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| Man putting on gloves Photo by Bruno Bueno from Pexels |
With a background as a combat infantryman in the U.S. Army, California resident Jason Borba has been an Army combat instructor and currently serves as head MMA trainer at an elite athletic training center. Among the mixed martial arts techniques that Jason Borba emphasizes in his Southern California practice is the head kick, which can be an effective knockout technique.
Traditionally used in fighting styles such as Taekwondo and Muay Thai, the head kick is difficult to land against an agile opponent and requires the proper set up. This often involves a series of feints and baits involving jabs, punches, and leg kicks that keep the opponent in a reactive mode, trying to avoid blows.
At the same time, it is possible to give off deceptive “tells” that provide a false sense of predictability and lull the opponent into complacency. These include taking a look at one's lead leg before kicking, or emitting specific sounds when undertaking different modes of attack.
Mix up the arsenal with strikes to the midsection and legs and establish a powerful but established pattern. If this is working, the opponent will be tensed up and on guard against a lower strike and leave the upper body, including the neck and head, exposed. At a moment when the opponent is off balance, try throwing a near hook in tandem with the kick to disguise it and ensure maximum chance of impact.
