The teep, also known as the push kick, is perhaps the most underrated weapon in Muay Thai. Those uninitiated in the sport only notice that the lead leg teep, the most commonly utilized variation of this technique, rarely generates knockout power which leads them to incorrectly assume that the strike is ineffective.

In reality, the teep is a vital part of many fighter’s arsenal. To the Muay Femur, it is synonymous with a long-range jab, controlling distance and timing whilst also creating openings for the scoring kicks that follow. For fighters facing an aggressive Muay Khao or Muay Bouk style fighter, it keeps their opponents at bay long enough for them to get a much-needed breath of fresh air.

As you can see, the push kick is such a crucial element in many Muay Thai game plans, and fighters would struggle if their opponent successfully negated it. With this in mind, we’re going to break down the simplest strategy for retrieving your foot if your opponent captures it in the process of an attempted teep. This skill has a few variations, so we’ll discuss how to adapt the maneuver to the different catching variations that your opponent may use. So, if you’re a fighter or an avid practitioner who simply had enough of getting their teep caught, read on!

Defending Against A Caught Teep

While we have three separate defenses against a caught teep below, it’s important to note that they are, in essence, the same technique. We are just explaining the adjustments you’ll need to make in response when your opponent has your foot caught.

You’ll notice that the techniques gets a little more difficult as you read down the list. Remember, each defense is built on the previous described technique when you try to pull this off in the gym.

1) Your Opponent Catches Your Teep With One Hand

If, as you teep, your opponent steps forward and hooks their glove under your attacking foot to catch you by the heel, the first thing to remember is not to panic. If you’ve thrown your push kick correctly, you’ll have plenty of balance, giving you time to respond.

If your opponent is stepping forward as they catch, it is very likely that your foot will be cradled in their glove whilst also pressed against their midsection. If this is the case all you need to do is reload your teep by pulling your knee back to your chest and then stab them with the ball of your foot a second time. Use their midsection as a trampoline to bounce off, allowing you to pull your leg free with much more force than if you just tried to pull it.

One thing to note, your ankle may get trapped in their glove as you pull back, so after your second teep, pull your toes up out of their glove and high towards their chin as you reclaim your foot.

2) Your Opponent Catches Your Teep With One Hand But Holds Your Foot Away From Their Body

An experienced fighter will be aware of how easy it is for someone to reclaim their captured push kick by simply teeping a second time and will adjust their technique to make defending against the catch more difficult. Therefore, don’t be surprised if, as they catch your foot, your opponent steps their body back to create space between your foot and their midsection.

When this happens, you’ll be too far away to poke their body a second time, so you will also need to close distance by hopping your standing leg forward as you pull your knee back to load up the second teep. This will close the space your opponent has created, while also adding power to a potential second teep, making it easier to lift your foot from their grip.

3) Your Opponent Catches With Two Hands, Away From Their Body

It is harder to catch a teep with two hands but, if you’ve been successful with the two previous defenses, your opponent may resort to doing this in order to catch you. Two-handed catches also provide more options to counter with high-scoring techniques, so if your opponent chooses to catch you in this way, be on guard.

With the second hand on top of your foot during the catch, it becomes impossible to simply lift your foot out of their grip as you attempt to re-teep your opponent. You’re going to have to twist your foot free instead.

As your second teep connects, you need to turn your foot so that both your heel and your toes twist away from your opponents’ fingers otherwise the shape of their glove will act as a hook, trapping you. To make this simple, simply think of turning your heel towards your opponent’s wrist as you re-teep, and with effort, it should shake free.

Be Persistent

In an ideal scenario, you will only need to re-teep your opponent once to retrieve your captured foot, but Muay Thai rarely gifts us with ideal scenarios. In reality, your opponent is going to do everything they can to keep a hold of your meddlesome teep and punish you for throwing it. So, don’t be disheartened if you don’t reclaim your foot on your first, second, or even third attempt. The more you teep your opponent and pull your foot, the less control they have over you, and the more likely you’ll reclaim your foot on the attempt that follows.

Also, if your opponent is focused on keeping a hold on your foot then they aren’t focused on sweeping you, so persistent attempts at this maneuver, even if they are unsuccessful, will help to keep you safe.

After Defending Against The Catch

If your opponent has managed to catch your foot once, then it is safe to assume they will be able to do it again. So, after your teep gets caught, you are going to need to change your timing and approach if you want your teep to remain an integral part of your game plan.

To keep your push kick in play, there are near endless feinting options that you can incorporate between real teeps to keep your opponent off balance.

You may also like: 

6 Essential Rotational Strength Drills For Punches And Kicks