KHAO CHIANG - 45 ANGLE KNEE
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Khao Chiang·Thai Boxing Online
Knee strikes are one of the most lethal and important weapons of Muay Thai. A well-placed knee strike to the right area …
Khao Chiang
Genusเข่าเฉียง（カオ・チアン）(Kao Chian)
TransliterationTranslation: diagonal knee
Overview
History & Origin
Khao Chiang (เข่าเฉียง), the diagonal knee, is a traditional Muay Thai technique whose Thai name translates literally to 'slanting knee.' [1] Kraitus and Rennehan describe it as one of the fundamental khao (knee) weapons in the Muay Thai arsenal, used primarily from the clinch to attack the opponent's floating ribs at a diagonal angle. [1] Delp documents Khao Chiang as a technique developed through generations of Thai stadium fighters who refined the precise 45-degree angle to maximise impact on the ribcage while maintaining clinch control. [2] The technique gained international prominence as Muay Thai spread globally in the 1970s-1990s. [2]
Effectiveness
Khao chiang (diagonal knee) strikes upward at an angle. [1]
Lineage
A traditional Muay Thai knee. [1]
Competition Record
Used in Muay Thai. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Driving the knee upward or diagonally into the target using hip flexion and body weight
Joints Involved — Hip (powerful flexion drive), knee (point of impact, flexed), core (posture and power transfer)
Force Vector — Upward (straight knee to body/head), diagonal (round knee from the side), or clinch-pull driven
Clinch Integration — Most effective when combined with clinch control — pulling the opponent's head down into the rising knee multiplies impact force
Position & Entry
From Muay Thai clinch — Secure the plum (double collar tie), pull the opponent's head down, drive the knee up into the body or head
From clinch (collar-and-bicep) — Control one side, pull the opponent into the rising knee
As counter (opponent shoots) — When the opponent level changes for a takedown, drive the knee up into their face or chest
Variants
Straight knee — driving the knee straight upward into the body or head
Curved knee (round knee) — swinging the knee from the side in a circular path
Flying knee — leaping forward and driving the knee at the apex of the jump
Clinch knee — pulling the opponent into the knee from Muay Thai plum position
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
7
Very High7/10
Muay Thai khao khong; diagonal knee to ribs/thigh
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Illegal
WBC/Boxing — All knee strikes prohibited {src— WBC Rules of Boxing}
— WKF — Prohibited in sport karate
WKF Competition Rules 2024PDF— WT — Prohibited
WT Competition Rules 2024PDF— ITF — Prohibited
ITF Competition RulesPDF— WAKO — Prohibited in most formats
WAKO Competition RulesPDFRestricted
— Unified MMA — Knees to standing opponent legal, knees to ...
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDFK-1/GLORY — One clinch knee allowed before referee break {src— K-1/GLORY Kickboxing Rules}
Legal
Kyokushin — Legal to body {src— IKO Kyokushin Tournament Rules}
— IFMA — Legal — knees are a core Muay Thai weapon, clinch ...
IFMA Muay Thai RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓Khao chiang is the Muay Thai diagonal knee — driven at a 45-degree angle into the opponent's body from the clinch
✓From a Thai clinch (double collar tie), pull the opponent's head to one side and drive the opposite knee diagonally upward
✓The knee targets the floating ribs, liver, or spleen at an angle that the standard guard cannot cover
✓Rotate the hip in the direction of the knee — the power comes from the combined upward and rotational hip drive
✓Rise onto the ball of the support foot at the moment of impact to add height and extension to the diagonal path
✓The khao chiang is used when the opponent successfully defends straight knees by tightening the centre guard
✓Follow with a straight knee or elbow after the diagonal knee shifts the opponent's defensive focus to the side
Common Mistakes
!Not rotating the hip to create the diagonal angle — it becomes a standard straight knee
!Hitting the elbow or forearm because the angle was not sharp enough to go around the guard
!Not pulling the opponent's head to the opposite side — the head pull opens the target area
!Losing clinch control during the rotational setup
!Rising onto the toes but not driving the hip — the knee must penetrate, not just rise
!Throwing too many diagonal knees from the same side, allowing the opponent to anticipate
!Not following up after landing — the diagonal knee shifts the opponent's guard and creates openings
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Assume Fighting Stance — begin from a balanced position with guard up
2Generate Power — use hip rotation and weight transfer for maximum force
3Execute Strike — deliver the technique to the target with correct form
4Recover to Guard — return immediately to defensive position
Sources & References
Primary Source
Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Yod Ruerngsa, Khun Kao Charuad & James Cartmell, 2002)
1BookMuay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus, 2002)
Alias sources — [1] Muay Thai Unleashed (Delp, 2006) [2] Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus & Kraitus, 1988) [3] Muay Thai: A Living Legacy (Vail, 2014)
2BookMuay Thai Unleashed (Delp, 2006)
History sources — [1] Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus & Rennehan, 2002) [2] Muay Thai Unleashed (Delp, 2006)
3OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
4CitationMuay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus, 2002)
Alias sources — [1] Muay Thai Unleashed (Delp, 2006) [2] Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus & Kraitus, 1988) [3] Muay Thai: A Living Legacy (Vail, 2014)
5CitationMuay Thai Unleashed (Delp, 2006)
History sources — [1] Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus & Rennehan, 2002) [2] Muay Thai Unleashed (Delp, 2006)
Community
Athletics
Requires
hip flexion power, clinch control ability, close-range comfort
Favours
long thigh for greater leverage, strong hip flexors
Key muscles
hip flexors, quadriceps, core, grip (for clinch)
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to grab my opponent to perform a khao chiang knee strike?
No, the khao chiang is a long-range knee strike that doesn't require grabbing. Thai Boxing Online emphasizes that you simply step forward and deliver the angled knee while maintaining your stance.
How much should I bend my leg when throwing a khao chiang?
You should bend your leg as much as possible to prevent your opponent from catching and holding your leg. Thai Boxing Online stresses this bending is critical for keeping your leg safe from being controlled.
What's the proper footwork for a khao chiang knee?
Step forward with the opposite leg of the knee you're striking with—if throwing a right knee, step with your left leg forward, then bring the knee back to your stance. Practice both sides alternating to develop balance.
How does the Khao Chiang work?
A Muay Thai diagonal knee strike driven upward and inward at a 45-degree angle, targeting the opponent's ribcage from the side while controlling the clinch.
Where does the Khao Chiang come from?
Khao Chiang (เข่าเฉียง), the diagonal knee, is a traditional Muay Thai technique whose Thai name translates literally to 'slanting knee. ' Kraitus and Rennehan describe it as one of the fundamental khao (knee) weapons in the Muay Thai arsenal, used primarily from the clinch to attack the opponent's floating ribs at a diagonal angle.
Is the Khao Chiang legal in competition?
Unified MMA: restricted — Knees to standing opponent legal, knees to head of grounded opponent banned; WBC/Boxing: banned — All knee strikes prohibited; WKF: banned — Prohibited in sport karate; Kyokushin: legal — Legal to body; WT: banned — Prohibited; ITF: banned — Prohibited; WAKO: banned — Prohibited in most formats; K: restricted — 1/GLORY — One clinch knee allowed before referee break; IFMA: legal — Legal — knees are a core Muay Thai weapon, clinch knees highly scored
How dangerous is the Khao Chiang?
Danger rating 7/10. Very High — Muay Thai khao khong; diagonal knee to ribs/thigh
How do I set up the Khao Chiang?
The standard setup chain: Assume Fighting Stance → Generate Power → Execute Strike → Recover to Guard.
How do I defend against the Khao Chiang?
Standard counters include: Block — absorb the strike with a protective guard position / Evasion — move the target out of the strike's path / Counter-Attack — time an offensive response during the recovery phase of the strike.
What are the variants of the Khao Chiang?
Common variants: Straight knee (driving the knee straight upward into the body or head); Curved knee (round knee) (swinging the knee from the side in a circular path); Flying knee (leaping forward and driving the knee at the apex of the jump); Clinch knee (pulling the opponent into the knee from Muay Thai plum po…).
How effective is the Khao Chiang in competition?
Used in Muay Thai.
What are common mistakes when doing the Khao Chiang?
Top errors to watch for: Not rotating the hip to create the diagonal angle — it becomes a standard straight knee / Hitting the elbow or forearm because the angle was not sharp enough to go around the guard / Not pulling the opponent's head to the opposite side — the head pull opens the target area / Losing clinch control during the rotational setup.
What are other names for the Khao Chiang?
The Khao Chiang is also known as Kao Chian, Diagonal Knee, Slanting Knee, Oblique Knee Strike.