Jab-Cross-Low Kick
- Striking
- Combinations
- intermediate
- Orthodox stance
- 5 steps
A kickboxing staple: punches up high to freeze the hands, then a low kick to the legs. Also known as the 1-2-kick or the Hands to legs. Here is the exact breakdown from the DARCE app: 5 steps, the details that make it work, and the mistakes to avoid.
When to use it
Use it when the opponent covers high against punches and leaves their lead leg heavy. The punches draw their eyes and guard up, and the kick lands on the thigh while they cover. End your exchanges with it so you leave on a kick, not a punch.
Step by step
- 01
Set your stance
Hands up, weight ready to load the kick.
- 02
Jab (1)
Lead jab to occupy their guard up high.
- 03
Cross (2)
Rear cross to keep their hands and eyes high.
- 04
Low kick
As the cross lands, pivot the lead foot and chop the rear shin into their thigh while they are focused up top.
- 05
Recover to stance
Bring the leg back and reset your base, hands up.
Key details
- The punches freeze their attention high so the kick lands clean.
- Pivot the base foot for the kick just as in a stand-alone low kick.
- Flow straight from the cross into the kick without resetting.
Common mistakes
- Pausing before the kick and losing the setup.
- Forgetting to pivot the base foot.
- Dropping the hands as you throw the kick.
Common counters
Opponents check the kick, step the lead leg back, or counter the cross with a hook while you load the kick. Pausing after the cross lets them reset their base. Flow from the punches into the kick in one motion.
How to drill it
Pad rounds with a holder who takes the jab and cross on Thai pads, then drops one low against the thigh for the kick. Do three rounds of three minutes, then one round of the full combination on the heavy bag.
Related techniques
- Jab-Cross (1-2)StrikingThe foundational straight-punch combination: lead-hand jab into rear-hand cross.
- Jab-Cross-Hook (1-2-3)StrikingThe classic three-punch combination chaining straight punches into a turning lead hook.
- JabStrikingThe lead-hand straight punch: your range-finder, rhythm-setter and the setup for everything else.
- CrossStrikingThe rear-hand straight punch: your primary power shot, driven by rotating the hip and pivoting the rear foot.
- Lead HookStrikingA short horizontal lead-hand punch that turns through the side of the target on the pivot of the hips.
- Rear HookStrikingA power hook from the rear hand, turning the whole body to land on the side of the head.
Train it with the AI coach