There’s a big difference between kicking someone with a Teep and just pushing him away. A good Teep is a real strike, and it can send your opponent stumbling backward. Most beginner Teep mistakes come from forgetting that.
In this video, Damien Trainor shows three Teep mistakes he sees all the time. Then he shows how to fix each one.
Damien was a two-time Muay Thai World Champion. He had 85 professional fights and won 62 of them. He held British and European titles, fought all over Asia, and faced some of Thailand’s best fighters. In this video, he teaches as the head instructor at K-Star Legacy in Birmingham, England. His students range from first-day beginners to pro fighters.
These mistakes show up a lot when people first learn the Teep (ถีบ). Here’s what Damien teaches and how you can use it in your own training.
The Video: Damien Trainor Fixes 3 Teep Mistakes
Video: Stuart Tomlinson YouTube channel, with Damien Trainor.
Teep Mistake 1: Pushing Instead of Striking
The first mistake is turning your Teep into a shove.
The Teep often moves an opponent backward, so beginners treat it like a push. Damien says you should stab into the target, not lean against it.
Your Teep is a strike first. When your opponent goes backward, that’s the result of the strike.
Here’s how Damien fixes it:
- Pull Your Toes Back: Hit with the ball of your foot, not the flat of your foot.
- Lift Your Knee First: Bring your knee up toward the target before you extend your leg.
- Stab Into the Target: Drive the ball of your foot forward, fast and sharp. Don’t slowly push your opponent away.
- Bring Your Leg Straight Back: After the kick lands, pull your leg back and return to your fighting stance.
Notice how Damien throws his Teep with his toes pointing straight up, at 12 o’clock.
That’s a little different from what I showed in my article on Tawanchai PK.Saenchai’s Teep. Tawanchai turns his kicking foot slightly inward, so his toes point closer to 11 o’clock.
Study both. Even top fighters do the same technique in slightly different ways.
Teep Mistake 2: Forgetting the Arm Swing
The second mistake is keeping your arm still when you kick.
Watch Damien throw his Lead Teep. As his Lead Leg kicks forward, his Lead Arm swings down. His Lead Shoulder comes up, and his other hand stays by his face.
The arm swing builds momentum. It helps him drive his hips forward and put more power into the kick.
It works like the arm swing in my Round Kick arm swing post. Your arms do more than protect your head. They also help you kick harder.
Now look at what happens after the kick.
As soon as Damien finishes, his arm goes right back up into his guard.
Don’t leave your hand hanging low. Swing it for power, then bring it straight back where it belongs.
Won’t Dropping My Hand Leave My Head Open?
It’s a fair question, and Damien answers it in the video.
Some people worry that swinging their arm down will get them punched.
Damien says that only happens when you Teep from the wrong distance.
Throw your Teep from Kicking Range, not Boxing Range.
Your legs are longer than your arms. From the right distance, you can reach your opponent with your foot while his punches fall short.
If he can punch you while you throw your Teep, you’re too close.
Distance is what makes this technique work.
Teep Mistake 3: Leaning Your Head Back
The third mistake is throwing your head and shoulders backward as you kick.
Many beginners lean back because they think it helps them kick farther or harder.
It does the opposite. Leaning back hurts your balance and takes power away from the Teep.
Watch Damien’s upper body. His head stays upright and steady while his hips drive forward into the target.
His power doesn’t come from throwing his shoulders back. It comes from driving his lower body forward.
Here’s what to focus on:
- Keep Your Head Upright: Don’t lean your head and shoulders back as your leg extends.
- Drive Your Hips Forward: Push your lower body toward the target to put power into the kick.
- Stay Balanced: Stay in control of your body from start to finish.
- Return to Your Stance: Bring your leg straight back and get right into your fighting stance.
That last point matters a lot.
Don’t finish your kick leaning back, turned sideways, or fighting to get your balance.
Your Teep isn’t done until you’re back in your fighting stance.
The Rear Teep Works the Same Way
Everything Damien shows with the Lead Teep also works for the Rear Teep.
The only change is which arm swings.
With the Lead Teep, your Lead Arm swings down. With the Rear Teep, your Rear Arm swings down.
Everything else stays the same. Lift your knee, drive your hips forward, stab into the target, and bring your leg straight back into your stance.
Damien keeps it to a simple rhythm:
Knee up. Kick. Straight back.
Drill it on both sides until you can Teep without losing your balance or leaving your hands down.
Finish every kick ready to defend or throw your next strike.
Learn More From Damien Trainor
Damien has a great set of Muay Thai instructional videos through Warrior Collective.
One of them is Muay Thai Training: Developing World Class Striking. It covers the basics of Muay Thai and how to build strong technique from the ground up.
See his full collection here:
Damien Trainor’s Muay Thai Instructionals – Warrior Collective
Next in this series: 3 Teep Feints That Create Big Openings in Muay Thai.
Sharpen Your Teep With Muay Thai Private Lessons in Portland, Oregon
Damien’s three fixes are simple: strike instead of push, swing your arm, and keep your head upright.
They’re small details, but each one affects your power, your balance, and your defense.
The hard part is catching these mistakes in yourself while you train.
That’s where a coach helps. Sometimes a small change to your stance, your arm, or your timing makes your Teep feel completely different.
In my Muay Thai private lessons, we work on these basics so you build good habits from the start.
If you’re in the Portland, Oregon area, reach out to me when you’re ready. Use the contact form on TrainWithSean.com.
