The Art of the Push Kick. Otis Waghorn’s Guide to Mastering the Muay Thai Teep for Distance Control
The Muay Thai Teep or push kick is arguably the most vital tool in any professional striker’s arsenal. It is not about raw power it is about finesse, timing and most importantly distance management. At the elite level of ONE Championship controlling the distance separates the champion from the contender.
Here is my personal breakdown of how I use the Teep to dictate the pace of the fight, disrupt my opponent and set up the devastating striking combinations I am known for.
The Teep is Not a Power Shot, It’s a Fencing Tool
Forget the knockout. The Teep is your jab for the lower body. Its primary purpose is to interrupt your opponent’s rhythm, break their posture and reset the fight to your preferred range. A perfectly placed Teep to the stomach can take the wind out of an attacker and nullify an advancing combination instantly.
The Three Pillars of a Perfect Teep
The Lift
Never swing the Teep. You must bring your knee directly up towards your chest first. This hides the intention of the strike and makes it look like a knee forcing the opponent to guess.
The Extension
Once the knee is high, quickly thrust your hips forward and snap the foot out making contact with the ball of your foot. Full hip extension is where the force comes from- not the leg muscle.
The Retraction
This is crucial. Just like a snake striking, the leg must return immediately. If you leave your leg out you risk having it caught which leaves you vulnerable to sweeps and counter strikes.
Otis Waghorns Elite Drill - The Step In and Switch Teep
I practise this drill religiously at Assassins Gym in Crowborough. Start in your lead stance, take a small step forward with the rear foot to generate forward momentum then quickly execute a rear leg Teep. Retract and immediately follow up with a switch stance Teep. This teaches you to use both legs as pushing weapons giving you total control of the ring space.
Takeaway
The Teep is your tactical master key. Master its retraction and you will master distance control.
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