Low Leg Kick in MMA: Everything You Need to Know

by Martial Arts Insider

In this page we will explain what a low leg kick is, the evolution of leg kicks, how effective these kicks have been in the history of MMA, and how to check them.

low leg kick mma

Table of Contents

What is a Low Leg Kick

A low leg kick is a strike to the lower part of the leg, specifically below the knee, and above the ankle. It is commonly referred to as a calf kick.

The low leg kick focuses on a more vulnerable part of the leg, compared to the traditional kick to the thigh.

It strikes close to the top of the shin, where the smaller tibialis muscle doesn't offer the greatest protection to the nerves.

leg kick injury

Evolution of Leg Kicks

Leg kicks in MMA have traditionally been focused towards the thigh of an opponent. It is not only easier to hit, it's a bigger target in general, and you can land it from a distance.

Due to this, MMA fighters have incorporated this into their game seamlessly.

However, in recent years the calf kick has come into the spotlight as a very effective kick.

leg kick mma

Calf kicks on the other hand, you will typically have to get within closer distance in order to land it accurately, which also increases the percentage of you eating a shot from your opponent.

This increases the challenge of incorporating calf kicks into a fighter's game, as the entire goal of a fighter in the striking department is to hit and not get hit.

The calf kick has made waves this year as Dustin Poirier used this to successfully knock out Conor McGregor in their rematch. He was able to land almost at will against McGregor, and by round 2, his leg was completely incapacitated to the point where he could barely put weight on it.

Poirier then took advantage and was able to land clean shots, and eventually knock him out.

calf kick

Effectiveness of Kicks in MMA

Miguel Baeza TKO

These kicks can be so devastating that they can handicap a fighter in under 2 rounds as shown here.

Aftermath - Dustin Poirier vs Conor McGregor

Although we see how devastating these kicks can be during a fight, take a look at how they are afterwards.

McGregor can't even walk without a limp, and this is a man who fought for the Interim Featherweight title with a torn ACL.

Aftermath Jose Aldo vs Urijah Faber

Aldo hit Faber with as many vicious leg kicks that a human being can endure without somehow giving up. Take a look at what Faber's leg looked like afterwards.

 

Checking Calf Kicks in MMA

There is perhaps no better example of a fighter dealing with leg kicks than Jose Aldo. Although he is famous for dishing out the leg kicks over the years, he is also a master at checking them.

 

Taking Weight Off the Lead Leg

Aldo shows that moving your weight off of your lead leg is an effective way to combat the calf kick.

However it has to be in a specific manner, he doesn't lift his leg completely up to do this.

In fact, he actually slightly moves his leg upward and then kicks his leg 'under his knee cap'. What this does is provides minimal impact towards his leg.

An easy way to think about this is think about hitting a planted tree with a baseball bat. Now think about hitting a tree that's dangling, and not planted.

The impact feels much greater when the tree is planted.

Moving the Shin Outwards

Another way to deal with these leg kicks are by moving your shin outwards. By doing this, the opponent throwing the leg kick bears the full impact of the hard shin, rather than the meat of the muscle that they were expecting.

Checking a few of these kicks in this manner will directly affect the person throwing those kicks.

They will throw less leg kicks, as that type of pain is difficult to deal with (and hide).

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