Kickboxing Techniques
Kickboxing Techniques: Punches, Kicks and Combos
Get your kickboxing technique checked: upload a clip and mmaGPT marks each mistake with a timestamp and a drill. First review free.
Kickboxing is boxing hands with kicks added, and most mistakes show up where the two meet: the hands drop when the kick goes out, or the stance gets too long to kick from. Each entry below has one cue and the mistake that shows up most in footage.
Use it as a checklist when you film your pad or bag rounds.
Punches
Jab
Straight lead hand punch.
Cue: Snap it out and back to the face.
Common mistake: Dropping it on the way back.
Cross
Straight rear hand punch.
Cue: Turn the rear hip and heel.
Common mistake: Overreaching so the weight goes past the front foot.
Hooks
Short circular punches to head or body.
Cue: Elbow at shoulder height, turn the hip.
Common mistake: Swinging wide with the arm only.
Uppercuts
Rising punches through the middle.
Cue: Drive up from the legs, keep it short.
Common mistake: Dropping the hand low before throwing.
Kicks and knees
Roundhouse
Turning shin kick to body or head.
Cue: Pivot the support foot and turn the hip over.
Common mistake: Flat support foot.
Low kick
Roundhouse to the thigh.
Cue: Set it up behind punches.
Common mistake: Throwing it alone from range.
Teep
Push kick with the ball of the foot.
Cue: Knee up first, then push through the hips.
Common mistake: Pawing with the foot.
Switch kick
Lead leg kick after a quick stance switch.
Cue: Small switch, hands up.
Common mistake: Big hop that shows it.
Knee
Straight knee to the body.
Cue: Drive the hips forward.
Common mistake: Lifting the knee instead of driving it.
Defense and combos
Check
Shin raised to block a low kick.
Cue: Knee toward the elbow, shin out.
Common mistake: Checking late.
Catch kick
Catching a body kick to counter.
Cue: Catch, step off line, counter.
Common mistake: Holding the leg and doing nothing.
1-2-low kick
Jab, cross, then a rear low kick.
Cue: The cross turns the hip that throws the kick.
Common mistake: Pausing between the cross and the kick.
High guard
Both gloves tight to the head to absorb strikes.
Cue: Elbows in, chin down, eyes up.
Common mistake: Closing the eyes and turning away.
FAQ
Kickboxing technique questions.
- A beginner should learn stance, the jab, the cross, the roundhouse kick and the check first. Combos like the 1-2-low kick come once those are clean on their own.
- Kickboxing usually limits or removes elbows and long clinch work, while Muay Thai scores elbows, knees and clinch sweeps. The punches and kicks overlap a lot.
- mmaGPT can: film a pad, bag or sparring round and it returns timestamped notes on what went wrong plus a drill, in about 30 to 45 seconds. It supplements your coach, it does not replace one.
Get one clip checked.
Film a 20 to 60 second clip on your phone with your whole body in frame, upload it in the browser, and in about 30 to 45 seconds mmaGPT returns timestamped notes on what went wrong plus a drill to fix it. It is a second set of eyes between classes, not a replacement for your coach. First session free, no card needed.