The oblique kick and the low side kick: How to maximally stress the knee
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The oblique kick and low side kick are two particularly damaging strikes that are used frequently in combat sports. What makes these strike so effective? Both are effective at damaging the ligaments in the knee.
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The goal of the oblique kick is to hyperextend the knee which can damage multiple knee ligaments.
A typical knee (tibiofemoral joint) has around 5-10 degrees of hyperextension and any more motion will challenge the soft tissue and ligamentous structures. With a trauma strike like an oblique kick one can expect:
1️⃣Muscle strain : Several muscles cross at the knee joint that can assist in resisting the motion (hamstrings, calf and popliteus)
2️⃣Ligament sprain or rupture : ACL, MCL, LCL, PCL
3️⃣Joint capsule stretch or tear
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The low side kick often has a slightly different trajectory which may create more of a valgus force opposed to a hyperextension force. Excessive valgus on the knee isolates the MCL and ACL, however the MCL is the primary constraint against this motion. .
An example of the damage on a low side kick was @robwhittakermma vs. @yoelromeromma I. Romero threw a low side kick on Whittaker’s lead leg which was slightly sideways. Whittaker’s stance allowed the strike to create an even greater valgus force. Following the blow it was reported that Whittaker suffered a level 2 MCL sprain (major tear but not completely torn).
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An example of the oblique kick was @jonnybones vs @rampage4real . While there was no official medical report Rampage has said that his knee was “messed up” and “had not been the same since the kick”.
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While these kicks are considered dirty moves both of them are legal in MMA and the @ufc so it is important for fighters to be educated on the proper defense.