Become Fighter
Landing the kick and punching through: Kickboxing guide
Use the kick's momentum to step into punches without a reset.
After a rear kick you land with your rear foot forward and your shoulders turned. A well-timed cross or hook from there is faster than most fighters expect because the body is already turning.
Many fighters dump the kick and run back. Instead, plan the landing. Put the foot down in a stance that lets you punch at once, usually a step closer than where you started.
Key points
- Plant the kicking foot a half-step forward, not behind your stance.
- Throw the cross or hook with the landing, in the same beat.
- Keep your chin down as the leg comes back. That is when the opponent counters.
- Do not follow a missed kick with a punch. Use a check or step off first.
- Follow body kicks with high punches and low kicks with a hook to the head.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Landing with the weight back. Step into the landing. Landing back hands the next exchange to the opponent.
- Punching in the air after a miss. If the kick missed, step off or check before you go on.
- Arm punching only. Turn the hip into every punch after the kick, the same as on the bag.
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 Kick and punch combinations module of Kickboxing foundations.
Get it on Google Play. Coming soon to the App Store.
More from Kick and punch combinations
- Hooks into kicks: Kickboxing guide
- Changing levels with kicks: Kickboxing guide
- Broken rhythm and doubling up: 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.