Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Massachusetts: Leg Kick to Sweep

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Massachusetts: Leg Kick to Sweep

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) & Muay Thai Kickboxing in Massachusetts: Leg Kick to Sweep Combination

This week in his MMA Performance Professor Series, Stephen Whittier of Nexus Martial Arts & Fitness (Wareham, MA) -- a Sityodtong Muay Thai instructor, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt and Mixed Martial Arts trainer -- breaks down a leg kick and sweep, or leg reap, combination for MMA or Muay Thai kickboxing.

This is an extremely effective combination that can really keep an opponent at a tactical and psychological disadvantage in sparring or fighting.

Kru (Thai for "teacher") Whittier begins the segment by briefly noting that the techniques will work equally well for Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) or Muay Thai kickboxing, however, the striking postures between those two combative scenarios may differ based on the tactics allowed. (For example, because Muay Thai does not allow wrestling takedowns to the legs, which are permitted in MMA, Thai fighters tend to strike from a more upright posture.)

He then reviews the basic tactics for the Thai leg kick, making sure to set up the low kick with hand strikes. If the leg kick lands, then at a minimum it gives your opponent another weapon that he must respect. If it lands hard and is effective, then you will either start to hurt your opponent's leg or he will be forced to block or evade it. When the opponent begins to use the shin block, Kru Whittier, points out, then you have the opportunity to set up the Thai leg reap.

More important with the technique is to make sure that you properly "sell" the leg kick. To do this, you must convincingly feint with your arm, hip, and shoulder movement to pressure your opponent into bringing up his leg. As he does this (using your right / rear leg kick as an example), you fake, briefly "stutter" as he raises his lead leg, then you step in and reap his supporting leg with your right as you cut across his chest and shoulders with your forearm, sweeping him.

As a safety training tip, Kru Whittier also cautions to "put on the brakes" right as you hit the supporting leg, otherwise a well-timed leg reap can flip your opponent abruptly so that he lands hard on his back.

He also shows the kick from both side angles so that the hook of his reaping foot on the supporting leg and the correct positioning of his arms can be clearly seen. He points out that it is also important to keep the left (non- kicking) side hand up in guard.

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