In Muay Thai and Mixed Martial Arts, catching opponents with head kicks requires much more than drilling the technique a million times. It doesn’t matter if your shin could split a coconut if your opponents also happen to step back or lean out of the way when you throw one.
Techniques like the roundhouse kick are high-risk, high-reward. Land it flush, and you’ve probably won the fight. Miss, you’ll be momentarily vulnerable to your opponent’s counters.
That’s why it’s crucial to properly set up head kicks before committing to them. This article will explore the science of setting up head kicks so you land them more times than you miss.
Why Setups Matter: The Element Of Surprise
Throwing single head kicks without setting them up is a surefire way to get caught with a counter or, even worse, staring at the bright lights while lying on your back. Disguise a head kick with clever setups, and your opponent’s defense crumbles all over the place.
The secret to landing high kicks is to distract, disrupt, and throw. Use feints, combinations, and footwork to manipulate their reactions, so they react how you want to when you fire a roundhouse at their head.
1) The Classic Combo: Jab–Cross-Head Kick
Here’s one of the most commonly used setups for roundhouse kicks. The jab-cross is the first combination beginner boxing, Muay Thai, or kickboxing students learn, and it’s also the perfect setup for your head kick.
Here’s how:
- The jab gets your opponent’s guard up in front of their face, limiting their view.
- Rotate your hips fully while throwing the cross to make them think a body shot or a hook is coming next.
- Pivot on your lead foot immediately after the cross, turning your hip over as you swing the kick toward your opponent.
The cross masks the rotation of your hips as you fire off the kick, and keeps your opponent’s focus on your hands. Throw the cross slightly wider than usual to pull their lead hand away from their temple.
2) Feint Like You Mean It
Feints play a significant role in setting up head kicks. Fake on attack to create openings for another. Some popular ways to use feints to set up head kicks include:
- Fake Low, Go High: This is one of the most straightforward ways to create openings for head kicks. Feint a low kick to get a reaction and immediately fire a high one.
- Takedown Feints: Use takedown feints if you compete in sports like MMA, where grappling and striking techniques are allowed. Many fighters bring their hands down when sprawling, creating opportunities to land sneaky kicks.
- Jab Feint: A simple jab is enough to set up a head kick if your opponent typically reacts by slipping straight punches. Throw a three-quarter jab and immediately follow up with a head kick in the direction your opponent slips.
- Teep Feint, Cross, Roundhouse: This combination involves feinting a teep to make your opponent step back before following up with a cross that hides the roundhouse behind it.
- Eye Feints: You can fool opponents into thinking you plan to go low, while you go high by focusing your eyes on their lower body, fooling them into thinking that’s your target.
Feints exploit split-second reactions, creating openings to land powerful strikes. Research shows that humans take 0.25 seconds on average to react to visual stimuli. Use that delay to your advantage.
3) Angle Attacks: Make Them Play Twister
Head kicks land cleaner when you aren’t squared with your opponent. Cut angles to disrupt their stance. Easy ways to do this include:
- Step-Off Jab: Throw a jab, then step your rear foot 45 degrees to the outside. This angles you past their lead shoulder, lining up their head for your rear kick.
- Switch Stance Bait: Briefly switch to southpaw (if orthodox), then switch back as you kick. The stance shift often pulls their guard out of position.
Creating angles forces opponents to reset their feet, leaving them vulnerable. You’re a target when you’re in front of an opponent and a nightmare when at an angle. Learn to use angles to create openings for your strikes.
4) Chain Attacks To The Body First
Targeting the body is another effective way to get opponents to lower their guards. Some ways to do this include:
- Body Kick To Head Kick: Land a few hard kicks to the body, then fake low and kick high once your opponent starts anticipating body shots.
- Body Jab To Head Kick: Throw a few jabs at your opponent’s solar plexus to get them to lower their guard, then go high.
Repeated strikes to one part of the body lead to predictable defensive reactions. Exploit them to land powerful strikes.
This works because the body’s natural reaction to pain is to protect the injured area. Studies confirm that repeated strikes to one zone create predictable defensive habits. Exploit them.
5) Mess With Their Rhythm
You can also use excellent timing to capitalize on openings to land high kicks. For example, it’s easier to land a roundhouse as your opponent moves toward you since their forward momentum makes it harder for them to duck under or slide back.
You can counter a straight punch by stepping out and firing a kick before they can reset. Another prime time to land a kick
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Telegraphing: Don’t stare at your opponent’s head or load up your kick like a baseball swing. Keep your eyes on theirs and stay loose.
- Overcommitting: Don’t spam head kicks or you might be the one who ends up getting caught with a powerful strike.
- Forgetting Defense: Throwing a head kick leaves you open, so keep your rear hand up and chin tucked. Nak Muay typically swing their lead arm down while throwing kicks, but there’s nothing wrong with keeping both hands up if it doesn’t leave you unbalanced.
Conclusion
Mastering head kicks isn’t just about power—it’s about deception, timing, and precision. Set them up smartly, and you’ll land more often, stay safer, and turn a risky move into a fight-ending weapon.
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