Push Kick (Teep)

The MMA jab of kicks

The push kick — known in Muay Thai as the teep — is a linear front kick where the kicking foot pushes the opponent away rather than striking through them. It is the long-range equivalent of the jab: a distance-control weapon that scores points, disrupts the opponent's rhythm, and sets up follow-up strikes without committing to a high-risk exchange.

In MMA, the push kick is especially valuable because it stops a forward pressure fighter from closing into clinch and takedown range. A well-timed teep to the hips can stand a 350-lb wrestler up mid-shot and convert a takedown attempt into a stuffed shot.

Two main targets

• Body push kick: aimed at the solar plexus, sternum, or hip bone. Pushes the opponent backward, drains the cardio if accumulated, and sets up follow-up offense as the opponent resets.
• Front-leg push kick to the thigh: aimed at the lead quad, used to disrupt the opponent's base and slow their forward pressure. Different from the round-kick leg attack — the push kick is linear, not arcing.

Mechanics

From an orthodox stance, lead-leg teep to the body:

• Lift the knee: bring the lead knee up to chest height, foot dorsiflexed.
• Extend the leg: push the foot straight out from the knee, contact made with the ball of the foot or the heel.
• Hip drive: rotate the support leg's hip forward as the kick extends, adding push power.
• Snap back: pull the foot back to the chambered knee position immediately to avoid the catch and to reset for follow-up.

The rear-leg teep follows the same mechanics but generates more power through the full hip rotation. The trade-off is speed — the rear-leg teep is slower and more telegraphed than the lead-leg version.

What the push kick is for

• Distance management: the longest-reaching strike in MMA. Keeps an opponent at range and prevents them from setting up their own offense.
• Takedown defense: a perfectly timed teep to the chest or shoulders as the opponent shoots stands them straight up.
• Setup for round kicks: a push kick that lands forces the opponent to absorb impact and reset. The follow-up round kick to the body or head lands while they're still recovering.
• Pressure breaker: a fighter being walked down can throw push kicks to stop the aggression and create space to reset.

Variations

• Stomp kick / oblique kick: a downward angle teep aimed at the opponent's knee or upper shin. Disrupts their base. Jon Jones' signature strike at light heavyweight.
• Hip teep: aimed at the opponent's hip bone. Less damage but pushes them back easily and is harder to catch than a body-center teep.
• Switch-step teep: stance switch immediately before the teep, generating extra power.
• Side teep: angled across the body rather than straight forward; lands on the floating ribs or the inside of the lead shoulder.

Defense

• Parry: redirect the kicking foot down and to the side with the lead hand. Opens up the opponent for a follow-up rear hand.
• Catch and sweep: scoop the teep with the lead hand or both hands, then sweep the support leg out. A high-skill grappling response.
• Absorb-and-counter: take the teep on the hip bone (not the solar plexus) and immediately step in with a punch combination. Risky but effective if the teep wasn't fully loaded.
• Side-step: angle the body offline so the teep passes through empty space.

Common errors

• Pushing rather than snapping: a teep that doesn't snap back is a teep waiting to be caught. Recover fast.
• Kicking with a soft foot: dorsiflex the foot — toes pulled back — to land on the ball of the foot. A relaxed foot lands toes-first and risks breaking them.
• Standing tall on the support leg: keep a soft bend in the support knee for balance and follow-up.
• Targeting too high: a teep above the chest is easy to catch and convert to a takedown. Aim for the solar plexus or below.

Exemplified by

• Jon Jones — oblique kick variations that have defined his light heavyweight game.
• Israel Adesanya — the lead-leg teep he uses to keep opponents at range while he sets up his rear-hand counter.
• Anderson Silva — the body teep that he used to set up the rear cross and the front-kick KO.
• Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson — karate-stance push kicks that have defined his long-range welterweight game.

Drills

• Long Thai pad rounds: 3 × 3 min of teep-only work, alternating lead and rear leg.
• Distance partner drill: partner walks forward; you maintain distance with teeps only, scoring with foot-on-pad contact.
• Heavy bag teep: 50 teeps per leg per round, focusing on snap-back recovery.
• Catch-and-counter drill: partner teeps slowly; you catch and execute a single-leg or trip takedown.