sparring. Infinitude Fight provides custom Muay Thai gloves, shin guards, kick pads, and other protective gear for fighters and teams. Choose equipment that supports your training as you progress from basic kicks to more advanced techniques.
FAQs
Which kick is illegal in Muay Thai boxing?
Cartwheel-style kicks are illegal under traditional Muay Thai rules, since they involve putting a glove on the mat during the kick. Any kick that requires hand contact with the ground to execute falls outside the sport’s rule set.
How do you learn Muay Thai kicks?
Start with basic drills like heavy bag roundhouse drills and low kick drills to build power and precision. From there, drills like turning the wheel and kicking-balance heavy bag work sharpen technique and stability.
What is the most difficult Muay Thai kick?
The roundhouse kick (Teh) is widely considered one of the hardest to master, since it demands precise timing, hip rotation, and balance all at once. Most fighters spend years refining it even after they’ve learned the basic mechanics.