1. Stance (Muay Thai Guard/Ready Position)

• Foot Position:
  Begin in your Muay Thai stance, with your left foot forward (orthodox stance). Your feet should be shoulder-width apart, and your weight should be distributed on the balls of your feet for mobility.
• Knees and Hips:
  Keep your knees slightly bent to maintain balance and readiness for movement. Your hips should stay aligned with your center of gravity and relaxed to allow fluid motion.
• Hands/Guard:
  • Your lead hand (left) stays near your chin to protect your face.
  • Your rear hand (right) stays high and ready to protect your jaw or extend slightly for balance as you kick.

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2. Preparation (Chambering the Kick)

• Target Selection:
  The cut kick targets your opponent’s lead leg, focusing on the inner or outer thigh. Visualize the exact spot to strike for maximum impact.
• Weight Shift:
  Shift your weight onto your left foot (lead leg) to prepare your right leg for the kick. This weight transfer is crucial for balance and generating power.
• Rear Leg Position:
  Lift your right leg slightly off the ground, bending the knee to chamber the kick. Keep your shin ready to slice horizontally through the target.

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3. Executing the Right Cut Kick (The Strike)

1. Step 1 – Lift and Chamber:
   Raise your right leg by bending your knee. Ensure the shin is aligned with your target as you prepare to strike.
2. Step 2 – Extend and Strike:
   • Extend your right leg in a swift, sweeping motion toward your opponent’s lead leg.
   • Strike with the lower part of your shin for maximum impact and durability. Avoid hitting with the foot, as this can reduce power and increase injury risk.
3. Step 3 – Upper Body Control:
   • Rotate your upper body slightly to the left as you throw the kick.
   • Extend your left hand outward for balance, while keeping your right hand up to guard your chin.
4. Step 4 – Angle and Momentum:
   Swing your leg in a horizontal motion to “cut” through the opponent’s lead leg. Avoid kicking upward; instead, focus on a slicing trajectory.
5. Step 5 – Follow Through:
   Allow your kick to follow through naturally after connecting with the target. Maintain control to avoid overcommitting or losing balance.

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4. Footwork and Recovery

1. Recoil the Leg:
   After delivering the kick, quickly pull your right leg back to your starting stance. This minimizes the risk of counterattacks and prepares you for further action.
2. Pivot and Reset:
   Use your left foot (pivoting foot) to help you reset your stance. Rotate it slightly outward during the kick to enhance hip rotation, then return to a balanced position.
3. Step or Slide Back:
   Depending on the range and situation, step back slightly to reset your stance or adjust positioning for follow-up techniques.

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5. Defensive Positioning and Protection

1. Guard Maintenance:
   Keep your lead hand (left) high to protect your face, and your rear hand (right) should return quickly after balancing. Never drop both hands while kicking.
2. Head Positioning:
   Tilt your head slightly away from the opponent during the kick. This minimizes the chance of being hit by a counterpunch.
3. Body Alignment:
   Stay compact and avoid leaning too far forward during the kick, as this can leave you vulnerable to sweeps or counters.

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6. Follow-Up and Recovery

1. Immediate Return to Guard:
   After the kick lands (or misses), bring both hands back into your defensive guard. This ensures readiness for counters or follow-up attacks.
2. Set-Up for Combinations:
   The right cut kick is an effective setup for combinations. For example:
   • Follow with a left jab or right cross to pressure your opponent.
   • Transition into a left round kick or left hook to continue the assault.
3. Repositioning:
   Adjust your stance and distance to maintain control of the fight, ensuring you’re always balanced and ready for the next move.

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7. Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Improper Targeting:
   Always aim for the lead leg, either the inner or outer thigh. Missing the target reduces the kick’s impact and may leave you off balance.
2. Dropping Hands:
   Avoid lowering both hands during the kick, as this creates openings for your opponent to counter.
3. Overcommitting:
   Don’t throw the kick with excessive force or lean too far forward, as this can compromise your balance and make you vulnerable to counters.
4. Lack of Pivot:
   Failing to pivot your lead foot reduces hip rotation, which limits the power of your kick and disrupts your stance.
5. Striking with the Foot:
   Focus on connecting with the shin rather than the foot, as the shin delivers more power and reduces injury risk.

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8. Advanced Concepts

1. Disguising the Kick:
   Use a feint, such as a jab or a body movement, to distract your opponent before throwing the right cut kick.
2. Changing Angles:
   Depending on the opponent’s stance, adjust your kick angle to target the inner thigh (inside leg kick) or outer thigh (outside leg kick).
3. Combination Play:
   After the kick, flow into other techniques like:
   • A left hook to the head.
   • A step-in elbow for close-range pressure.
4. Using the Kick as a Counter:
   When an opponent advances, throw the right cut kick to disrupt their movement and force them off balance.

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Conclusion

The Right Cut Kick is a powerful and strategic tool in Muay Thai, ideal for targeting an opponent’s lead leg to disrupt their balance and mobility. Mastery of the technique requires proper weight transfer, shin placement, and hip rotation. By combining the kick with precise footwork and follow-up attacks, you can integrate it effectively into your offensive and defensive strategies.

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