Krav Maga Push Kick vs. Muay Thai Teep: What’s the Difference—And Why It Matters
They look similar. They’re both front kicks. So why do they feel—and function—so differently?
At Forge Krav Maga, students often ask about the difference between the Krav Maga push kick and the Muay Thai teep (and its close cousin, the kickboxing push kick). All of these kicks are used to manage distance and control an opponent—but they’re built for different contexts and outcomes.
This post breaks down the purpose, mechanics, mindset, and strategy behind each kick—so you can train smarter, move with intention, and choose the right tool when it matters most.
The Krav Maga Push Kick: Built for Real-World Survival
In Krav Maga, the push kick is a tactical tool used to stop a charging attacker, buy time, and create distance—fast.
Key Traits:
Purpose: Disrupt forward movement, stop momentum, or create an opening to escape or counterattack.
Mechanics:
Shoulders back
Hands up to protect the face and throat from any weapons in your attackers hands
Drive power from the rear leg and hips
Strike with the heel of the foot (more on that below)
Mindset: Direct. Decisive. No wasted motion.
Targeting: Any point that stops forward momentum—hips, thighs, abdomen, even the knees in extreme situations (though note that may folder your attacker forward, instead of driving them backward).
Follow-up: Often followed by counter striking, transition to standing control or scanning and escaping.
The push kick isn’t about finesse—it’s about stopping power. In a self-defense situation where someone’s rushing at you or trying to close the gap, this is your way of saying “not today.”
A Note on Push Kick Surface: Heel vs. Ball of the Foot
At Forge, we come from a KMG-evolved lineage, and our Krav Maga push kicks are taught primarily with the heel as the striking surface.
Why the heel?
It's simple and powerful, especially under stress or in everyday shoes
It delivers strong, blunt force and is forgiving for beginners
The heel does work especially well for low-line targets like the hips, thighs, and knees
That said, not all Krav Maga systems are the same—and that’s a good thing. Some systems (and individual instructors) teach the push kick using the ball of the foot, especially when aiming higher or applying more of a striking than stomping mechanic. Others distinguish it from a defensive front kick that resembles a Muay Thai teep, where the ball of the foot is used to create range or interrupt rhythm.
We believe in an integrated approach—there’s value in understanding multiple systems, and different situations call for different tools. Both striking surfaces are valid. What matters is knowing why you’re using one over the other and executing with clarity and intent.
The Muay Thai Teep (and Kickboxing Push Kick): The Jab of the Legs
In Muay Thai—and in many modern kickboxing systems—the teep or push kick is a strategic tool for managing space, disrupting rhythm, and setting up combinations. It's often referred to as the jab of the lower body.
While we don’t offer Muay Thai classes at Forge, we do train similar mechanics in our kickboxing curriculum, where push kicks are used in sparring and striking flow.
Key Traits:
Purpose: Maintain range, frustrate the opponent, or off-balance them
Mechanics:
Slight lean back or upright posture (styles vary)
Chamber the leg before flicking or stabbing forward
Strike with either the heel (for power) or the ball of the foot (for speed)
Mindset: Measured. Tactical. Controlled.
Targeting: Stomach, hips, thighs—and sometimes the face
Follow-up: Used to set up low kicks, elbows, or clinch entries
There are also two main variations:
Lead-leg push kick (teep): Quick, like a jab. Used to probe, disrupt, and score points.
Rear-leg push kick: More powerful. Used to push opponents back or deliver a damaging strike.
And while teeps are often taught as light, utility kicks, they’re absolutely capable of delivering fight-altering force—especially when loaded with a gliding step or used with timing and intent (like in this Noiri teep example).
What About Defense and Counters?
Both kicks are powerful tools—but both can be countered if you’re not careful.
Against the Krav Push Kick: Use angular footwork to evade, or redirect the force with a forearm deflection.
Against the Teep / Kickboxing Push Kick:
Parry the kick to the side
Catch the foot to off-balance and sweep
Step offline and counter with punches or low kicks
Understanding these counters not only helps you defend smarter—it also helps you refine your own timing and technique.
Principles and Techniques: The Forge Approach
At Forge, we value both principles and techniques in our training. Krav Maga, for us, isn’t just about memorizing techniques—it’s about understanding the principles that make them effective.
Principles:
We teach principles that are portable and modular—easy to remember under stress, and broad enough to apply in unexpected scenarios. The push kick is a great example: the goal is to create space. Whether you do that with a heel, a ball of the foot, or another tool depends on the moment, your body, and how you drilled the techniques in training.
Techniques:
We also care deeply about technique, and we pursue excellence in execution. The more you refine a movement under controlled conditions, the more likely it is to hold up under pressure. At Forge, we pressure-test techniques with advancing partners, follow-ups, and scenario training that reflects the chaos of the real world.
We don’t believe in rigid formulas—but we do believe in strong foundations.
Embracing Multiple Interpretations
At Forge, we see the diversity of techniques and interpretations across Krav Maga—and across all martial arts—not as a weakness, but as a strength.
There are instructors who teach the push kick as a heel-driven stomp. Others as a ball-of-foot front kick. Some teach it as a hybrid, or under a different name altogether. What unites all of them isn’t the form—it’s the intention: to create space, disrupt momentum, and keep the defender safe.
That’s why we approach Krav Maga not as a closed system, but as a living one. We teach a strong foundation, pressure-test what we teach, and stay open to what others are doing. If it works—and if it fits our principles—we’re willing to learn from it.
Forge is a place for serious training, but also for curious minds. We believe there are many valid ways to strike with power, stay safe, and win the fight.
Training Under Pressure
One of the most important insights we emphasize at Forge is that it's not just what we teach—but how we train it.
Kicking while standing on one foot—especially against a fast, committed attack—isn’t easy. In fact, it's risky if you haven't trained for it. That's why we work the push kick in progressive drills with advancing partners, increasing momentum, and active follow-up. And yes, sometimes we let the kick fail—because that’s where the real learning happens.
Some drills start with a defined technique. Others start with a question: “The attacker is closing fast—what now?” The answer might be a push kick. Or maybe an angle-off and counter. Or something else entirely.
That’s the goal: not rigid patterns, but adaptability under pressure.
Final Thoughts: Train the Mindset Behind the Kick
There’s more than one way to teach or apply a push kick—and that’s okay. Across Krav Maga systems, you’ll find variations in posture, striking surface, timing, and footwork. Some systems teach the push kick with the ball of the foot. Others (like ours at Forge) emphasize a heel-driven “stomp” kick—more like kicking open a door.
The key isn’t choosing the “right” version—it’s understanding the problem you’re solving. Are you trying to interrupt a charging attacker? Create space to escape? Knock someone off-balance to follow up? The kick must fit the moment. And that means training with pressure, intention, and adaptability.
Curious to feel the difference?
Come train with us. Forge offers two trial classes for $30—a great way to test out the techniques and see how they hold up under pressure. Try your first class
