Striking Techniques: Every Punch, Kick, Elbow & Knee Explained
Striking techniques from the DARCE app, covering the boxing fundamentals, the kicks and knees of Muay Thai and kickboxing, and the combinations that link them. Each technique is broken into steps with the key details that generate power and the mistakes that leave you open.
31 techniques · 6 categories
Punches
9 techniques
- JabfundamentalThe lead-hand straight punch: your range-finder, rhythm-setter and the setup for everything else.
- CrossfundamentalThe rear-hand straight punch: your primary power shot, driven by rotating the hip and pivoting the rear foot.
- Lead HookintermediateA short horizontal lead-hand punch that turns through the side of the target on the pivot of the hips.
- Rear HookintermediateA power hook from the rear hand, turning the whole body to land on the side of the head.
- Lead UppercutintermediateA short rising lead-hand punch up the centre, ideal inside the pocket against a high guard.
- Rear UppercutintermediateA rising rear-hand punch up the centre, driven by a small dip and a powerful leg drive.
- OverhandintermediateA looping rear-hand power punch that arcs over the opponent’s guard and crashes down on the head.
- Liver Shot (Body Hook)intermediateA lead hook dug into the body below the ribs: a fight-ending shot that drains the gas tank.
- Spinning BackfistadvancedA spinning strike that lands the back of the fist, generating power from the rotation of the body.
Kicks
10 techniques
- Rear Roundhouse KickfundamentalA whipping rear-leg kick that drives the shin through the target via full hip rotation.
- Switch KickintermediateA lead-leg roundhouse set up by a quick stance switch to generate rear-leg power.
- Low KickfundamentalA rear roundhouse aimed at the thigh or calf to chop the base out from under the opponent.
- Calf KickintermediateA low roundhouse that chops the shin into the outside of the calf, attacking the peroneal nerve to buckle the leg.
- Inside Low KickintermediateA fast lead-leg kick that snaps up into the inner thigh to buckle the opponent’s base.
- Teep (Push Kick)fundamentalA straight push-kick with the lead leg that controls distance and stops forward pressure.
- Side KickintermediateA linear thrust kick driving the heel straight into the target with the body bladed sideways.
- Axe KickadvancedA kick that swings the leg high and drops the heel straight down onto the head or collarbone.
- Spinning Back KickadvancedA spinning thrust kick that drives the heel straight back into the target like a mule kick.
- Spinning Hook KickadvancedA spinning kick that whips the heel horizontally across the target at head height.
Knees
3 techniques
- Straight KneefundamentalA straight knee driven up the centre into the body, the workhorse strike of the clinch.
- Diagonal / Curving KneeintermediateA knee that curves up and across into the ribs from the side of a tight clinch.
- Flying KneeadvancedA long-range knee launched by jumping into the opponent to drive the knee into the body or head.
Elbows
5 techniques
- Horizontal ElbowintermediateA lead elbow swung horizontally across the jaw, the most common cutting elbow.
- Diagonal ElbowintermediateA lead elbow that slashes downward on a diagonal across the brow, a classic cutter.
- Uppercut ElbowintermediateAn elbow driven straight up the centre under the chin from inside the pocket.
- Downward ElbowadvancedAn elbow raised high and speared straight down onto the crown or face.
- Spinning Back ElbowadvancedA spinning strike that lands the point of the rear elbow across the head as the body unwinds.
Combinations
3 techniques
- Jab-Cross (1-2)fundamentalThe foundational straight-punch combination: lead-hand jab into rear-hand cross.
- Jab-Cross-Hook (1-2-3)intermediateThe classic three-punch combination chaining straight punches into a turning lead hook.
- Jab-Cross-Low KickintermediateA kickboxing staple: punches up high to freeze the hands, then a low kick to the legs.
Defense
1 technique
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