Also called Shin block, Leg check, Checking kicks
A check blocks a low or body kick by lifting the shin into its path, so the kick lands on your shin instead of your thigh or ribs. It is the standard kick defence in Muay Thai and kickboxing. A well-timed check can hurt the kicker, and it leaves you balanced to fire a kick straight back.
Satori's coaches are filming every technique, full speed and slow motion from two angles. Until it's up, the diagram shows the movement step by step.
How to do it
- 1Keep some weight on the rear leg so the lead leg is light enough to lift.
- 2As the kick comes, lift the knee and turn it slightly out toward the kick.
- 3Meet the kick with the top of your shin, just below the knee.
- 4Keep the same-side elbow near the knee to cover the ribs, hands up.
- 5Put the foot straight down and answer with your own kick or punch.
- Raising the knee straight forward instead of turning it toward the kick.
- Leaning away from the kick and losing balance.
- Checking late, so the kick lands on the thigh anyway.
Safety: Always wear shin guards for checking drills and keep the kicks slow; shin-on-shin contact hurts even with padding.
Drills
With shin guards on, your partner throws slow low kicks; check each one, set the foot down and return a light low kick of your own.
Legends known for it
c. 1980–1996, 2000–2009We teach it in Striking. A coach will fix the details you can't see yourself. Join now and book your first class for $20, paid online.
