Muay Thai - How to sweep the leg

When it comes to Muay Thai combinations, there is an unlimited number of possibilities you can create. Most high-level fighters don’t think about combinations, they simply react to what their opponent gives them. Learning combinations helps you train your brain to string together more than one strike.

Through trial and error, you will learn what strikes work well in sequence, and which ones don’t. This is something that happens through sparring and competition.

Basic Leg Kick Sweep

When you catch your opponent’s leg there is several different things you can do. Some people like striking right away, while others prefer to strike and then try to throw their opponent off balance. Whatever techniques you use, it is important that you are fast.

Your opponent isn’t going to let you sit there and do anything you want. They are going to strike you if you hold their leg forever. By making your move right after you grab their leg, you won’t give them a lot of time to react to your strike.

Sweeping your opponent on the ground is one of the most common techniques to use after you catch their leg. There are many different sweeps you can use, and in this video below Petchboonchu demonstrates one you can use following a knee strike.

Keys to the Sweep

When you catch your opponent’s leg, it is important that you have a good hold and lift your arm up. This will make it difficult to slip their leg out of position. If you have a weak grip on their leg you won’t be able to throw them off balance with the sweep.

After you have caught your opponent’s leg, keep holding the leg and come in for a knee strike. Following the knee strike, grab the back of your opponent’s head and sweep them off balance.

A good grip around your opponent’s neck will help you control them in the fight. If you don’t have a good grip, you won’t be able to move them with the throw.

This technique is one of the many combinations you can use when you catch your opponent’s leg. Practice it with a partner at a slow speed, then you can try to use it when you are sparring.

Once you use this technique regularly in sparring, it will be something you don’t have to think about in the future.