If you’ve ever seen the Muay Thai switch kick in action, then you know just how powerful and fast this type of kick is. It’s an effective attack and it’s definitely something that you’ll want to be a part of your arsenal as you practice Muay Thai.For those that don’t know, the switch kick is a rather basic Muay Thai technique, but it’s not easy to learn and much harder to perfect. To use the switch kick to its maximum efficiency, you’ll have to learn the factors that come into play. For example, you’ll have to master throwing your hips, shoulders and entire body into the kick for maximum power.

To master the switch kick takes years and years of training and even veteran Muay Thai fighters will be the first to tell you that theirs is far from perfect.

It’s a good thing, however, that even if you can’t perfect it, it still packs quite a punch. And, these basic tips below will help make sure that your switch kick will be as efficient and as powerful as it can be.

• Switch your feet as fast as you can. Never give your opponent a chance to guess what you’re planning and defend your kicks.
• It’s not just about your feet. Your hips are also important in landing the perfect switch kick. If you don’t switch your hips along with your feet, your switch kick won’t land with as much power.
• Stay flat. Many fighters make the mistake of jumping when switching, so their eye level are no longer the same. Try to avoid doing so. If you don’t, your opponent may notice the switch and make it easier to defend from it.
• Use the balls of your feet. After landing the switch, make sure to add a bit more power and hip movement by driving off the balls of your feet.
• Dance. Not a literal dance. Rather, what’s meant by this is to let loose when landing your switch kick. Get your hips into the mix and try to make sure that your legs aren’t stiff.
• Open up your hips. The best way to open up your hips is to add a swinging motion of the arms on the same side of the kick.
• Defend yourself. The switch kick doesn’t always ensure a knockout, so make sure that you defend yourself while doing so. The best way to do this is to keep the opposite side hand up at all times.

Practice makes perfect when it comes to the basic switch kick. Once you have a grasp of its most basic concepts, you’ll be using the switch kick as you go to strike in your succeeding sparring sessions or even your next fight!

• Follow through. Make sure to kick through your opponent, even if it means doing a full 360 if you miss.