Unlocked: Teep – Front Kick Variation (Patreon)

• LMA Curriculum

I said the teep is like the jab, and like the jab, there are many variations. So you want to mix up your teeps: varying speed, power, direction, and even legs. The most important variation is what's commonly known as the front kick. (Though in LMA, teep, front kick, and push kick are the same kick, and we might use those terms interchangeably). It's equivalent to the up-jab in boxing. Rather than traveling in a straight line, it starts low and ends high. The energy travels up rather than through. Its reach is shorter than the traditional teep, just as the up-jab has a shorter reach than a straight jab. The front kick, like the up-jab, is for those who prefer fighting at a closer range, wanting to draw their opponent in, making them feel safe before popping them.

For many, the front kick variation is their primary teep. (Just as the up-jab is for many jabbers.) Some prefer the front kick because it's faster and harder to catch. Rather than traveling through your opponent, which makes it slower to retract, the front kick returns quickly and doesn't affect your balance as much as the traditional teep. In fact, it's quite dangerous to try and catch a front kick as it removes your hands from your face. It's like trying to catch or parry an uppercut; it just leaves your chin vulnerable.

A traditional pushing teep to the face is meant to embarrass your opponent, which is why it's a grave insult in Thai culture. However, a front kick to the chin will seriously injure your opponent while being easier to execute. This is why front kicking to the chin is avoided in sparring because there's no way to do it lightly. Consequently, some techniques and targets should be avoided during live sparring to prevent serious injury.

Because of its speed, the front kick is better at knocking the wind out of your opponent. However, it doesn't physically push your opponent away. Though it might psychologically deter them. Remember what I said about opening a door vs. kicking a hole in the door? The front kick is more offensive, whereas the teep is more defensive. The front kick is for breaking, not pushing. Even as a novice, you can easily break several boards with a front kick. With a pushing teep or push kick, you might not break any boards but you might push back several people holding those boards.

But offense can become defense. If your opponent feels like you kicked a hole in their stomach, they might back up without you having to push them away. They may also hesitate to charge in again.

The pushing teep and the front kick are easy to conflate, but they do different things. In addition, many first learning the pushing teep turn it into a front kick anyway because the front kick is easier to learn and do. But if you can front kick, that doesn't mean you can push kick. If you can push kick, you can front kick. The front kick won't improve your push kick, but your push kick will improve your front kick (along with all your other kicks). This is why it's important to first master the pushing teep; it's the linchpin.

Exhale with every kick, squeeze your abs and glutes.

Learn more about the Liberation Martial Arts curriculum.

– Sam