Drill 1 of 5 · 10 min
Low Kick Check Fundamentals
Build a textbook check that transfers damage back to the kicker without breaking your stance.
How to practice
- Start in your stance. Partner throws a slow outside low kick at half power.
- Lift your lead leg, turn the shin outward, and meet the kick high on your shin while your hands stay glued to your guard.
- Hold the checked position for a beat to confirm balance, then put the foot back down into your stance.
- Repeat 10 times on the lead leg, then 10 times checking with the rear leg against inside low kicks.
- Increase kick power gradually only while your check form and balance stay clean.
- Finish with partner mixing outside and inside kicks at random, and you check each one without guessing.
Coaching cues
Meet the kick with the hard part of the shin, not the knee or ankleTurn the hip and knee slightly outward on the checkHands never drop when the leg liftsPut the foot back down into stance, not forward or backward
Common mistakes
- Lifting the leg straight up without turning the shin into the kick
- Dropping the hands, which invites the overhand behind the kick
- Hopping backward instead of checking, which teaches the kicker to chase
Video references
External YouTube references — third-party content, not affiliated.