K-1. Kickboxing as a way of life. Сергей Цырульников

of the head from the line of attack by twisting the torso and shifting its center of gravity from one leg to the other in order to avoid an incoming blow. Pulls back and side shifts work great at long distances and are considered a convenient defense against punches and kicks. Clinch in K-1 is characterized as a technique of restraining the opponent, in which the fighter presses tightly against the opponent and wraps his arms around him. The clinch can be used for a variety of purposes: punching and kneeling, defensively to limit the opponent’s mobility, as well as to control the opponent’s position and rest for a while. K-1 requires a combination of proper technique, reaction speed, flexibility, and coordination.

      It is important to understand that an effectively selected defensive action is considered to be one after which the fighter will be able to successfully counterattack the opponent. Regular training and practice of these techniques will help to develop skills and increase the level of defense during fights.

      The sequence of mastering technical actions and techniques in K-1 kickboxing:

      Main stances:

      Stances in kickboxing are a fundamental element that plays a key role in a fighter’s effectiveness. Start with the basic stances in K-1 kickboxing, such as the general attack stance (frontal), the side stance, and the semi-body stance. It is important to position your legs, arms and body correctly for optimal defense and attack from one position or another.

      Basic stance (for right-handers):

      Leg position: Left leg in front, right leg behind. Feet shoulder-width apart.

      Arms: The left arm is in front and slightly bent, the right hand is at the chin.

      Body: Shoulders relaxed, body slightly turned to the right. Head position: Chin down, eyes looking forward.

      For a left-handed kickboxer, the stance is usually right-sided. This means that the right leg is in front and the left leg is behind.

      General Offensive Stance (Frontal): This is the basic stance that a fighter uses to attack and counterattack. In this stance, the kickboxer stands facing the opponent with his feet shoulder-width apart, one leg slightly in front of the other. Arms are raised to protect the face and body. Side stance: In this stance, the fighter stands sideways to the opponent, with one leg in front of the other. In this stance, the fighter is more mobile, which allows him to quickly strike with his front hand and leg. In the side stance, it is convenient to restrain the opponent at a distance.

      Half-Body Stance: This stance is similar to a side stance, but the fighter’s body is turned towards the opponent as in a combat stance. This stance provides good protection and allows you to quickly switch to an attack from a long distance, as well as instantly close the distance.

      Proper positioning of the legs, arms and body is important for optimal defense and attack. Your feet should be shoulder-width apart to ensure stability. Arms should be raised to protect the face and body. The body should be slightly tilted forward to maintain balance and carry out an attack.

      Remember that the effectiveness of using a stance depends on many factors, including the fighter’s physical fitness, fighting style, and strategy. Therefore, it is important to train regularly and experiment with different stances to find the one that best suits you in a particular combat situation.

      Movement in kickboxing plays a key role in creating a tactical advantage and ensuring a smooth transition from defense to attack and back again. Including a variety of techniques such as stepping forward, backward and sideways, shuttle, running in circles, bouncing and bouncing, the kickboxer demonstrates his flexibility, coordination and reaction speed.

      Steps forward allow you to maintain, as well as reduce the distance for punches. Steps back make it possible to move away from dangerous attacks, breaking the distance. Steps to the sides help to avoid direct blows or change the angle of attack. Shuttle, loop runs, bounces, and bounces are more dynamic and complex movements that can be used to confuse an opponent, create corner attacks, or get out of close combat.

      An experienced kickboxer can use these movements to maximum effect, adapting them to the specific situation in the fight and interacting with other elements of his technique, such as punches and defensive actions. Controlled and precise movements help not only to avoid the opponent’s blows, but also to create opportunities for your own attacks, which makes them an important aspect in kickboxing at a professional level.

      “Good coordination and agility of your legs is the main skill that contributes to quick preparation for defense and a successful transition to offensive actions.”

      Defensive actions: there are various methods of defensive actions against the opponent’s blows. This is protection with the body, arms and legs. In addition to teaching technique, the kickboxer must also learn the appropriateness and timeliness of performing the elements of defense in K-1.

      Body protection:

      Sleap: Slope is one of the main methods of defense in K-1 kickboxing. This is moving the torso to the side or backward to avoid any blows from the opponent. Slope requires good coordination and quick reaction.

      Types of Blocking: Blocking is used to soften or completely absorb the opponent’s blows. K-1 kickboxing uses different types of blocks, such as hand blocking, leg blocking, and punch parry. Blocking must be properly combined with dodging and counterattacking.

      Hand protection:

      Hand Blocking: Hand Blocking involves using your hands to block and defend against your opponent’s punches. This can be done by raising the arms up or by cross-touching in front of the head and body.

      Parrying: Parrying is a method of active defense in which the hand is used to deflect or deflect an opponent’s blow to the side. Parrying allows you to react quickly and create opportunities for counterattacks.

      Leg Protection:

      Leg Blocking: Leg Blocking involves using your legs to block your opponent’s kicks. This can be done with a lower leg rest to protect against kicks to the thigh and torso, as well as a foot rest to block the opponent’s leg from kicks at any level.

      It is important to remember that proper defense is a combination of various techniques. Knowing how to properly apply K-1 defense techniques requires not only technical skill, but also the ability to make quick decisions about which defense method to use in a given situation to minimize injury. This requires constant practice and experience during training and competitions.

      Punches: Move on to learning basic punches, including straight punches, in various variations, hook, uppercut, and swing. Explain proper punching technique, including body rotation, shoulder work, and body weight movement for maximum strength and efficiency.

      Straight punch (Jab): This is a punch with the front hand performed in a straight direction from the shoulder. A straight punch is usually quick and is used to measure distance, break opponent’s defense, or prepare for a combination.