How a World Champion Kickboxer Completely Shut Me Down

My friend ‪@GabrielVargaOfficial‬ isn't the first person to beat me up... but he was the first one to stop my forward movement so abruptly with round kicks. In this video he explains the details that allowed him to do that.
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Music:
Title Song is Lying Low
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[@GabrielVargaOfficial]

Always love filming with Icy Mike ❤ Although I did miss Seth, Shane and the rest of the crew. I'm looking forward to our next group collab.

[@ClantonCombatives]

I’m loving it!

[@emissaryofelohim1431]

You always season the melting pot that is Mike and the crew!

[@emissaryofelohim1431]

At 7:00 you can also rechamber off of that contact point (especially if stuffed), to then go high, slipping slightly back, for kind of a slappy almost downward landing roundhouse.

[@adrian126]

Great video! Gabriel, aside from being a great fighter, you are a great teacher. That’s a rare combination.

[@w8ngr]

Is this framing but basically with the legs?

[@SenseiSeth]

First time I’ve ever heard somebody mention this, definitely gonna start using it!!

[@MrKeepnit100]

And look no pendulum step!

[@hard2hurt]

You don't have to... you know.

[@jacobhochstetler825]

New for me too! I will have to try it out with my sparring buddy tomorrow.

[@shinomori69]

But will it work against a kangaroo?

[@Leadfoot_P71]

@@shinomori69 The advice is to avoid kicking contests with kangaroos

[@tomnaughadie]

"I can't let you get close." - Chaebriel Sonnga

[@Tasfiq_park]

Lol

[@computerlogicelectronics2158]

Wow. My muay thai coach taught me this exact technique years ago. Flashback.

[@rydiggitydog]

I was gonna say it looks like a Thai leg check

[@moodfm5673]

@@rydiggitydog it is

[@MR-nl8xr]

Hey man, your channel is empty. What gives?

[@computerlogicelectronics2158]

@@MR-nl8xr Won’t be for much longer ;) Just getting the content ready.

[@pandaBoxz]

@@computerlogicelectronics2158lies

[@stevenshar1233]

Great content Mike. The most informative section of the video was when you asked how do I practice to get better at it.

[@hard2hurt]

Bingo

[@MR-nl8xr]

yea.

[@christopherflynn5478]

“ let your kicks exist on a spectrum” Never expect to laugh yet you always deliver!

[@ynghuch]

Gabe dishing out pure GOLD! It’s these tactics and a good fight IQ that are the difference between amateur and pro.

[@thomasirwin4099]

Wow, guys- this was an AMAZING technique to mess with. Definitely bringing it to sparring, and the other thing is- y'all just make me smile, period. Two of my favorite people in combat sports on KZbin, and it's always fun to watch you. Thanks for doing this!

[@jasonfinnerty5711]

Street Beef MCs stand up!

[@brodysievers5163]

H2H: "It's 2023 you don't have to be so straight all the time" GV:"play around" H2H: "Play Around!"

[@TeedChap]

Awesome. Been on the receiving end of this recently and it's definitely a great way to stop pressure fighters. Didn't really know what was happening when it was happening to me and then I did it by accident myself a couple of times so it's really handy to get this demonstrated. Thanks guys.

[@outmaster2348]

I love that my favorite and so lesser known way of throwing round kicks is getting some light on it thank you

[@itswrongtokillanimalsifyou2837]

This channel has such a positive and analytical vibe, it's a joy to watch!

[@RedSplinter36]

Love love love this! My two favorite KZbin game changers!!! Gabriel and IcyMike!!! Brilliant collaboration and awesome technical explanations! ❤

[@brittnivaughn3218]

This will come in handy for my kickboxing fight this Saturday

[@andrewleiva2029]

Goodluck!

[@nwbdirge1198]

You got this g

[@Sulamanjansulttaani]

How did it go and hows training a year later?

[@paulorawdogcosta3630]

Mike, thank you SO MUCH for making these videos. I sparred with many Thais and never understood the concept. Obviously thanks to Gabriel too as I follow his channel as well. Please keep up the good work

[@TheMongolPrime]

This makes me so happy to see! I teach the same thing. "Long kicks" with the lower shin, and "hard kicks" with the upper shin. Love it.

[@Kottenification]

The "Umph ohaaa! Is your shin ok? I don't want to hurt you with my forearm" is priceless! 😀 Thank you Mike and Gabe for yet another educational and very amusing clip.

[@richarde1355]

I’ve watched Gabriel Varga on Glory kickboxing many times, watching him win many fights and losing a few that I thought he won. I always appreciated his technical skills, gas tank, and move-forward fighting technique. True warrior. Thanks for sharing!

[@nonsequitor]

Vargas is an incredible fighter...and teacher. Thanks for airing this. Great video.

[@lady_draguliana784]

Controlling distance and range is one of the Keys to Victory.

[@chrissothegr8930]

One of my bucket lists is to train with Icy Mike, love this man!

[@bladecommando]

This was super informative, thank you both for sharing!

[@ClantonCombatives]

I love these collabs between your two channels. Looking forward to meeting you both in person sometime.

[@ellefsensbarmyarmy8491]

This kick is probably one of the best kept secrets in the fight game. Quite common among thai fighters, but Gabriel is one of the few western fighters that use it. I looks simple, but it actually quite hard. You need good timing, balance and flexibility to pull it off.

[@christophmeier3185]

Excellent! Thanks for sharing this!

[@IHateHandleNames]

Gabriel is such a gold mine for this stuff. I've been working on framing off guys a bit with my jab hand to land the cross when they rush in. I could only imagine if you could work the jab frame and this style kick.

[@billpence5444]

Ty for sharing! Made me smile! Hope you guys have a great day:)

[@95DOIDO]

this is awesome, such a little detail can change completely the usage of a technique, and about that left kick while the opponent is throwing a cross, I remember cliff does this shit too, but sliding, it's a beautiful move, but so hard, I never forgot that video.

[@rjdman5588]

I love finding new small ways to level up, especially things most people dont do. thanks for the lesson :)

[@mistral-unizion-music]

Nice to see you both in the same video, I love both of your channels. Gabriel knows some very cool tricks! I am gonna keep this one in mind and will try it for sure.

[@Christopher_Boyd]

Great video. Thanks for uploading.

[@weduhpeople8504]

Quickly switching the legs and presenting a 45 degree angle is a really good way for defense to create distance but also reset your legs for a very powerful kick. I always try to work on my weak leg to become more powerful because it’s better to be ambidextrous. The mechanics of this move seems natural to me being that I’ve trained in Tae Kwan Do and Thai kick boxing.

[@user-bl5cg1jk1u]

this is super beneficial i love you guys for this video

[@Crunchy166]

I discovered this style of kicks on my own about a year ago but I never thought to use it defensively from my front leg before. Definitely gonna try this!

[@cHK91129]

Search for "Buakaw Analysis: Shutting Down "Iron Mike" Zambidis, old stuff

[@jcolby298]

Lots of great tips to try in the next sparring sessions. Thanks

[@ACarpenter89]

Can someone edit Gabriel Varga switching his feet with some Irish dance music for St Patrick's Day?

[@davidalbus8089]

I'm hoping to see a video on pocket sand for self defense in reference to Shadiversity's video on the subject.

[@dacedebeer2697]

I think the main downside of this is the walking around with sand in your pocket.

[@davidalbus8089]

@@dacedebeer2697 that's why you use a pocket sand pocket liner. Duh... 😜🤪

[@jaywilliams6250]

I kind of discovered this by accident when taller guys would try and step in so they can box, I would use it to push them back and also land a shot while they are punching and exposed but I never really thought much about it until now haha. Great video as usual Mike

[@pranakhan]

Nice job, you add a great sense of humerus to the training

[@stevoz748]

youve said plenty of controversial stuff on your channel but the reason why i stay subscribed is because youre not afraid to admit to learning. Which sounds odd but many martial artists on youtube arnt willing to admit to that. I like that you bring in people from different walks of life and styles in order to grow and improve! keep it up! this was a fantastic technique explained that ive never really seen before in years of practicing martial arts. I would love to see someone really trying to catch it and ways to get out of it or use it to the kickers advantage.

[@jimlewis4853]

Excellent stuff, guys! ☺❤

[@c.t.2573]

Good stuff! Alot of people don't throw their roundhouse kicks straight enough so that's why it's easy to deflect and counter. Looks like its a roundhouse mixed with a knee shield just without the clinch.

[@ShovelChef]

This is absolutely the first time I've ever heard a fighting coach describe their approach as "encroach like a roach." I love this man. 💪💛👍

[@pingislife2653]

Details like this is what separates S from A tier. Thanks for the tip!

[@toddlewandowski7366]

My coaches taught us from the beginning to throw our round kicks with that angle but the reasoning they had was if someone were to circle around you could keep transferring the power as opposed to the kick extending fully and finishing too early. This was cool to see definitely gonna try it out

[@kmtbritton]

this is great. i train in japan and my coach did a class on this 2 weeks ago, in japanese, and i couldnt really understand the point of it at the time. great to have it in english

[@adim00lah]

Awesome intercepting technique! Gonna have to try this one out.

[@chrismiksworld]

Mike throwing out some SERIOUS Tid Bits of Knowledge. Thanks, Mike.

[@ItsMeBatmanlol]

I love it! Mark the front foot when switch kicking back not the back foot though

[@rudro5784]

I learned it from shane from fight tips,he always said to have a slight bend in knees and extend it after the knee has gone past the target....i didnt know the reason,now i know

[@gw1357]

Its sort of like a linear question mark kick in concept. You're hiding a push kick inside a round kick motion, the same way a question mark hides a hook kick inside a front kick motion. Thats nifty.

[@DuncanTheHighlander]

I already knew this! Makes me feel good I've been doing this for years! It's common in TKD

[@HeavyHardDrive]

You know that light bulb moment when a student finally gets it, and it just clicks. Mike had that moment. Instead of saying 'ooohh', It was more like in your mind you went "SOB that's awesome".

[@kez_the_reaper2657]

Oh I like that even just the footwork on the switch kick going backwards, gonna have to try this out

[@garbour456]

Varga is awesome. Great video!

[@thecommonnovelist4181]

Excellent closing line.

[@alastair4839]

I just started back at kickboxing from straight up boxing.... and I had just planned to start countering exactly how Mike was originally... which I think would work at my club. I had no plans to actually use the kick myself. but now - this looks like a great counter! - I love simple, because simple can be used effectively :)

[@charlesdourado8292]

Never heard anyone talking about this, there are levels to this game

[@mutant0177]

Best video I saw in a long time. thx

[@TC_Hero7]

I use this technique but with a front kick. so i do like a weird push kick to legs especially the inside really throws people's balance and base off opening them up. THIS tutorial was AWESOME thank you for sharing i gotta practice with round house style now. Big fan of lead leg round so a new weapon to use is excellent!

[@vantagepoint3563]

Gabriel wasn’t ready for that last comment 😂

[@mediapcaccount1154]

taking a break from talking about LEG MOSCLES to talk about some leg bones... icy mike the renaissance man....

[@amartya9034]

I am fascinated by K-1 Kickboxing a lot would love to train it as my main style something so intriguing about it that makes it unique to MT, MMA, and TKD

[@LeonardoRamos01]

Gabriel is pure gold.

[@myname-mz3lo]

varga is the best teacher out there. he talks about things that even pro coaches dont know . he wasnt champ so many times for nothing

[@ClantonCombatives]

Man. You lucked OUT snagging him up got a video with all his knowledge!

[@spaljenibackup9339]

great collab

[@MrKeepnit100]

There's just levels to this game man.....

[@billyg.personaltraining]

I'm excited for the Dewey collab!

[@patanjalilemonsquashimmortal]

Great knowledge

[@Theshaman12]

Pure gold!

[@Cysubtor_8vb]

Interesting. Being tall, I don't incorporate many round kicks myself partly from feeling like I can control spacing better with front kicks and, fittingly enough, knees. Would have to try it out myself, but this technique looks like something that would benefit my height and open up my kicking game more.

[@pragzter]

I've seen Muay Thai fighters use this one a lot. Is there a name for it? In our gym we just call it a "round kick to the front of the body". Great pointers on the retreating switch kick too!

[@c.t.2573]

It's pretty much using the principle of a knee shield but without clinching into it.

[@pragzter]

@@c.t.2573 that's a great way of describing it

[@hearwho8438]

Closed ranged kick

[@tonydismukes4409]

When I learned it, the description was “half-shin half-knee”.

[@tomnaughadie]

This is great content. I love it.

[@christopherwinrow3878]

Brilliant video mate respect YNWA brother

[@oduneyeman]

Great video

[@legend77ARY]

What Gabriel was saying about how hard it is to tighten on the right side when throwing no matter how conditioned the body may be is exactly what happened to Garcia

[@gentlemandemon]

I want to play with this. I usually take an off-center step to make my shin land square, but this seems faster and more direct

[@generalgrievous6689]

The round kick tip at the beginning sounds a little like a karate-style kick. When I started Karate I was always taught to extend a little later a flick a bit. I guess now I know why it works well close up!

[@rylewmma553]

Nice breakdown.

[@willowelizabethryder4141]

Definitely giving this a shot next class! Gotta see how well it works for us filthy southpaws :)

[@junichiroyamashita]

Ever thought about analyzing shoulder strikes and body checks? Nobody seems to talk about it,but ramming with the body and other extremities is common in 52 Blocks and Keysi,and Bajiquan and Xing yi liu he quan are basically only that.

[@luisdawnfinder3188]

Thank you for this video. As a rangier fighter for my weightclass I'm gonna be abusing the hell out of this

[@justinclark3793]

Very intriguing title. And it wasn't click baity at all

[@ThighKick]

Very useful tall fighter techs!

[@kevinmartin360]

New tool added. I´ll try it for sure!

[@koala1069]

does it work

[@THEANPHROPY]

A brilliant principle we use in gong fu sandai & Mauy Thai!

[@elsuperpollo2273]

This is awesome, video

[@andybarth5928]

Yeah Footwork is the real secret of every good MA - so oft not seen as important as it is.... and I love the channel of Gabe....

[@rosemarietolentino3218]

Gabriel Varga’s fight IQ is off the hook.

[@prvtthd401]

It is like a side teep/kick but with the knee. A... *side kneep*

[@interventor3507]

Hahaaa, Icy Mike KZbin Boxer, theory fighter. Always a pleasure to hear hes gettin lit up

[@konpoy]

in order to properly execute that upper shin kick i believe the pivot of the standing foot gotta be more what Icy Mike attempts.

[@ryusuikarate]

That's actually the way I learned Mawashi Geri. Interesting that this seems to be not that well known. I was always much more confused by the straight leg of the Muay Thai roundhouse kick. Great explanation of all the details though and my guess is you could go even deeper. Very nice 👍

[@AlejoProductions]

Guess it depends who teaches the technique. My muay thai coach always taught us the round house to the body as a weapon to be used liked this. While instead kickboxing and karate snapped the kick, more straight as you said.

[@ryusuikarate]

@@AlejoProductions That's probably it. I only know the straight leg version from Muay Thai but that's from videos (Lawrence Kenshin has some very good ones). So that's where my Muay Thai impressions are from. I train in a very small karate style and we do lots of things differently than the more widely known styles such as Shotokan. This shows how important good teachers are I think. 👍

[@AceDonMcGun]

That's a technique we would use in cqc training. Really disrupts the opponent's balance both offensively and defensively

[@nacktheslayer9882]

that back up switch roundhouse is kinda like what we call a pada chagi in taekwondo

[@kaijiex3]

Kinda reminds me of Buakaw during the k1 period where he would use his lead round house to stop boxers in their tracks

[@curryman3628]

Always was taught that the switch kick was a counter for aggressive opponents, not something to pursue an opponent with

[@ivanrpribeiro5725]

This way of throwing the kick is also a good way to practice turning the hips (instead of kicking just with the legs)

[@justaname935]

i love all these collaborative videos! Hard2hurt can i please please get your opinion- do you think getting good at supine guard and shin to shin takedowns etc are a waste of time for mma?

[@kudoista]

I didn't realize that this concept wasn't widely known. Never kick with your leg totally straight. That's just asking to be countered. To say you don't like switch kicking is like saying "I don't understand muay thai kicking technique.''😅I guess this is a good illustration of one of the differences between Muay Thai and watered down kick boxing. Gabriel is someone who understands Muay Thai technique but isn't bound by it, and is able to absorb and adapt the best of everything into his own unique style. Watch this guy and learn. He's one of the best MA KZbinrs out there at the moment.