Muay Thai Sangha Lower Hand Outside and Inside techniques
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Chopping Low KickΒ·Sangha Muay Thai Thailand
Pedro Solana Villalobos shows 8 hand counter techniques for the jab and the cross with the rear and lower hand. Muay Chaβ¦
Translation: chopping low kick
Range & classification
Category
Strike & defenceLocksClose rangeFighting multiple people
Distance
CloseMiddleLong
Limb angle
Zero180β135Β°135β90Β°90β45Β°45β0Β°
Body target
Upper bodyMiddle bodyLower body
Overview
The Chopping Low Kick is an outside low kick variation delivered with a steep downward angle, where the shin chops into the opponent's thigh from above rather than sweeping across horizontally. [1] The chopping trajectory concentrates force into a smaller impact area and drives the shin into the muscle at an angle that compresses it against the femur bone, producing more intense localised damage. [1],[2] The chopping low kick is effective against opponents who attempt to absorb leg kicks by flexing their quadriceps, as the downward angle bypasses the muscular resistance. [2],[3]
History & Origin
The chopping low kick developed as a variation within Muay Thai and Dutch kickboxing, where fighters experimented with different angles to maximise leg kick effectiveness against well-conditioned opponents. [1] The technique is taught as an advanced low kick variation in many kickboxing and MMA gyms. [2],[3]
Country of originΒ· shown in random order
- ThailandMuay Thai
- BrazilMMA
- USAMMA, Kickboxing
- JapanKickboxing
- ChinaSanda
Effectiveness
The chopping low kick strikes downward at a steep angle onto the outer thigh. [1]
Lineage
A Muay Thai low kick variant. [1]
Competition Record
Used in Muay Thai and MMA. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action β Ballistic extension of the arm β kinetic chain transfers force from the ground through the hips to the fist
Joints Involved β Shoulder (flexion/rotation), elbow (rapid extension), wrist (stabilised on impact), hips (rotation)
Force Vector β Linear (jab, cross) or circular (hook, overhand) depending on the punch type
Kinetic Chain β Ground reaction force β hip rotation β torso rotation β shoulder extension β fist impact β each link amplifies velocity
Position & Entry
From orthodox stance (after jab) β Rotate the rear hip forward, extend the rear hand straight to the target, pivot the rear foot
As counter (pull counter) β Lean back to avoid the incoming jab, fire the cross as the opponent's jab retracts
From clinch break β Push off from the clinch, create space, and fire the straight right as the opponent resets
Variants
Standard cross β rear-hand straight punch with full hip rotation
Counter cross (pull counter) β leaning back to avoid the jab, firing the cross as a counter
Step-in cross β stepping forward with the punch for added reach and power
Body cross β targeting the solar plexus or liver with the straight rear hand
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
6
High6/10
Most common KO kick; generates ~1,000N force to head (Falco et al. 2009)
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Illegal
WBC/Boxing β Only closed-fist punches permitted {srcβ WBC Rules of Boxing}
Kyokushin β Only closed-fist strikes to body permitted {srcβ IKO Kyokushin Tournament Rules}
β WT β Prohibited
WT Competition Rules 2024PDFβ WAKO β Closed fist only
WAKO Competition RulesPDFK-1/GLORY β Closed fist only {srcβ K-1/GLORY Kickboxing Rules}
Restricted
β WKF β Varies by technique β some open-hand strikes legal ...
WKF Competition Rules 2024PDFβ ITF β Some knife hand techniques legal
ITF Competition RulesPDFLegal
β palm strikes, slaps permitted
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDFβ IFMA β Legal β palm strikes permitted in Muay Thai
IFMA Muay Thai RulesPDFTraining Notes
βThrow the low kick with a steep downward angle, similar to an axe chopping into a tree trunk
βThe chopping low kick drives into the thigh from above rather than swinging through at a flat angle
βRaise the kicking knee slightly higher than a standard low kick, then drive the shin downward into the quadriceps
βThe downward trajectory makes this kick harder to check because it drives over the top of the checking shin
βErnesto Hoost's "Hoost low kick" was the prototype of the chopping low kick, and it ended numerous K-1 fights by TKO
βUse the chopping angle when the opponent checks consistently β the descending arc goes over their shin guard
βCombine with standard flat-angle low kicks to attack the thigh from multiple vectors
Common Mistakes
!Raising the knee so high that the kick becomes a downward axe kick instead of a roundhouse variant
!Not driving the hip over despite the vertical angle β the hip must still rotate for power
!Losing balance on the support leg because the steep angle shifts bodyweight upward
!Telegraphing the higher chamber by visibly lifting the knee before the chop
!Using only the chopping angle and becoming predictable β alternate between flat and chopping trajectories
!Hitting the knee joint with the descending strike, which is dangerous and potentially illegal
!Not keeping the guard up during the higher chamber β the extra time in the air increases the exposure window
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Stance and Range β verify correct distance for the kick to land at full extension
2Chamber the Leg β lift the knee to prepare the kicking trajectory
3Execute the Kick β extend the leg through the target with the appropriate striking surface
4Recover β retract the leg and return to fighting stance
Sources & References
Primary Source
Karate-Do Kyohan: The Master Text (Gichin Funakoshi, 1935)
1BookMuay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus, 2002)
Alias sources β [1] Muay Thai Unleashed (Delp, 2006) [2] Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus & Kraitus, 1988) [3] Muay Thai: A Living Legacy (Vail, 2014)
2BookKarate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935)
Effectiveness sources β [1] Muay Thai Unleashed (Delp, 2006)
3OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (ε€ζ₯θͺ) β used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
4CitationMuay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus, 2002)
Alias sources β [1] Muay Thai Unleashed (Delp, 2006) [2] Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus & Kraitus, 1988) [3] Muay Thai: A Living Legacy (Vail, 2014)
5CitationKarate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935)
Effectiveness sources β [1] Muay Thai Unleashed (Delp, 2006)
Community
Athletics
Requires
hip rotation power, rear foot pivot, full kinetic chain coordination
Favours
reach advantage, strong hips for power transfer
Key muscles
glutes, obliques, pectorals, triceps, deltoids
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Chopping Low Kick work?
The Chopping Low Kick is an outside low kick variation delivered with a steep downward angle, where the shin chops into the opponent's thigh from above rather than sweeping across horizontally. The chopping trajectory concentrates force into a smaller impact area and drives the shin into the muscle at an angle that compresses it against the femur bone, producing more intense localised damage.
Where does the Chopping Low Kick come from?
The chopping low kick developed as a variation within Muay Thai and Dutch kickboxing, where fighters experimented with different angles to maximise leg kick effectiveness against well-conditioned opponents. The technique is taught as an advanced low kick variation in many kickboxing and MMA gyms.
Is the Chopping Low Kick legal in competition?
Unified MMA: legal β Legal (palm strikes, slaps permitted); WBC/Boxing: banned β Only closed-fist punches permitted; WKF: restricted β Varies by technique β some open-hand strikes legal in kata, generally restricβ¦; Kyokushin: banned β Only closed-fist strikes to body permitted; WT: banned β Prohibited; ITF: restricted β Some knife hand techniques legal; WAKO: banned β Closed fist only; K: banned β 1/GLORY β Closed fist only; IFMA: legal β Legal β palm strikes permitted in Muay Thai
How dangerous is the Chopping Low Kick?
Danger rating 6/10. High β most common KO kick; generates ~1,000N force to head (Falco et al. 2009)
How do I set up the Chopping Low Kick?
The standard setup chain: Stance and Range β Chamber the Leg β Execute the Kick β Recover.
How do I defend against the Chopping Low Kick?
Standard counters include: Check (Shin Block) β raise the shin to intercept the kick before it lands / Catch and Sweep β catch the kicking leg and sweep the standing leg / Step Inside β close distance inside the kick's effective range to smother it.
What are the variants of the Chopping Low Kick?
Common variants: Standard cross (rear-hand straight punch with full hip rotation); Counter cross (pull counter) (leaning back to avoid the jab, firing the cross as a counter); Step-in cross (stepping forward with the punch for added reach and power); Body cross (targeting the solar plexus or liver with the straight reaβ¦).
How effective is the Chopping Low Kick in competition?
Used in Muay Thai and MMA.
What are common mistakes when doing the Chopping Low Kick?
Top errors to watch for: Raising the knee so high that the kick becomes a downward axe kick instead of a roundhouse variant / Not driving the hip over despite the vertical angle β the hip must still rotate for power / Losing balance on the support leg because the steep angle shifts bodyweight upward / Telegraphing the higher chamber by visibly lifting the knee before the chop.
What are other names for the Chopping Low Kick?
The Chopping Low Kick is also known as Choppingu RΕ Kikku, Chopping Leg Kick, Downward Angle Low Kick, Stomping Low Kick.