Become Fighter
Catching a kick: Kickboxing guide
Trap the leg against your body and take their balance with it.
Catching a body kick turns the opponent's attack into your advantage. They are on one leg, tied to you, and you choose what happens next. Done badly, though, it is also a way to lose your arm or your balance.
Check the rules for your fight. In some formats you may catch and hold briefly, in others you may sweep, and in some a held leg is penalised. Learn the rules before you build the habit.
Key points
- Catch a body kick with the arm on the kicking side, trapping the leg between the elbow and your ribs.
- Clamp the elbow and the hand over the ankle or calf. Hold it close to your body.
- Turn into the kick slightly so the shin meets your arm and does not slide through.
- Do not reach for kicks. Catch only when the kick is already on its way and slow.
- Act at once: sweep, punch or step through. A held leg that you do nothing with is just a bad block.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Grabbing at kicks. Catching is a reaction, not a plan. Block first and catch only when the kick is slow and clean.
- Holding the foot with straight arms. Keep the leg tight to your chest. Straight arms let them pull free and hit you.
- Catching without a plan. Decide your follow-up before you catch. Hold, strike, sweep or step out.
Combinations that use it
Related techniques
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 Defending kicks module of Kickboxing foundations.
Get it on Google Play. Coming soon to the App Store.
More from Defending kicks
- Blocking body and head kicks: Kickboxing guide
- The shin block for low kicks: Kickboxing guide
- Stepping off the line and countering: 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.