KHAO CHIANG - 45 ANGLE KNEE
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Standard Khao Loi·Thai Boxing Online·Added by Admin
Knee strikes are one of the most lethal and important weapons of Muay Thai. A well-placed knee strike to the right area …
Standard Khao Loi
Genusスタンダードカオ・ロイ(Sutandādo Kao Roi)
TransliterationTranslation: standard flying knee
Overview
History & Origin
The standard Khao Loi represents the classical Muay Thai execution of the flying knee, where the fighter steps or hops forward and launches off one or both feet to drive the lead knee upward into the opponent. [1] Kraitus and Rennehan describe this as the orthodox form taught in Thai training camps, where the technique is drilled on heavy bags and with pad holders from an early age. [1] The standard version prioritises height and forward momentum, aiming to connect the kneecap with the opponent's chin, sternum, or solar plexus at the peak of the jump. [2] This execution was famously demonstrated in Thai stadium bouts throughout the 20th century. [1]
Effectiveness
Lineage
The flying knee is a traditional Muay Thai technique that has been part of the art's competitive arsenal for generations, frequently featured in wai kru (pre-fight ritual) demonstrations. [1]
Competition Record
The flying knee is one of the most dramatic knockout techniques in both Muay Thai and MMA. [1] Jorge Masvidal's five-second flying knee knockout of Ben Askren at UFC 239 (2019) set the record for the fastest knockout in UFC history. [2] In ONE Championship, Stamp Fairtex has used flying knees effectively in her Muay Thai bouts. [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 outside range (running or stepping) — Take an explosive forward step, jump off the lead foot, chamber and extend the kick while airborne
As surprise attack — Close distance rapidly with a leap, launch the kick at the apex of the jump
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
8
Very High8/10
Airborne knee strike; devastating KO potential (numerous UFC finishes)
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Advanced
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
✓From stance, push the opponent backward with punches or teeps to create a retreating pattern
✓When they step back, explode off the rear foot, driving the lead knee upward while leaping forward
✓At the peak of the leap, the knee should be at chest or chin height, driven by the hip flexor and upward momentum
✓Grip the opponent's head or shoulders in flight to pull them into the knee for maximum collision force
✓Land on the support foot first and immediately reset to fighting stance
✓The entire motion — push-back setup, leap, knee, land — should be a seamless flow
✓Practise on Thai pads held at chest height while the holder backs away, simulating the retreating target
Common Mistakes
!Leaping without the push-back setup — the opponent must be moving backward for the flying knee to track them
!Not driving the hip through the knee at the peak of the jump — the knee must thrust forward, not just rise
!Releasing the head grip too early and not pulling the opponent into the impact
!Landing on both feet simultaneously, which is unstable and prevents follow-up
!Attempting the standard khao loi against a circling opponent — it tracks straight lines only
!Not training the landing as part of the drill — the recovery is as important as the strike
!Over-extending the leap and flying past the opponent without making contact
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)
1BookTaekwondo (Choi, 1965)
Alias sources — [1] Muay Thai Unleashed (Delp, 2006) [2] Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus & Kraitus, 1988) [3] Dynamic Karate (Nakayama, 1966)
2BookMuay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus, 2002)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus & Kraitus, 1988)
3OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
4CitationTaekwondo (Choi, 1965)
Alias sources — [1] Muay Thai Unleashed (Delp, 2006) [2] Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus & Kraitus, 1988) [3] Dynamic Karate (Nakayama, 1966)
5CitationMuay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus, 2002)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus & Kraitus, 1988)
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
What's the key difference between a standard knee strike and the angle knee (khao chiang)?
The angle knee is struck at a 45-degree angle rather than straight up, with your heel out and your weight on your toe. Thai Boxing Online emphasizes that this angled position is crucial—you don't want the knee to be straight up like a regular knee strike.
How should I position my leg to prevent my opponent from catching it?
You need to bend your leg as much as you can during the strike rather than extending it fully straight, which gives your opponent an opportunity to catch and hold your leg. Thai Boxing Online stresses keeping a slight bend so your opponent can't secure a grip.
What footwork do I use to set up the angle knee strike?
Step forward with the opposite leg from the knee you're throwing—for example, step with your left leg forward when throwing a right knee. Thai Boxing Online teaches alternating sides: step and deliver with one side, then switch and repeat with the other leg.
Should I use my hands when throwing the angle knee?
Your hand can swing down naturally during the strike, and keeping your shoulder high is important for proper form. Thai Boxing Online shows that while your hands can be involved, the focus should remain on the angled leg position and range.
How does the Standard Khao Loi work?
The fundamental flying knee executed by explosively pushing off the ground, driving one knee upward while pulling the opponent's head down with the hands to maximize impact.
Where does the Standard Khao Loi come from?
The standard Khao Loi represents the classical Muay Thai execution of the flying knee, where the fighter steps or hops forward and launches off one or both feet to drive the lead knee upward into the opponent. Kraitus and Rennehan describe this as the orthodox form taught in Thai training camps, where the technique is drilled on heavy bags and with pad holders from an early age.
Is the Standard Khao Loi 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 Standard Khao Loi?
Danger rating 8/10. Very High — airborne knee strike; devastating KO potential (numerous UFC finishes)
How do I set up the Standard Khao Loi?
The standard setup chain: Assume Fighting Stance → Generate Power → Execute Strike → Recover to Guard.
How do I defend against the Standard Khao Loi?
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 Standard Khao Loi?
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 Standard Khao Loi in competition?
The flying knee is one of the most dramatic knockout techniques in both Muay Thai and MMA. Jorge Masvidal's five-second flying knee knockout of Ben Askren at UFC 239 (2019) set the record for the fastest knockout in UFC history.
What are common mistakes when doing the Standard Khao Loi?
Top errors to watch for: Leaping without the push-back setup — the opponent must be moving backward for the flying knee to track them / Not driving the hip through the knee at the peak of the jump — the knee must thrust forward, not just rise / Releasing the head grip too early and not pulling the opponent into the impact / Landing on both feet simultaneously, which is unstable and prevents follow-up.
What are other names for the Standard Khao Loi?
The Standard Khao Loi is also known as Sutandādo Kao Roi, Standard Flying Knee, Standard Jumping Knee, Tobi Hiza Geri.