MMA Personal Training - Integrating Knee Strikes to Stand-up and Clinch
- jamie03066
- 2 days ago
- 1 min read
05.01.2026
MMA Personal Training
My couple clients returned for this first MMA Personal Training lesson back in 2026, picking up where they left off: shoot-kickboxing. This is the name we give to the MMA stand-up range that involves kicking, effectively kickboxing with clinch and all takedowns permitted. This lesson also saw the integration of knee strikes.
Shoot-Kickboxing
A variation on our shoot-boxing training, shoot-kickboxing layers in various kicks to the boxing and wrestling techniques. Back in December we pitted kickboxing against wrestling, discovering how to punch against an opponent who sought to close the distance and shoot or tie us up in a clinch and, on the other hand, learnt how to shoot or clinch whilst defending against punches and kicks. This time both sparring partners were permitted to grapple and to strike with their fists, feet and shins over 3 x 3-minute rounds.
Under these conditions, the fighters could explore a wider range of options.
Wrestle-Clinching with Knee Strikes
These next three rounds were restricted to the clinching range. It resembled the Thai clinch, but without elbow strikes and with all takedowns permitted. Punches were also allowed, but we agreed that the scoring would only be awarded to clean knee strikes and takedowns.
Shoot-Kickboxing with Knee Strikes
The final three rounds put all of the above together. We began from stand-up range, seeking to use punch/kick combinations to set up clinching and shooting or countering these combinations by tying up or taking down an opponent. With the addition of knee strikes in the mix there were more weapons to use and manage once fighters engaged at closer ranges.
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