Lead Side Knee
Knees · Lead side (Orthodox left, Southpaw right)
Curving lead knee that arcs around into the ribs or thigh, usually from the clinch.
How to throw it
From the clinch, arc the lead knee around the side rather than straight up, curving it into the ribs or thigh. Twist the hip over and point the knee across the body so the strike carves in from an angle, and use your grip on the neck or arm to pull the target onto it. Stay tall through the spine and keep your posture over your base so you are not pulled off balance.
When to use it
Use it in the clinch when the opponent covers the centre line and you need to hook a knee around their frame into the body or thigh. The curving path lets you attack the open side that a straight knee cannot reach.
Common mistakes
- Throwing it straight up the middle instead of curving it, so it just collides with the guard
- Failing to twist the hip over, which leaves the knee weak and short
- Losing the clinch grip so the opponent slides off the angle before the knee lands