Johnny "Superfoot" Davis

Champion
COMBINATION TIPS

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Kickboxing
THE ART OF COMBINATIONS
Excerpts from Mr. Davis' Official IKF Kickboxing Training Manual.

We've discussed the importance of obtaining good Boxing and Kicking skills. It's important to understand how they work together in order to make you a successful kick boxer. This is one of the toughest challenges for many in the sport. I've seen good kickers and boxers but very few of those who process a combination of the two. The most effective fighters will be those that can put both together to develop a strong arsenal.

Back in the 80's when kick boxing was at a peak on ESPN TV, I noticed most of the fighters lacked a balance of boxing and kicking skills. Already noted as a very good kicker, I began to work on my boxing to give me more leverage in fights. My fights became easier. Its one thing to have two weapons (kicks or punches) coming at you, but its even harder to evade four (hands and feet). It's difficult for your opponent to protect all of these areas at once.... granted, for the most part only one will land at a time. With enough practice, your kick boxing combinations will be so fluent you are sure to connect with the kick or punch.

It will take many drills to perfect the art of kicking and boxing with accurate combinations, speed, and power. One of the keys is to break the combo' down into two, three, and four techniques. Also, Remember this - After you kick, your hands should be in a position to land strong punches as soon as your foot touches the floor. After you punch, your body should be in a position to throw a kick. You must think this way in the gym, on the bag, mitts, or technical sparring. This mental and physical approach in the gym will make your combinations second nature in the ring.

In closing, I want to make this point clear. It's not necessary to throw a kick after each punch to be a good kick boxer. A good kick boxer knows when to throw a punch or a kick. Actually, I believe that one should do more boxing because the majority of knockout areas are located above the waist and closest to the hands. The kick should be thrown only when appropriate and in proper range. I fought an opponent from China Grove, North Carolina. In the first round of our match, I got him into trouble and landed twenty "Sugar Ray Leonard" type punches before the kick was on the way. Fortunately for him, the referee stopped the fight. I threw so many punches because he was on the ropes in a way that did not warrant interrupting my success with the punches. So, I finished him with the hands. I've made the mistake before when an opponent was going down from punches and tried to land a kick and they got away. I often wonder what would have happened if I would have continued to punch. So, the sooner you learn when is the right time to punch or kick, the sooner you will become a complete Kick Boxer.

Additional Tips:

  • Keep chin down between techniques
    • Make a habit of keeping your chin tucked comfortably, give as much forehead to your opponent as possible. The forehead takes a better blow than the chin (Note: you don't want to take any unnecessary blows, always block as much as you can)
  • Keep guard up when kicking or punching.
    • This is a mistake made by a lot of fighters. Use the mirror to assure your guard is up at all times, particularly while in striking range.
  • Eliminate as much time and distance between each technique as possible.....Keep about a half beat between each tech. but complete each with proper form.
  • Throw tech. high and low.
    • Keep your opponent thinking. Throw techniques to the head and body then to the body and head. Mix them up!
  • Don't Blink your eyes between techniques.
    • Closing your eyes in the middle of a technique can cost you valuable opportunities for a knockout or could cause you to get knocked out! A great time to practice keeping your eyes open is during slower Technical Sparring as mentioned later in this manual.
  • Finish the combination, no matter what!
    • One of the best ways to stop a combination is to throw a technique in the middle of your opponents tech. This will throw off their rhythm. so, be prepared for your opponent to throw interrupting techniques.
  • Great Kick Boxing Combinations:
    • Note: it's always a good habit to jab going going in and hook punch coming out of clinches.
    • From fighting position- orthodox (left side forward)
      1. (a) Lead leg front kick to body- cross to head- left hook to head.
      2. (a) Left jab / left lead leg side kick to body (b) right cross to head (c) as you pull out, round to head.
      3. (a) double left jab to face (b) cross to head (c) hook to to body (d) back leg round kick to head. Note: Dropped knee in some cases will add power to the round kick. I recommend that knee should aim directly at target)
      4. (a) left jab / left hook kick to head / round kick to head (b) right cross (c) left uppercut / hook to body- turn same hook over to head. (d) back leg push front kick to face (best used when opponent is on the ropes).
  • "FOR SHOW" COMBINATION
    1. (a) Lead left leg round kick to body (b) turnover round kick to head (c) left jab to face (d) cross to head.
    2. (a) Lead left lead leg side kick to ribs (b) left hook kick to back of head (c) right cross (d) followed by left hook punch to head (sidekick serves as jab to get inside).
    3. (a) Left jab to head (b) left leg side kick to the body (c) hook/round kick to the head (d) step around jab/cross to head (e) left leg round kick to the head or the body. (best while opponent on the ropes)
    4. (a) four short jab and crosses inside punches to head in rapid fire (b) step out (along ropes) with round kick to the head ( best while opponents on ropes)
    5. (a) Left jab to face (b) back right leg round kick to the head (c) left leg spinning back kick to the body (d) right cross to the head (e) hook punch to the head (f) short back leg front kick to the body.

You will quickly discover that the key to being a good kick boxer is just that...having good kicking and boxing skills that work together. Choose the aforementioned techniques, or create your own combinations. Drill with them often using shadow kick boxing as well as technical sparring. (mentioned later in this manual) Imagine the direction and reaction of an opponent after the first technique. Know when to kick and when to box. Learn your proper distance when kicking and, or boxing. Drill with a variety of combinations on the bag, mitts, and technical sparring. You will be astonished as to how your Kick Boxing combinations will come together in a fight! Let's get ready to Kick-AAAA- Rumpusssss!! (kick butt)

All information on this page Copyright by Johnny Davis, 1995
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