Become Fighter
Winning the kick exchange: Kickboxing guide
When both of you are throwing, make yours land first and hurt more.
Many fights come down to who wins the kick exchange. Two fighters throw kicks at the same time, and one of them lands cleaner. The winner is rarely the one who kicks harder. It is the one who checks, positions and counters better.
You do not need to trade. You can win the exchange by using a different target, a better check or a different angle. Sometimes the best answer is a punch while the other fighter is on one leg.
Key points
- Check first, then kick. Kicking into a kick leaves you with the worse contact.
- Hit a different target. If they kick low, go to the body or head.
- Punch while they are on one leg. A kick leaves them balanced on a single foot.
- Control your own kicks. Land a few with weight rather than many without.
- Stop trading if you are losing. Move, reset and change the pattern.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Kicking into a kick. Shin to shin hurts both. Check first, then return.
- Trading to prove a point. Make a decision on points, not pride. Change the pattern if it is not working.
- Ignoring the hands. A kick exchange is also a punching opportunity. Use your hands.
The rest is in the app
The step-by-step breakdown, the timed drill with the coach calling the shots and the quiz are part of Become Fighter Pro, where this lesson sits in the Counter-kicking and catching kicks module of Kickboxing foundations.
Get it on Google Play. Coming soon to the App Store.
More from Counter-kicking and catching kicks
- Check and return: Kickboxing guide
- Catch and sweep: Kickboxing guide
- Kicking into the advance: Kickboxing guide
Combat sports training is hard on the body. Warm up, stay within your limits and check with a doctor first if you have a health condition. Practise in a clear space and stop if you feel pain or dizziness. Learn partner work only under a qualified coach.