The Best Kick for Beginners to Focus On in Kickboxing, MMA and Muay Thai

[@hard2hurt]

Question for Viewers: Your lead leg sucks. Go practice with it.

[@edvonschleck6170]

Dayum such great wisdom lol

[@srchoy]

Jeopardy type answer. What is the lead leg?

[@Rage3511]

I shall

[@gio5275]

Yes it suck, happy birthday by the way

[@anonvi8967]

Affirmative

[@fighttips]

Happy birthday, coach! Agreed on the lead leg, especially with closed stance.

[@TheFightBible]

@hard2hurt are we birthday buddies?

[@Jargleman]

Shane fazen up in here

[@nickarnold1622]

Mike liking the pendulum kick and seth not liking it is the most backwards thing ever lol

[@esidegaming5546]

@Schöner Albtraum niceee 😭😅

[@simplymax2125]

I would have expected seth to love that kick. Now i’m just like “wtf happened to cause this big of a mishap?!”

[@JohnM-og5rt]

This feels like the martial arts version of breaking the magicians code.

[@hard2hurt]

Yeah Cliff is old school he doesn't believe in doing this.

[@superfetus795]

@@hard2hurt please dont stop I need this lol

[@usmcplu]

I am SO frickin' glad you addressed the left (or I guess less dominant for most) leg and its propensity to suck. You very lightly touched on the topic a couple videos ago, but this video drove it home. I just started incorporating leg work on my heavy bag. I feel like I can ax a human or large wild animal in half with my right (dominant). When I executed a kick with my left leg, I found it might not even be connected to my nervous system or brain AT ALL. I'm relieved to hear it sucks. Here's the plan; get a gnarly prosthetic left leg with spikes and jagged, bright Olight flashlights attached. You want to talk about "hard to hurt?!" Can't hurt a prosthetic, especially if you're blind. Edit: Commented before end of video. Happy Birthday Icy Mike.

[@hard2hurt]

If I ever lose a limb best believe I'm gonna have weapons mounted on my prosthetic.

[@pie9667]

bit ironic that your tree trunks are the ones doing the chopping

[@Thiago-lg8sp]

nice

[@danedavidson]

As a grappler getting into MMA (many many moons ago) I noticed Dan Henderson would use a left leg low kick into overhand right and even if he missed the overhand he was close enough to get chest contact and clinch. I found it effective as a shorter grappler to close the distance on a taller kickboxer type.

[@jacobstewart2235]

Right-handed but weirdly left-footed my whole life. Lead kicks are my bread and butter.

[@Ingeb91]

I'm the opposite. Southpaw with a strong right leg. Left handed, always used my right for free kicks in soccer. And it's true, people really do give you the cross all day when you hit them with a lead leg head kick.

[@HeavyHardDrive]

Oh man, 40. You're officially an old wise man

[@viderim5694]

Cit Firas Zahabi

[@nickarnold1622]

Me in the beginning of the video: yeah mike can use that lead leg in sparring but I bet it's not super heavy on the bag. Me later in the video watching mike really smack the bag with his lead leg with no step: shit

[@hard2hurt]

Yeah it is a shame I didn't get into this kick more until after I was done fighting. Cliff made his kickboxing career off of it and he was always dangerous in sparring with it so I wanted to be more like him and put a lot of time in on it.

[@nickarnold1622]

@@hard2hurt well now I wanna be like you so I'll put more time into mine lol

[@MadDogXami]

coming from Savate, that was my bread and butter. when i joined a MT gym, they thought it was some kind of sorcery

[@weefunkster]

I've been doing savate for a few months. Hoo lee fuck it is so underrated.

[@MadDogXami]

@@weefunkster indeed! the emphasis on movement, the distance management, the focus on technical proficiency...

[@weefunkster]

@@MadDogXami i have my first fight next month. I am going to do this mixup until it stops working then box and chasse bas non stop ;)

[@nickarnold1622]

Happy birthday dude!

[@BlacK40k]

You just turned 40? I thought you were already in your mid 40's because Sensei Seth is in his late 30's.

[@TheAceOfSpadezz]

Bro same!

[@letsgojake.4078]

Seth just looks young. Still has a baby face.

[@ryanliu494]

Seth is like 26

[@burt2800]

@@ryanliu494 That's what I thought but are you sure?

[@letsgojake.4078]

Hes 37

[@lucas9751]

Im right handed and left foot dominant so the right hand to lead left kick has always felt like a cheat code for me.

[@arandompersonlol1202]

dude same! except for me my hands are equally good

[@lucas9751]

@@arandompersonlol1202 Yeah I'm fairly ambidextrous as well. I wonder if it comes with the territory because I've never met someone else who's like that.

[@mohanad0408]

I so envy you lol

[@martialartsvocationalschoo3319]

"Its a f..ing leg" made my day. :)

[@pcport2698]

Happy birthday, Mike! Thanks for keeping us company during quarantine

[@whatever6502]

:0 Happi birthday! Ps. you should do a video examining walking sticks as self defense weapons.

[@ayotamquam9519]

Lol

[@loxxkingdreddy]

😂😂😂

[@lunafreed]

Hidden swords on walking sticks

[@rottennnnbbbb]

Happy Birthday, Icy Mike! also 10:13 scared me, man. Thought my phone was possessed or some shit, jesus

[@Snugglez93]

I'm glad I'm not the only one lol

[@Smokeyxz]

That’s the power of the new gloves!

[@jordannaphaivong6925]

I had told my google assistant something and I kid you not, at the same time, I heard the noise

[@comfortablesharpshooter3419]

Thank you so much Mike! I have been Training Muay Thai for 3 weeks now and have been avoiding even looking at my lead leg. Now I spent 15 minutes throwing Lead leg kicks in my bedroom and they feel great! (Not that they are, but they feel good, haha) I love what you are doing, especially for newcomers to fighting like myself. Much love from Germany

[@backwardscapguy1476]

When I started karate, I got really good with my lead leg. Then I switched to Muay Thai and got caught up on focusing on the rear leg kick. It was only recently that I said screw it and went back to throwing my lead more.

[@jeffismywaifu4093]

Well, how's it going with it on sparring?

[@skyfise3054]

hahaha this is exactly what i did too! my lead is also stronger than my rear, much more flexible too 😅

[@TripleEightss]

why do people keep saying muay thai is rear leg focused. they value both equally. watch a buakaw fight and that man is all lead leg.

[@backwardscapguy1476]

@@jeffismywaifu4093 Pretty good actually. My opponents are looking for the switch and if you do it right, you can throw the kick without them noticing.

[@backwardscapguy1476]

@@yarinelmaliach5891 I definitely do both. There’s definitely a place for switches and i love a solid rear kick but I also like having the lead leg be a trick up my sleeve.

[@carlosfuneraal]

Happy 40th yo !

[@CrypticCrisp]

I once lead leg kicked the head off a bull

[@RFG012]

Nice

[@CrypticCrisp]

@@RFG012 Thanks, since then many bigger mammals have been beheaded

[@jordanfrancisco27]

Happy birthday Icy Mike! ✊✊✊

[@saturdaynight7649]

Happy birthday Mikey! Bless you for even more content on how to frustrate sparring partners

[@Smokeyxz]

Happy 40th man. You teach and make me laugh more than you know. Appreciate it brother.

[@joshuabaker1616]

You're the man for putting real technical content like this out here for free- much love and respect

[@Jedi_Jed]

This was the best your birthday I've ever had. Thank you for the wonderful gift. Congrats on making it to 40 with everything intact.

[@hard2hurt]

lol "best your birthday"

[@Skyhex]

Happy birthday Mike! i wanted to thank you because of you and your older videos, my lead hook and lead kick are actually better than my other side and i feel really comfortable using them, this is mostly because you insisted on it being more difficult and that it required more training and practice to develop.

[@hard2hurt]

That is so awesome to hear.

[@Skyhex]

@@hard2hurt I think the praise is deserved after all your hard work, what you have been teaching has helped me a lot to improve as a martial artist and to have fun too!

[@michaelpayne9049]

Happy birthday Mike

[@edvonschleck6170]

Yooo, Icy Mike and my wee boy Cliff. Hope both of you have a great day and happy birthday I guess. ❤🍻🔥

[@notoriousquinnb]

Happy 40th Icy Mike! Thanks for doing what you do

[@BallBatteryReligion]

Happy birthday Scrubby Shaolin Mike. Easily my favorite martial arts and shit talking channel on KZbin.

[@Ilovevidgames123]

Happy Birthday, Icy Mike!

[@KungFuTweety1]

Happy birthday icy Mike ...we share the same birthday! Congratulations wishing you a great year ahead! Thanks for all the videos!

[@ydoknnyl1369]

Happy birthday man! Your channel is badass and I love your workout videos!

[@KennyKenKin]

I am an assistant coach in our gym for the kids muay thai class and that kick was actually the technique of the month (jab, cross, lead leg hook kick). All of the kids hate doing it because most of them suck at it. I tell em that most of the adults cant throw this kick very well either but that is why we work on it. If it was easy you'd know how to do it well already. Good thing is all of the coaches have been made to train that kick too cuz we cant tell the kids to do it if ours are completely trash. And yes the rear leg pivot is the most integral part of the kick. I try to get em to see that you have to turn and stick your butt out for it to be a good kick. Doesn't matter if it is lead leg or rear leg. Either way, good information. I am sending this video to my Kru lol.

[@loganiinternet3201]

Couldn’t agree more. Even having decent lead leg attacks gives you a lot of advantages in kickboxing. Would highly recommend kickboxers train with karate ka or other martial arts students who use a lot of lead leg kicks and punches

[@OdysseusLaerte]

With more than a year late, happy birthday! Thank you for sharing these training tips! They are very useful!

[@The31st]

I also like the lead kick when exiting close or clinch range. From clinch range just take one step back with the rear leg and lean onto it as you throw the lead leg head kick. People just aren’t expecting it.

[@paulthemediacreator]

Happy Birthday Mike, thanks for posting!

[@Merrick]

Our national kickboxing team's program had 6 basic combos (based on what the Russians were doing to win) that everyone had to do a lot. Combo #1: Jab, Cross, Lead leg round kick

[@simplyoutplayed634]

Also Alexander Volkonovski has excellent Lead leg kicks!

[@MajkiMoo]

Happy bday, Icy Mike!

[@lawngjawn9094]

Happy Bday Icy Mike... Love ya brother

[@ya-cv8jg]

for your advanced version of this you could add the question mark lead kick (the teep faint into high kick) to this

[@AllKindsOfWays]

His so right. Try this in class and work really good

[@PhreekeeProductions]

Happy birthday Icyyy! Keep up the great content! It keeps getting better.

[@manuelzapata1192]

Happy Birthday Mike

[@trinidaddy]

Mike's favorite combo is coincidentally my go to combo in ufc 4 lmao

[@ilike2filmstuff786]

Happy birthday Mike!

[@sixstringrevolver6742]

Happy Birthday Icy Mike! Still hard to hurt at 40! Keep up the great work! Love the channel!

[@thepaladin7816]

Good info regarding the lead leg! I would agree that this is helpful for damage over time and combos, which is underutilized🤘 I will remember to train my lead leg more!

[@Kamingo170]

Funny how in sparring today I was just realizing this exact thing 😂

[@honestlee9921]

You guys got a good synergy going cliff is a good guy

[@vinnyzato]

thanks for the info and happy birthday coach ice

[@momsbasementmma4842]

Thanks Mike! Happy birthday

[@bucco488]

Very helpful tips as always, Happy Birthday IcyMike!

[@blackpurple9163]

Lead leg kick is one of the fastest way to setup the power shots imo, the opponents will be focused on the kick and since it's closer it'll be fast so they'll be anxious about it and the power shots will seem like another part of the combo and not like the final shot

[@brettutley6041]

this is the best midget mma channel on youtube

[@mariuszsz5986]

Happy birthday Mike 🎂

[@timhacker2772]

I'm right handed and left footed, and having drilled this for a while can definitely confirm a dexterous lead leg can make a world of difference. Really opens up a variety of unusual attacks.

[@RebelSAT]

Happy birthday and thank you very much!🙏🏼🎂

[@kiddrummeremac96]

I thought i was working on my lead kick a lot but this video has shown me otherwise. Thanks for the video guys!

[@andib.1421]

Happy Birthday. Keep up the good work. Thx

[@patzamudio]

Thanks again. I actually prefer the lead leg kick for quickness. Yes, and that bait motion! There's not a gym near me to actually train these techniques with humans, so I have no evidence that my lead kicks actually hurt and it is refreshing to hear you confirm that they likely are effective. I use that cheap step to gain space, but I think it's really the pendulum kick you show next. In case of this, I think it's important to point out (as far as the knee) that you are lifting your heal and are on your toes, which allows a little give in the twist/turn motion. A planted foot requires a very mobile ankle to spare the knee. Gonna go work that cross/lead kick combo now. ✌

[@derekvandenburg6689]

Happy Birthday coach. The 1st kick I learned and teach is the front kick. And, I love the lead keg kicking..

[@10INCHCRUSHER]

Wanderie Silva in Pride taught the power of the lead leg.

[@allyourbasearebelongtous2191]

14:10 Mike's new nickname... Twilight Mike.. Because he sparkles.

[@dimauncoleman1251]

Happy Birthday Icy Mike. Keep up the quality content, peace and love

[@SemperFi_EDC_Guy]

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY MIKE!!!

[@gotyobackbro5781]

Happy Birthday bro. Thanks for all that you do to keep us entertained.

[@Gabriel-cg5sm]

thanks for the advice, and happy birthday coach

[@mespar_3008]

This reminds me of my taekwondo class 🤔 nice vid as always, keep rocking and happy birthday

[@Jazzman-bj9fq]

This is spot on stuff. I actually watched the Cung Le vs Frank Shamrock fight again and noticed how Le made a point to use alot of lead leg shots throughout the length of the fight. Sometimes you're thinking "Why is he even doing these? They aren't hurting him, no power, blah, blah, blah..." but in actuality, you could see those kicks taking a toll on Shamrock and a few times Shamrock was coming in for an attack and that teap kick impaled him and ultimately Le's head kicks (actually got him in the neck one good time) ended the fight, although Shamrock claims his right elbow got broken and that stopped the fight for him but I would beg to differ on that one. Front lead kicks, good!!!

[@Ottepeg89]

Nice! I've bee doing the lead leg to cross (or overhand) for a while now. Definitely a more intermediate combo though as the lead kick gets higher, as for it to be fast you need to have the mobility/flexibility to keep your body as upright as possible.

[@Docinaplane]

I have a student who is right handed but his left leg is better at kicking than his right. Perfect for sparring.

[@hard2hurt]

That's a dangerous combination!

[@Muplau]

Congrats, Level Up !!!

[@v-loss5658]

I’m a fan of using my lead leg because I started with Tae Kwon Do. I will say, the lead leg works and can do some real damage if used the right way. Thanks for addressing full rotation on the support leg during lateral movement. I realized I make that mistake a lot. This is definitely my favorite martial arts/ self defense channel now.

[@ulfhazelcreek8108]

Happy Birthday. And thanks for being a large inspiration for starting to get back into some semblance of fitness.

[@thoughfullylost6241]

Great video something I hadn't thought of before

[@robertmccoy7722]

happy birthday mike!

[@RaMaster]

Happy birthday and thank you.

[@sleepykid156]

It's funny, the first ever experience with kickboxing/Muay Thai was at a JKD concepts gym and for first several months they had the beginners focus on the lead round and lead push kick.

[@OGistayhiPS3]

Thanks for the birthday vid! Much appreciated. :D

[@samwisesammingtonss5488]

Thank you bro! And team!! You have made a successfull orbit around the sun! Happy returns on future endeavors.

[@I_Magni_I]

Happy birthday sir .

[@IrocZIV]

A year younger than me and you've done so much! Thanks for your chanel and happy birthday!

[@tinywongjon]

Thanks for sharing your hard work

[@youtubeaccount3704]

Thank you Michael

[@seedem7861]

I did karate for years, was always taught in orthodox despite being left-handed. As a result, my left leg is far more coordinated than my right. I can kick to the head any time I'd like, no step required. People in my kickboxing/Muay Thai gym always tell me how confusing it is. A negative result of that, though, is that both my right leg and right hand are pretty much worthless.

[@GKJusticar55]

Happy Birthday Icy Boi! Also make a T Shirt with Cliff and the epic quote "It's a fucking leg".

[@derekvandenburg6689]

This was such a well done video I had to watch it a 2nd time. I know icy mike dislikes/jokes about the sidekick, but the front leg sidekick is a fantastic kick to follow up the right hand with. It is usually a guarantee connection to the midsection with your heel. Even if it is not a clean strike it will at the least drive your opponent back and keep them from counter punching after you throw that right hand.

[@ThatJamesGuy88]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

[@jm-um1tx]

Am I the only one who immediatly thought, "Don't let your gloves drop."?

[@Leadfoot_P71]

And he falls over every time he throws the left kick. In Thailand they would say "No stumble! No stumble!"

[@jm-um1tx]

@@Leadfoot_P71 It was a play on words. Because the new gloves are going to "drop". Do you get it?

[@pauljooste787]

This in regards to you "Mike Tyson in MMA" video...I found a fast pendulum lead kick to inner lead thigh is a really fast, accurate, and safe way to close distance. Also keeps them still for a second after as they reset balance. Now I mostly spar taller guys, so when you reset that kick you can drop your lead leg out and forward, and at the same time place a bomb right hand/looping right. Nice combo to close distance and puts you right in the pocket for some Mike Tyson footwork on the angles.

[@Ventus_the_Heathen]

Happy birthday! Big fan of your tricks and tips!

[@jasonborges6701]

Happy bday thanks for our present!

[@wtccominatyaa]

Yo so much game in this video. Cant wait to test these techniques out

[@TheBuakao]

Thanks and happy birthday 😊

[@brauliochavez2231]

dude... thank you... i just realized i was content with my lead leg but bcs i was practicing both, orthodox and southpaw,.... and in southpaw my lead leg is good,... in orthodox... is... like a feet of target.... i hate it so... yeah... practice.