Inside Low Kick

  • Striking
  • Kicks
  • intermediate
  • Orthodox stance
  • 3 steps

A fast lead-leg kick that snaps up into the inner thigh to buckle the opponent’s base. Also known as the Inside leg kick or the Oblique inner kick. Here is the exact breakdown from the DARCE app: 3 steps, the details that make it work, and the mistakes to avoid.

When to use it

Use the inside low kick at close range when the opponent stands square or leaves their lead leg heavy. It is fast enough to throw straight off a jab. It also unsettles a fighter who likes to step in with power punches, so follow it with punches while their base is broken.

Step by step

  1. 01

    Set your stance

    Weight slightly on the rear leg to free the lead.

  2. 02

    Snap up the inside

    Without a big wind-up, snap the lead leg almost straight up into the inside of their lead thigh.

  3. 03

    Retract and reset

    Bring the leg straight back down to your stance.

Key details

  • It is fast and short. No big pivot, just a quick snap.
  • Best thrown when their lead leg is weighted.
  • Buckles the base and opens them up for punches.

Common mistakes

  • Loading it like a big roundhouse and losing the speed.
  • Kicking into a leg that is unweighted.
  • Leaning back too far and losing balance.

Common counters

Opponents lift the lead knee to check it or step the leg back. A quick counter-puncher fires a cross while your leg is up. Keep it short and get the foot back down fast.

How to drill it

Jab into the inside low kick on a Thai pad held low against the inside of the holder’s lead leg. Do three rounds of two minutes, adding a cross after the kick once it flows.

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