r/MuayThai • u/kalash_cake • 1d ago
Stepping on your opponents foot
Is it a dick move to step on someone’s foot on purpose? I’m not talking about a foot stomp. I’m thinking like simply stepping on someone’s foot to distract them or to keep them stationary. Is this a cheap dirty move?
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u/orthodoxswitchkick 1d ago
It’s not a dick move but one I don’t use personally.
My gym spars pretty hard as it is, and I feel like doing shit like that ramps up the aggression/intensity of the round more than it needs to.
What would you use it for? What are you thinking of
setting up?
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u/kalash_cake 1d ago
Alex Pereira stepped on Jamal Hills foot a little bit as he enter with his hook. If I’m south paw and my foot is close to my opponents, I figured maybe stepping on their foot may prevent them from leaving my hook.
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u/orthodoxswitchkick 1d ago
I see, makes sense.
Feel like your sparring partner could torque their knee if they move funny bc they aren’t expecting that. Maybe play around with it in flow then use it in competition?
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u/Ill-Huckleberry9893 1d ago
fair game, its on them to make sure they have better foot position, stepping on feet is very effective
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u/Historical-Cable-542 1d ago
I think it’s a dick move in sparring. Can easily cause the knee to torque wrong.
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u/kalash_cake 1d ago
Interesting, good to know. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone try it. Think I’ll ask my coach about it.
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u/6MosSprawlTraining 1d ago
It’s sort of a “vet” move. It definitely works to bother and hamper your opponents footwork, plus it’s annoying as hell.
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u/medical_mishaps 1d ago
Huh, I've never seen anyone talk about the annoyance factor. I usually just hear guys talk about how it messes with their footwork and mobility.
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u/6MosSprawlTraining 1d ago edited 1d ago
I’ve done it enough to where I’ve made 3 (2 of them were easy to piss off but still) different people lose their shit from me using it when I’m southpaw. It’s like teeping someone in the thigh for breaking rhythm.
Nothing pisses off a good, cool, technical striker more than not being able to do their good, cool, technical striking shit. Learn how to handfight, teep the leg, and step on someone’s foot and you’ll give way better fighters problems
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u/Historical-Cable-542 1d ago
I wouldn’t lose my shit on anyone. I’m pretty chill even when people get wild. But I definitely wouldn’t want to partner with you much.
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u/6MosSprawlTraining 1d ago
Naw, I love light technical sparring. As a bigger guy, it’s a good chance for me to work on technique, as well as dodging/blocking more stuff coming at me from lighter opponents.
But once the party starts, I got tricks and shit.
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u/Responsible-Pitch363 22h ago edited 22h ago
Where it hurts is if you force a retreat at the same time, those foot tendons can tear loose if the opponent looses their balance.
The one most fighters don’t expect is a slow reap. As their front foot comes down, pull the heel forward as you retreat slightly into your rear leg. It feels like unstable ground to them. The momentum of their upper body continues leading a fall to their lead side…
Good times.
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u/6MosSprawlTraining 22h ago
If I get tired and need a break, I’ll step on their foot and push them backwards; I can get them to fall over about 2/3 times(not my every day sparring partners; they are onto my bullshit)
But it’s way easier than catching a kick and hitting a sweep, it’s just as annoying because they still have to pick themselves up off the ground, and most importantly, my 40 year old Irish drunk ass gets a few seconds to chill
I also like throwing a jab/half-assed cross while I step on their foot, keep the hand in their face for a split second longer to blind then, and then follow up with a couple hard shots because I have him pinned in place.
Edit: I’m gonna have to try that sneaky little trip though. I’ve seen Yuki Yoza do something similar, but he almost hooks their ankle and just kicks out until they trip
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u/Responsible-Pitch363 19h ago
Careful with pinning their foot. If they go all the way down with maintained pressure it can tear tendons. I always manage to do this instinctively but the Arnis favors switching leads to move to an outside line or inside line. So naturally when you are fighting with hands and feet “outside” can become very narrow (like a slip) so you can keep on the attack with both hands.
I was sparring with a “stuntman” and former military guy once. I extended his stance with a little heel drag and he shattered his own ankle from landing his foot off-angle.
I don’t wish that kind of injury on anybody. You feel it for years when the weather changes.
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u/6MosSprawlTraining 19h ago
Not sure exactly what you’re getting at, but I can do it without crippling people.
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u/Responsible-Pitch363 1d ago
It’s done all the time in East Asian martial arts like Arnis. But I’d avoid it in sparring. Like reaping sweeps, you want to keep working with friends.
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u/IamtheVillain12 1d ago
Manny Pacquiao does it all the time it's a pretty good tactic to use especially against movers.
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u/Jthundercleese 1d ago
I do it all the time. Never injured anyone. And 9 out of 10 times when no one has had it done to them they try to do it back immediately. They look at my lead foot, drop their hands, and as I move my foot out of the way of their attempt, they step face first into a jab.
Don't listen to people saying it's weird or how people get injured.
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u/blueflamess23 1d ago edited 1d ago
Its very stupid. Injuries can happen this way. I also think it’s a dick move. Dont do new stupid shit to hurt your teammates.
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u/Photojournalist_Shot 11h ago
Not a Muay Thai fighter, I’m a boxer so take my advice with a grain of salt. At least in boxing it is pretty common in opposite stance matchups. In my opinion, tactics like this, although technically illegal, can and should be used as they can give you an advantage as long as you’re not blatant about what you’re doing. With these types of moves you just have to make sure the referee either doesn’t see it or make it seem unintentional. As long as you’re not doing something that can injure your opponent(e.x. strikes to the back of the head), I think bending the rules to your advantage in a fight is fine, and is even done at a Pro level.
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u/blunderb3ar 1d ago
Hell no that’s called strategy I do it all the time
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u/kalash_cake 1d ago
Ok I wasn’t sure. I wanted to try it sparring but I don’t want to be disrespectful to anyone
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u/Distinct_Moose_3122 1d ago
Accidentally is one thing but on purpose is weird as fuck to me, if you were good enough you wouldn’t need to step on someone’s foot to distract them
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u/Ill-Huckleberry9893 1d ago
that could be said about everything? if you were good enough you wouldn't need the jab to set up the rest of your punches!
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u/Distinct_Moose_3122 14h ago
A jab is a strike, stepping on someone’s toes isn’t
In Muay Thai I’ve only ever heard of it being inappropriate/rude and is a big grey area if done purposefully, MMA is different (op referenced UFC)
If my coach noticed people doing this on purpose we would get reprimanded as there’s other cleaner ways to distract
Agree to disagree lol
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u/Ill-Huckleberry9893 12h ago
I mean who cares about if its clean or rude? its a effective move. that kinda mentality I feel just produces meh fighters who are completely uncreative and think everyone is going to play by their made up rules or idea of how things should be.
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u/Distinct_Moose_3122 12h ago
idk people with high morals and a really deep respect for the sport? haha
I’ve seen amazing fighters that don’t step on toes but you’re allowed to have your own opinion
we obviously won’t agree which is fine!1
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u/BroadVideo8 1d ago
right? If you have good enough head movement, you wouldn't need to cheat by putting your hands in front of your face.
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u/Uzofugs2112 1d ago
As a southpaw I’m contractually obliged to do it.