Beat The Muay Thai Shin Check
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Shin Check·Combat Theory·Added by Admin
In This Week’s Technical Tuesday, we look at ways to beat the Muay Thai Shin Check! Modern American Muay Thai Tank - h…
Shin Check
Genusシンチェック(Shin Chekku)
TransliterationTranslation: shin check
Overview
The Shin Check is the primary defence against low kicks in Muay Thai and MMA, executed by lifting the lead leg and turning the shin outward to intercept the incoming kick with the harder surface of the shin bone. [1] The shin check works on the principle of meeting the soft part of the attacker's foot or lower shin with the harder upper shin, creating a painful collision that discourages further leg kicks. [1],[2] A well-timed shin check can damage the attacker's leg, as demonstrated in several famous MMA fights where checked kicks resulted in leg fractures. [2],[3]
History & Origin
The shin check is a fundamental Muay Thai defensive technique developed over centuries of competition in Thailand. [1] The technique gained widespread attention in MMA after Anderson Silva's leg break against Chris Weidman at UFC 168 (2013), caused by a checked kick, highlighting the technique's effectiveness and the danger of unchecked leg kicks. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
The shin check is considered the single most effective defence against low kicks in Muay Thai and MMA, as it both blocks the kick and inflicts damage on the attacker. [1] A properly conditioned shin can cause severe injury to the kicker's foot or lower leg upon impact, making the shin check a deterrent that discourages further leg attacks. [2] The technique is most effective when the defender turns the shin outward and lifts the knee high, presenting the hardest part of the shin bone. [1]
Lineage
The shin check is a fundamental Muay Thai defensive technique that has been part of Thai boxing training for centuries, refined through generations of stadium competition at Lumpinee and Rajadamnern stadiums. [1] The technique was adopted wholesale into MMA and kickboxing training as these sports developed. [2]
Competition Record
The shin check's most famous moment in combat sports occurred at UFC 168 (December 2013), when Chris Weidman's check of Anderson Silva's lead leg kick caused Silva's tibia to fracture on impact, resulting in a TKO victory. [1] A similar incident occurred when Corey Hill suffered a leg fracture against Dale Hartt at UFC Fight Night 16 (2008) from a checked kick. [2]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Intercepting an incoming strike using a rigid arm, forearm, or shin structure to absorb or redirect force
Joints Involved — Forearm and elbow (primary blocking surface), shoulder (positioning), core (absorbing residual force)
Force Vector — Perpendicular to the incoming strike — meeting the attack at an angle dissipates force across the blocking surface
Defensive Mechanic — Hard blocks absorb impact directly; soft blocks redirect the strike's trajectory away from the target
Position & Entry
From fighting stance — Maintain guard position, raise the forearm or shin to intercept the incoming strike before it reaches the target
As reactive defence — When the attack is detected, move the blocking limb into the strike's path to absorb or deflect the force
Variants
High block — forearm raised above the head to protect against overhead strikes
Low block — forearm driven downward to deflect kicks or body strikes
Cross block — forearm crosses the body to protect the opposite side
Double forearm block — both forearms together for maximum coverage
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
3
Moderate3/10
Blocking and parrying absorb strike force; hand/forearm injury from repeated blocking
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
— Unified MMA — Legal defensive technique
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDFWBC/Boxing — Legal — blocking and evasion are core boxing skills {src— WBC Rules of Boxing}
— WKF — Legal — blocking is a fundamental karate skill
WKF Competition Rules 2024PDFKyokushin — Legal {src— IKO Kyokushin Tournament Rules}
— WT — Legal
WT Competition Rules 2024PDF— WAKO — Legal
WAKO Competition RulesPDFK-1/GLORY — Legal {src— K-1/GLORY Kickboxing Rules}
— IFMA — Legal
IFMA Muay Thai RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓The shin check lifts the lead leg to intercept an incoming kick with the shin — the fundamental kick defence in Muay Thai
✓Lift the checking leg by raising the knee — the shin presents as a vertical barrier angled slightly outward
✓The shin bone (tibia) is one of the hardest bones in the body — checking a kick with the shin can injure the kicker's foot or shin
✓Turn the shin slightly outward to present the hardest part of the bone to the incoming kick
✓Keep your guard up while checking — hands at chin level, opposite arm protecting the body
✓Rise on the ball of the support foot during the check — this adds height and stability
✓After the check, immediately return the foot to the ground and counter: the opponent's kicking leg is out of position after being checked
Common Mistakes
!Checking with the foot instead of the shin — the foot absorbs impact poorly; present the shin bone
!Not turning the shin outward — a straight-up shin doesn't deflect the kick; angle it slightly out
!Dropping the hands while checking — maintain full guard during the check
!Leaning away while checking — stay balanced over the support foot
!Checking too late — the kick has already passed the shin; timing must be proactive
!Not conditioning the shins — unconditioned shins bruise and cause the fighter to avoid checking
!Lifting the leg too high — the check should be at the height of the incoming kick, not higher
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Anticipate the Attack — read the opponent's intention through body cues
2Execute Defence — apply the specific defensive technique with proper timing
3Recover Stance — return to a balanced fighting position immediately
4Counter or Disengage — capitalize on the opening or create safe distance
Sources & References
Primary Source
Karate-Do Kyohan: The Master Text (Gichin Funakoshi, 1935)
1BookKarate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935)
Alias sources — [1] Muay Thai: The Most Distinguished Art of Fighting (Kraitus, 1988) [2] MMA Instruction Manual (Ryan & Snowden, 2010) [3] MMA Instruction Manual (Ryan & Snowden, 2010)
2BookMuay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus, 2002)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Muay Thai: The Most Distinguished Art of Fighting (Kraitus, 1988) [2] Muay Thai Counters (Delp, 2005)
3OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
4CitationKarate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935)
Alias sources — [1] Muay Thai: The Most Distinguished Art of Fighting (Kraitus, 1988) [2] MMA Instruction Manual (Ryan & Snowden, 2010) [3] MMA Instruction Manual (Ryan & Snowden, 2010)
5CitationMuay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus, 2002)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Muay Thai: The Most Distinguished Art of Fighting (Kraitus, 1988) [2] Muay Thai Counters (Delp, 2005)
Community
Athletics
Requires
forearm conditioning, reaction speed, structural stability
Favours
dense bone structure, strong forearms
Key muscles
forearm flexors/extensors, deltoids, biceps, core (absorbing impact)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I test if my opponent is actively shin checking?
Throw a blanket kick up in the air on that side to see your opponent's response. Combat Theory explains that you're looking to gauge whether they register the kick as a threat or don't react at all, which tells you whether they're actively defending.
Why shouldn't I just keep kicking into my opponent's shin check?
You don't want to spend the whole fight absorbing damage from repeated shin checks—your goal should be to overcome the defense, not prove you can endure it. Combat Theory emphasizes that getting repeatedly shin checked isn't a winning strategy.
What's a basic timing method to set up a kick against a shin check?
Use a four-count sequence: lift your leg, plant, step, then kick. Combat Theory teaches this as a way to cue your opponent's shin check and control the timing of your actual attack.
What are some ways to beat a shin check defensively?
You can target different parts of the leg, convert your round kick into different angles (like a deep kick or a kick to the body), or come up on top of the shin check rather than into it. Combat Theory outlines multiple defensive options depending on how your opponent responds.
How does the Shin Check work?
The Shin Check is the primary defence against low kicks in Muay Thai and MMA, executed by lifting the lead leg and turning the shin outward to intercept the incoming kick with the harder surface of the shin bone. The shin check works on the principle of meeting the soft part of the attacker's foot or lower shin with the harder upper shin, creating a painful collision that discourages further leg kicks.
Where does the Shin Check come from?
The shin check is a fundamental Muay Thai defensive technique developed over centuries of competition in Thailand. The technique gained widespread attention in MMA after Anderson Silva's leg break against Chris Weidman at UFC 168 (2013), caused by a checked kick, highlighting the technique's effectiveness and the danger of unchecked leg kicks.
Is the Shin Check legal in competition?
Unified MMA: legal — Legal defensive technique; WBC/Boxing: legal — Legal — blocking and evasion are core boxing skills; WKF: legal — Legal — blocking is a fundamental karate skill; Kyokushin: legal — Legal; WT: legal — Legal; WAKO: legal — Legal; K: legal — 1/GLORY — Legal; IFMA: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Shin Check?
Danger rating 3/10. Moderate — blocking and parrying absorb strike force; hand/forearm injury from repeated blocking
How do I set up the Shin Check?
The standard setup chain: Anticipate the Attack → Execute Defence → Recover Stance → Counter or Disengage.
How do I defend against the Shin Check?
Standard counters include: Timing — attack when the defence is recovering or between movements / Feint — use deception to create openings in the defensive structure / Angle Change — attack from an unexpected angle that the defence does not cover.
What are the variants of the Shin Check?
Common variants: High block (forearm raised above the head to protect against overhead…); Low block (forearm driven downward to deflect kicks or body strikes); Cross block (forearm crosses the body to protect the opposite side); Double forearm block (both forearms together for maximum coverage).
How effective is the Shin Check in competition?
The shin check's most famous moment in combat sports occurred at UFC 168 (December 2013), when Chris Weidman's check of Anderson Silva's lead leg kick caused Silva's tibia to fracture on impact, resulting in a TKO victory. A similar incident occurred when Corey Hill suffered a leg fracture against Dale Hartt at UFC Fight Night 16 (2008) from a checked kick.
What are common mistakes when doing the Shin Check?
Top errors to watch for: Checking with the foot instead of the shin — the foot absorbs impact poorly; present the shin bone / Not turning the shin outward — a straight-up shin doesn't deflect the kick; angle it slightly out / Dropping the hands while checking — maintain full guard during the check / Leaning away while checking — stay balanced over the support foot.
What are other names for the Shin Check?
The Shin Check is also known as Shin Chekku, Leg Check, Shin Block, Muay Thai Check.