Become Fighter
The teep: Muay Thai guide
The push kick: your range finder, your defence and your first kick.
The teep is a straight push kick with the ball of the foot, usually thrown with the lead leg. Thai fighters use it the way boxers use the jab: to measure distance, stop an attacker coming forward and keep the opponent where you want them.
It is a push, not a snap. You drive the hip through the target, so the opponent feels it as a shove to the stomach or chest.
Key points
- Lift the knee high and straight up in front of you.
- Lean back slightly and push the hip forward.
- Strike with the ball of the foot, toes pulled back.
- Keep both hands up the whole time.
- Set the foot down and return to stance, not past it.
- Aim at the stomach or chest. Not the head.
Step by step
- Stand tall with the weight back. Start in stance. The lead leg is light, ready to lift. Hands up.
- Lift the knee. Bring the lead knee up in front of you, as if stepping onto a high box. The foot is tucked and the toes are pulled back.
- Push the hip forward. Drive the hip toward the target and straighten the leg. Lean back a little so you stay balanced.
- Land the ball of the foot. The ball of the foot meets the stomach or chest. Think of pushing through, not tapping.
- Recover to stance. Bend the leg and bring the foot back down into your stance. Do not drop it forward or let your guard fall.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Kicking with the toes pointing forward. Pull the toes back before you extend. You want the ball of the foot, which is stronger and safer.
- Leaning too far back and falling. Lean only a little. Push the hip forward rather than throwing the body back.
- Dropping the hands to balance. Hands stay up. Take a slower rep until balance comes without help from your arms.
- Snapping the leg out with no hip. Think of the hip pushing the leg out. The leg only follows.
Drill: Teep rounds
3 rounds of 60 seconds, with 30 seconds of rest. Safe to practise alone.
- Slow teeps in the air. Lift the knee high, push the hip, recover to stance.
- Alternate teep and jab on the caller. Keep your hands up after every teep.
- Teep and step in behind it. Use the teep to cover your approach.
Combinations that use it
- kb-jab-teep: Jab, Teep
- mt-teep-jab: Teep, Jab
- mt-teep-in: Teep, Step in
- mt-long-teep: Long guard, Teep
- kb-teep-cross: Teep, Cross
- kb-teep-1-2: Teep, Jab, Cross
Related techniques
Train it in the app
In Become Fighter this lesson comes with a short video, a timed drill with the coach calling the shots, and a quick quiz to check you've got it.
Coming soon to the App Store and Google Play.
More from The Thai base
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.