165 MMA, Kickboxing & Muay Thai Terms: The No-BS Guide

Remember when MMA first hit the mainstream and commentators would just yell “HUGE RIGHT HAND!” because nobody knew what else to call anything? Yeah, those days are long gone.

I was at a bar watching UFC 297 last year when this guy next to me kept trying to impress his date by explaining what was happening. Poor bastard called a teep a “Muay Thai push kick” and said someone was using a “guillotine leg choke.” I nearly spit out my beer. His date wasn’t impressed either.

After my boxing terminology guide blew up (thanks for all the emails, by the way), I figured I’d tackle the wild world of MMA, kickboxing, and Muay Thai next. Fair warning: I’m primarily a boxing coach who cross-trains, so some die-hard Nak Muays might quibble with a few definitions. But hey, that’s half the fun of putting these guides together – the angry emails I get afterward.

I’ve spent the last decade training with guys who competed in everything from Glory Kickboxing to small-town MMA shows in high school gymnasiums. Some of them even let me corner them, which mostly involved me screaming “HANDS UP!” while they completely ignored me. Good times.

Anyway, here’s my attempt to decode the terminology you’ll hear while watching people voluntarily get kicked in the head for money. Buckle up – there’s a lot to cover.

Striking Techniques: Kicks

1. Roundhouse Kick – A circular kick striking with the shin or foot
2. Front Kick / Push Kick – A straight kick with the ball of the foot, pushing forward
3. Side Kick – A kick delivered with the edge of the foot, striking sideways
4. Back Kick – A kick delivered backward, often with the heel
5. Hook Kick – A kick that curves around defenses, striking with the heel
6. Axe Kick – A downward strike with the heel
7. Crescent Kick – An arcing kick typically aimed at the head
8. Spinning Back Kick – A back kick delivered after spinning 360 degrees
9. Spinning Hook Kick – A hook kick delivered after spinning 360 degrees
10. Question Mark Kick – A roundhouse kick disguised as a front kick by chambering upward first
11. Brazilian Kick – A diagonal roundhouse kick typically aimed at the neck
12. Calf Kick – A low roundhouse kick targeting the calf muscle
13. Oblique Kick – A straight kick to the front of the thigh/knee
14. Superman Punch – Not a kick, but a punch thrown while jumping forward with the rear leg lifted (simulating a kick feint)

Muay Thai Specific Techniques

15. Teep – Thai front push kick used to create distance
16. Kao Dode – Jumping knee strike
17. Kao Loi – Flying knee strike
18. Dhad Ti – Thai roundhouse kick (striking with the shin)
19. Dhad Trong – Straight kick (similar to teep)
20. Dhee Sok – Elbow strike
21. Dhee Sok Ngad – Upward elbow strike
22. Dhee Sua Yiep – Horizontal elbow strike
23. Dhee Khgad – Downward elbow strike
24. Sok Tad – Straight punch
25. Sok Ngad – Uppercut
26. Sok Ti – Swing (hook)
27. Plum Clinch – Thai clinch position with hands behind opponent’s head
28. Kao Klao – Diagonal knee strike
29. Kao Tad – Straight knee strike
30. Kao Tone – Curved knee strike

MMA Grappling: Takedowns & Throws

31. Single Leg – Takedown by grabbing one of opponent’s legs
32. Double Leg – Takedown by grabbing both of opponent’s legs
33. High Crotch – A type of single leg where the head goes to the outside
34. Ankle Pick – Grabbing the ankle to trip opponent
35. Hip Toss – Throwing opponent over your hip
36. Suplex – Lifting and arching opponent overhead onto their back
37. Body Lock – Takedown using arms wrapped around opponent’s body
38. Lateral Drop – Taking opponent down by dropping sideways while holding them
39. Duck Under – Moving under opponent’s arms to get behind them
40. Snap Down – Forcefully pulling opponent’s head downward
41. Arm Drag – Pulling opponent’s arm to move to their back
42. Outside Trip – Using your leg on the outside of opponent’s leg to trip them
43. Inside Trip – Using your leg on the inside of opponent’s leg to trip them
44. Uchi Mata – Judo throw lifting inner thigh with your leg
45. Seoi Nage – Shoulder throw

MMA Grappling: Ground Positions

46. Full Mount – Position sitting on opponent’s torso facing their head
47. Back Mount – Controlling opponent from behind with hooks in
48. Side Control – Controlling opponent from the side, perpendicular to them
49. North-South – Position with head-to-toe alignment
50. Guard – Position with your back on ground, legs controlling opponent
51. Half Guard – Position on back with one of opponent’s legs trapped
52. Butterfly Guard – Guard position with feet hooked inside opponent’s thighs
53. X-Guard – Guard with one leg under opponent’s leg and the other over their opposite leg
54. Closed Guard – Guard with ankles crossed behind opponent’s back
55. Open Guard – Guard with legs uncrossed, using feet to control
56. Rubber Guard – Controlling opponent’s posture by pulling leg high
57. De la Riva Guard – Guard with one foot hooking opponent’s leg and other foot on hip
58. Z-Guard – A form of half guard with knee shield
59. Turtle Position – Defensive position on hands and knees
60. Knee on Belly – Control position with knee pressing on opponent’s stomach

MMA Grappling: Submissions

61. Rear Naked Choke – Chokehold applied from behind the opponent
62. Guillotine Choke – Front headlock choke
63. Triangle Choke – Choke using legs around opponent’s neck and arm
64. Arm Triangle – Choke using arm and body to compress neck
65. D’arce Choke – Arm-in choke similar to anaconda
66. Anaconda Choke – Roll-through arm-in choke
67. North-South Choke – Choke applied from north-south position
68. Ezekiel Choke – Choke using sleeve grip (gi) or hand-to-wrist grip (no-gi)
69. Gogoplata – Choke using shin across throat
70. Armbar – Joint lock hyperextending elbow
71. Kimura – Shoulder lock using figure-four grip
72. Americana – Shoulder lock similar to kimura but in opposite direction
73. Omoplata – Shoulder lock using legs
74. Straight Ankle Lock – Foot lock hyperextending ankle
75. Heel Hook – Rotational lock on the knee via the heel
76. Kneebar – Joint lock hyperextending knee
77. Toe Hold – Rotational foot lock
78. Wristlock – Joint lock manipulating the wrist
79. Bicep Slicer – Compression lock on bicep
80. Calf Slicer – Compression lock on calf

MMA & Kickboxing: Clinch Techniques

81. Dirty Boxing – Striking in close clinch range
82. Collar Tie – Controlling opponent’s head/neck with hand behind neck
83. Over/Under – Clinch position with one arm over, one under opponent’s arms
84. Double Underhooks – Control position with both arms under opponent’s arms
85. Double Overhooks – Control position with both arms over opponent’s arms
86. Body Lock – Arms wrapped around opponent’s torso
87. Head Position – Using head as another limb for control in clinch
88. Frame – Using forearms to create space in clinch
89. Pummeling – Fighting for inside position in clinch
90. Clinch Knees – Knee strikes thrown from clinch position
91. Clinch Elbows – Elbow strikes thrown from clinch position
92. Foot Sweep – Tripping opponent while in standing clinch
93. Hip Bump – Using hip to off-balance opponent in clinch
94. Head Control – Controlling opponent’s head to limit movement
95. Wrist Control – Controlling opponent’s wrist in clinch

MMA Transitions & Scrambles

96. Scramble – Chaotic transition between positions
97. Shrimping/Hip Escape – Movement to create space with hips
98. Technical Stand-up – Specific way to stand up in a fight
99. Granby Roll – Inverted roll to escape rear positions
100. Sit-Through – Movement to come around opponent from hands and knees
101. Switch – Reversing position by switching hips
102. Bridge – Using hips to create space or reverse position
103. Tripod – Three-point base used to stand up
104. Post – Using hand/foot to base and maintain balance
105. Hip Heist – Wrestling technique to create angle and escape

Fight Strategy & Concepts

106. Fight IQ – A fighter’s tactical intelligence
107. Cage Cutting – Strategically cornering opponent against the cage
108. Cage Walking – Using the cage to stand up or maintain position
109. Wall Walking – Similar to cage walking
110. Level Change – Dropping elevation, often to set up takedowns
111. Feint – Fake movement to create reaction
112. Pressure Fighting – Constantly moving forward
113. Counter Fighting – Reacting to opponent’s attacks
114. Point Fighting – Strategy focused on scoring points over damage
115. Octagon Control – Controlling where fight takes place (UFC scoring criteria)
116. Distance Management – Controlling the space between fighters
117. Timing – Executing techniques at optimal moment
118. Chain Wrestling – Flowing between different takedown attempts
119. Ground and Pound – Striking opponent while in dominant ground position
120. Sprawl and Brawl – Fighting style focused on takedown defense and striking

Competition & Rules

121. Pride Rules – Ruleset from Pride FC allowing knees/kicks to grounded opponent
122. Unified Rules – Standard MMA ruleset used in UFC and most US promotions
123. K-1 Rules – Kickboxing ruleset with limited clinch, no elbows
124. ONE FC Rules – Allows knees to grounded opponent
125. RIZIN Rules – Japanese ruleset often allowing more techniques
126. 10-Point Must System – Scoring system where round winner gets 10 points
127. Technical Decision – Result when fight ends due to accidental foul
128. No Contest – Result when fight cannot be fairly continued/judged
129. Catchweight – Fight agreed upon at weight outside standard divisions
130. Weight Cut – Process of losing weight to make division limit
131. Commission – Regulatory body overseeing combat sports
132. Corner Stoppage – When fighter’s team stops the fight
133. Doctor Stoppage – When ringside physician stops fight
134. Wai Kru/Ram Muay – Traditional pre-fight ritual in Muay Thai
135. Weigh-Ins – Official procedure to verify fighter weights

Equipment & Environment

136. Octagon – UFC’s eight-sided cage
137. Ring – Traditional square fighting platform
138. Cage – Enclosed fighting area with fence
139. Thai Pads – Curved striking pads used in Muay Thai training
140. Focus Mitts – Handheld striking targets
141. MMA Gloves – 4-6oz open-fingered gloves
142. Rash Guard – Tight-fitting shirt often worn in grappling
143. Gi – Traditional martial arts uniform
144. No-Gi – Grappling without traditional uniform
145. Cup/Groin Protector – Protective gear for groin area
146. Mouthguard – Protective dental device
147. Fight Shorts – Specialized shorts for fighting
148. Shin Guards – Protective gear for shins
149. Heavy Bag – Training equipment for striking
150. Cage Wall – Fence surrounding the fighting area

Bonus: Fighter Types & Styles

151. Sprawl-and-Brawler – Fighter focusing on takedown defense and striking
152. Ground-and-Pounder – Fighter specializing in top position strikes
153. Submission Artist – Fighter focusing on submission victories
154. Wrestle-Boxer – Fighter combining wrestling and boxing effectively
155. Kickboxer – Fighter primarily using kickboxing techniques
156. Nak Muay – Traditional Muay Thai fighter
157. Pressure Fighter – Fighter constantly moving forward
158. Counter Striker – Fighter specializing in countering attacks
159. Point Fighter – Fighter focusing on scoring rather than finishing
160. Brawler – Fighter relying on toughness and power over technique
161. Technician – Fighter with highly refined technical skills
162. Southpaw – Fighter who leads with right hand and foot
163. Orthodox – Fighter who leads with left hand and foot
164. Switch Stance – Fighter comfortable in both stances
165. Specialist – Fighter with one exceptional skill area

Wrapping Up: From White Belt to Black Belt Terminology

Look, I stayed up all night writing this and my third cup of coffee just kicked in, so let me wrap this up before I start adding another 100 terms.

When I first walked into an MMA gym back in 2009, I thought I knew fighting because I’d boxed for a few years. Then some 150-pound purple belt introduced me to something called “knee on belly” and I tapped to pressure before he even tried a submission. Humbling doesn’t begin to describe it.

The beauty of mixed martial arts and all these striking arts is how they’ve evolved their own languages. Some terms overlap, some contradict each other, and that Muay Thai coach visiting from Thailand will absolutely correct your pronunciation of everything.

The next time you’re watching UFC with friends and someone asks what a “D’arce choke” is or why the Thai fighter keeps “throwing teeps,” you can enlighten them. Or just shout “HUGE RIGHT HAND!” like it’s 1993 all over again.

Got more terms I should add? Spotted a definition you vehemently disagree with? Want to correct my garbage Thai pronunciation? Drop me a comment. I’ve got thick skin and love a good technique debate – just ask any of the fighters I’ve cornered who completely ignored my advice.