How can I improve my teeps?

[Alla]

My teeps are pretty useless. They are slow, weak and it seems like I am always at a wrong distance or position to land them. Because of that I almost never use them in sparring.

This is probably the result of bad technique. The problem is I don't know what I am doing wrong or what to look for when I practice teeps on the bag or in shadow. To give an example , when I practice midkicks, I check that I go up on the ball of the standing foot, I rotate the hips so the kick connects on the downward side of the arc, that I am looking at what I kick , and that one hand stays by my face throughout the whole movement.

Any similar tips for teep technique? Drills or excercises advice also appreciated.

[NewThai]

I found earlier on I was trying to move my opponent with a 300 Sparta push kick, when really it was needing to be more of a sharp jab. Maybe try swinging a bag and teeping it as it swings toward you for timing? You should have your coach or an experienced teammate give specific critiques of your technique.

[emma]

There's a drill I've always used, but unfortunately I don't have a video of it. I'll do my best to explain: 

Teep the bag with your front leg, then after that foot reaches the ground, step with the other leg, then again with the front foot, and teep with the opposite leg. So it's a continuous marching movement - teep (left), step, step, step, teep (right), step, step, step, teep (left)..etc. It'll get you used to getting your feet in position to time the teep for when the bag comes.

As far as technique goes, I always make sure I'm coming up on the ball of the foot on my standing leg, and bring the knee up first, as close to my body as possible, then shoot it from there. I also try to bring it back in the same way and avoid dragging it on the way down. A really good way to get used to this movement is to put a chair in front of the bag and teep over it. 

[Kevin von Duuglas-Ittu]

Sylvie shot a video this afternoon on this Alla, hopefully she can upload it soon!

[Sylvie von Duuglas-Ittu]

My teeps are pretty useless. They are slow, weak and it seems like I am always at a wrong distance or position to land them. Because of that I almost never use them in sparring.

This is probably the result of bad technique. The problem is I don't know what I am doing wrong or what to look for when I practice teeps on the bag or in shadow. To give an example , when I practice midkicks, I check that I go up on the ball of the standing foot, I rotate the hips so the kick connects on the downward side of the arc, that I am looking at what I kick , and that one hand stays by my face throughout the whole movement.

Any similar tips for teep technique? Drills or excercises advice also appreciated.

 

It's a good question. I shot a quick video on some of the things that I focus on in the teep. I'll put a blog post up soon, but for now here's the video:

Let me know if you have any questions.

[Sylvie von Duuglas-Ittu]

There's a drill I've always used, but unfortunately I don't have a video of it. I'll do my best to explain: 

Teep the bag with your front leg, then after that foot reaches the ground, step with the other leg, then again with the front foot, and teep with the opposite leg. So it's a continuous marching movement - teep (left), step, step, step, teep (right), step, step, step, teep (left)..etc. It'll get you used to getting your feet in position to time the teep for when the bag comes.

As far as technique goes, I always make sure I'm coming up on the ball of the foot on my standing leg, and bring the knee up first, as close to my body as possible, then shoot it from there. I also try to bring it back in the same way and avoid dragging it on the way down. A really good way to get used to this movement is to put a chair in front of the bag and teep over it. 

I'm intrigued by your marching teep. Are you marching in place or stepping forward, because when I picture this one runs out of space in front of the bag super fast. Is it "step step" like how you showed me when doing that drill of left, right, kick; right, left, kick on repeat? Like stepping your feet in place?

[emma]

I'm intrigued by your marching teep. Are you marching in place or stepping forward, because when I picture this one runs out of space in front of the bag super fast. Is it "step step" like how you showed me when doing that drill of left, right, kick; right, left, kick on repeat? Like stepping your feet in place?

 Yeah, you're marching in place rather than stepping forward. Letting the bag come to you. I probably should have made that clearer, haha. 

[Sylvie von Duuglas-Ittu]

 Yeah, you're marching in place rather than stepping forward. Letting the bag come to you. I probably should have made that clearer, haha. 

well, you just did :)

[nakmuaybynature]

Thanks for the video Sylvie.

Alla, I been working on my Teeps a lot too. Its one of my favorite muay thai technique that I don't really do often myself :sad:

What I'm do daily is 50 front teeps, 50 rear teeps, 100 alternating teeps on the bags. I don't move my standing leg at all. I keep it flat on the ground and transfer my weight to it, swinging my teep side arm down in front my face or to my hips, making sure I'm not leaning back and my body is upright.

When I first started I had a hard time keeping the bag from twirling haha, but now I am able to repeatedly teep at the same spot which prevents that from happening.

Keep practicing until you kill it then practice some more! You got this!

[Alla]

Thanks everybody for the tips and drills. I really like Emma's marching drill, I think it should help with timing and balance.

Also, Sylvie, thanks a lot for the video, I think I know now what I should be trying to do. The general movement looks to me like you are making a wide step forward, except the foot lands on the bag instead of the floor.

nakmuaybynature, yes "reps rule" is my motto. :)