4 Ways to CATCH the Muay Thai Kick

In this video, we break down one of the most valuable tools for Muay Thai practitioners—the kick catch. Whether you’re new to the art or sharpening advanced skills, understanding how to control your opponent’s kicks can shift the fight in your favor.

The drill shown is all about building rhythm and muscle memory, not about winning. It’s partner work designed to create fluid, reactive movement while exploring four core types of kick catches from our current kicking development curriculum:

🔹 Catch A: Soft Ride/Hard Ride

This is the classic catch. Your arm hooks around the opponent’s leg, using the blade of your forearm for maximum control. The thumb position is key—drive it in to keep the leg locked in place and make it tough for your opponent to pull away.

🔹 Catch B: Hard Catch with Shelf

In situations where the kick comes fast and strong, you might need to block hard and use a “shelf” to secure the leg. From here, you can off-balance your opponent or simply neutralize the strike.

🔹 Catch C: Catch, Transition and Shelf

This version is more situational. After blocking the kick, you hook the opponent’s heel and transition the leg across your body. It sets up sweeps and gives you control over their base.

🔹 Catch D: Underhook and Hollow

This is a favorite for many. You trap the Achilles and scoop the leg under, hollowing your body for a smooth transition. It opens up a range of follow-ups like sweeps or counters.

🎯 Why These Drills Matter

It’s not just about learning the mechanics. These drills help you build rhythm with a partner, like a dance. You learn to feel your partner’s timing, flow, and intent—key traits for sparring and real fights. As the video shows, this practice helps you stay calm under pressure and lets technique lead the way, not brute force.

Ready to put this into practice?
There’s no substitute for live coaching and real-time feedback. If you’re ready to start—or take your training to the next level—give us a call at 503-235-3435 to schedule your free private lesson.

And here’s the kicker (pun intended)—new members get 30 days of free training. Let’s get it!

Train hard. Stay humble. See you soon.