Become Fighter
Stepping off the line and countering: Kickboxing guide
Let the kick miss, then punish the empty stance with your hands.
The best defence to a round kick is not to be there. A step to the outside takes you off the line of the kick. Their leg swings past, their back turns slightly and you stand where their power cannot reach.
Round kicks need a lot of rotation. When one misses, the kicker is exposed, with the shoulders turned and the weight over the back foot. That is where your hands do their work.
Key points
- Step to the outside of the kicking leg, not straight back.
- Keep your hands up and your chin tucked while you move.
- Step a hand-width at a time. A big step uses time you do not have.
- Counter with a punch to the side of the head or the body as soon as the kick passes.
- Pick a favourite counter: a cross, a lead hook or a low kick.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Stepping straight back. Back steps stay in line with the kick. Step out and off the line.
- Counter too late. The window is when the kicking leg is still in the air. Throw as it passes.
- Dropping the guard to move. Move the feet, not the hands. A drop invites a follow-up punch.
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
- Catching a kick: 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.