Lead Jumping Knee

How to throw it

Leap upward and drive the lead knee up through the target at the peak of the jump, snapping the toe down and thrusting the hips forward. Use the arms to reach for the head or throw them for height, and land balanced with your guard reset. On the bag it doubles as conditioning, so climb with each rep rather than falling into the pad.

When to use it

Reach for it when an opponent is retreating or ducking and you want to close a gap with a rising knee, or use it on the bag to build explosive leg drive. It is high risk in a fight, so pick your moment against a hurt or backpedalling opponent.

Common mistakes

• Jumping forward rather than up, which turns the knee into a lunge with no height
• Dropping the hands on the leap and landing exposed
• Failing to snap the toe down and thrust the hips, so the knee lands flat and weak