Introduction to the Liver Kick Combination

Instructor Dan Sabotan from First Strike Athletics presents a simple yet highly effective striking combination designed to confuse opponents and create distance for a devastating liver kick. This technique combines footwork, hand positioning, and leg strikes to set up one of the most painful target areas in combat sports.

Disrupting Opponent Awareness with Repeated Feints

By executing back-stepping feints on alternating legs, the instructor creates confusion that prevents the opponent from establishing a clear defensive strategy. When the opponent shifts their guard to cover one side, switching the feint to the opposite leg creates additional disorientation, forcing linear backward movement rather than angled footwork.

Stance and Foot Positioning for Safe Approach

The striker must position their right foot to the outside of the opponent's stance when moving forward to avoid walking into power shots. Proper positioning—feet outside the opponent's base rather than centered—provides better angles and defensive security during the approach.

Distance Measurement with the Jab

The dominant hand jab serves dual purposes: measuring distance to the target and creating a distraction before the kick. If the striker can touch the opponent's gloves with the jab, they are at the optimal distance to execute the liver kick effectively.

Repetition Protocol for Accuracy Development

The training progression follows a three-rep pattern: two light repetitions to establish accuracy and familiarize the shin with the liver target, followed by one moderate-intensity repetition. This approach prioritizes precision over power, as a well-placed kick requires minimal force to be effective.

Proper Blocking Mechanics for Training Partners

The training partner should catch the kick across multiple surfaces of the forearm and torso rather than relying on a single point of contact like the wrist. This distributed catch method protects the partner's joints and provides more stable feedback for the kicker's technique.

Variation 1: Leg Kick to Liver Combination

The first variation adds a leg kick before the liver strike, disrupting the opponent's balance and creating a secondary opening. This multi-strike approach compounds the damage and leaves the opponent in a vulnerable position.

Variation 2: Knee Strike to Body

An alternative execution involves replacing the final kick with a clinch position followed by a knee strike to the body. This variation provides options when the opponent successfully closes distance or when a different target becomes available.

Variation 3: Hook Punch to Knee Strike

A closer-range variation replaces the initial leg kick with a right hook, followed immediately by a knee strike to the body. This progression works when the striker has already established an extremely close fighting range.

Common Error: Insufficient Fake Commitment

A frequent mistake is failing to fully commit to the initial feints, reducing their effectiveness at generating opponent reactions. The striker must elevate the knee high and sell the fake convincingly; otherwise, the opponent will not react, eliminating the setup's purpose.

Liver Kick Set Up - Walk Down Muay Thai Combo

First Strike Athletics

Liver Kick

3 min read·10 key moments·PT4M21S video

Key Takeaways

•Introduction to the Liver Kick Combination
•Disrupting Opponent Awareness with Repeated Feints
•Stance and Foot Positioning for Safe Approach
•Distance Measurement with the Jab

🔴 Download my list of 45 MUAY THAI & KICKBOXING COMBOS firststrikeathletics.com/optin 🔴 Download my SIMPLE STRENGTH FOR STRIKERS Workout Guide https://firststrikeathletics.com/fitness-download261741 In this video I show you a simple Muay Thai Combo to close the distance, confuse your opponent with a stance switch, and then nail them with the LIVER KICK! Learning Muay Thai and Kickboxing Combos that involve stance switches can be tricky at first, but this one is a bit easier as you just need to use the jab and round kick to the body, which are both easier to learn as a southpaw. More Content on my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/firststrikeathletics SUBSCRIBE https://www.youtube.com/user/firststrikeathletics?sub_confirmation=1 Follow me on - Instagram https://www.instagram.com/firststrikeathletics/

Related Techniques

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does this video teach about liver kick?

This video covers introduction to the liver kick combination, disrupting opponent awareness with repeated feints, stance and foot positioning for safe approach. It provides detailed instruction from First Strike Athletics.

How long does it take to learn liver kick?

The basic mechanics can be understood in a single session, but developing reliable execution requires consistent drilling over weeks of practice. This 10-part breakdown helps structure your training by isolating each phase of the technique.