Muay Thai Back Kick (diary entry)

02.024.2023 Hour nine of my client's current course on Muay Thai focused on the back kick. My client was concerned about his lack of kicking repertoire and I thought it was as good a time as ever to focus on this more advanced technique. The last time I covered this technique with him was during lockdown so it was good to do some live application. We warmed up with our usual sport specific exercises and mobility work before engaging in some very light sparring with no protective equipment. This is a great way to look at techniques and to take away reliance on safety guards. It emphasises far more control and therefore encourages fighters to be more mindful. I also used it as an opportunity to pull off back kicks in a live environment against resistance, providing actual examples for my client. We then moved onto the technical part of the training where my client targeted me to land his back kick. Key points included:

• Do not cross your legs when moving into position.

• Do not spin with the technique.

• Do not move the head around with the technique, look out of the corner of your eye.

• Chamber and thrust when executing the technique rather than swing.

The technique was soon then applied whilst moving and changing positions. I then looked at a couple of tactics and one combination to use in order to land the back kick. The first one was to jab and kick. The jab covers the movement. Next one was to prompt a teep war where the opponent is led onto the kick. This particular tactic can be applied to using backwards footwork and goading an opponent to charge forward. We then started looking at speed with this technique. Here I put on a belly pad and encouraged my client to move more fluidly. Next lesson, this part with be performed on the spot with my client already in position. Power was finally covered against a kick shield rather than the Thai pads. This allows for maximum force to be delivered and my client can really unload. https://clubbchimera.com/services/