• Check first, answer second — every kick they throw should cost them
• Their power lives at full extension; live either all the way out or all the way in
• The fight you want is a boxing match, so take the kicks away early

• Standing heavy on the lead leg and collecting kicks
• Bending at the waist to catch kicks with your face exposed
• Panic-switching your stance when the leg gets sore

Feel out the kick timing, land one clean check plus counter, and make them earn every attempt. Do not chase damage in round one.

• The check itself
• Counter cross over the kick
• Catch-to-counter
• Standing leg chop
• Jab-cross entry behind the check

• If the lead leg is compromised: switch to a bladed stance, hide the leg, and force them into punching range
• If you cannot check cleanly: catch and dump instead — take the standing leg out from under them
• If they kick in combination: shell the punches, check the kick at the end, and exit on an angle

• Check kicks, hands home!
• Step in, don't back out!
• Chop the standing leg!
• Make him punch with you!