Skip Knee

Last updated: May 25, 2026

What is a skip knee?

The skip knee is a knee strike inherited from Muay Thai and used in MMA by fighters with a striking background. A fighter throws it by hopping the support foot forward (or shuffling it under the body) and immediately driving the rear knee up and into the target. The hop is small, almost a glide, and the knee follows in the same motion.

Two things make this strike useful. First, the hop covers the gap between mid-range and knee range, which is normally too far for a stationary knee. Second, the forward weight transfer adds power that a knee from a planted stance cannot generate. Coaches sometimes use the same name for the drill version, in which a fighter throws alternating knees in a continuous skipping rhythm against a heavy bag or pads. The classic Muay Thai skip knee involves throwing multiple knee shots in quick succession, and the drill builds the coordination and conditioning needed to chain them under pressure.

How the skip knee works

The motion plays out as one smooth beat. The support foot hops forward to close the gap, and the rear knee drives up as the hips push through to deliver the impact. The kicking heel pulls toward the backside so the knee point lands sharp rather than the thigh. The fighter leans the upper body slightly back for balance and keeps the hands tight to protect against counters.

Power comes from the forward momentum of the body, not from leg strength alone. The hop with the planted foot adds body weight to the strike, which generates more force than a knee thrown from a static stance. The taller the fighter, the smaller the hop tends to be, since long-limbed strikers already cover the distance with the knee itself.

Skip knee vs. flying knee

Readers often mix up these two strikes because both involve a forward leap into a knee. The difference comes down to whether the fighter leaves the ground entirely.

Feature	Skip knee	Flying knee
Support foot	Hops short, stays on or near the ground	Leaves the ground completely
Distance covered	Short to medium	Medium to long
Power source	Forward weight transfer	Airborne momentum and gravity
Risk if missed	Low (fighter stays balanced)	High (fighter is airborne and exposed)
Typical target	Body, occasionally head	Head, occasionally body

The skip knee is the safer, more repeatable option. The flying knee is higher-reward but lower-percentage. ESPN’s MMA glossary defines the flying knee as a running, leaping attack that drives the knee at the opponent. A skip knee never gets that airborne.

Skip knee vs. other knee strikes

Several knee variations exist in Muay Thai and MMA, and the skip knee is one of a family. The table below sets out how it sits next to the others.

Knee strike	What it is	Range
Straight knee (khao trong)	Knee driven straight up into the body from a planted stance or clinch	Close to mid
Skip knee	Knee thrown after a small forward hop with the base foot	Mid
Switch knee	Knee thrown after switching stance mid-motion (front and rear legs trade places)	Close to mid
Diagonal knee (khao chiang)	Knee thrown at an angle across the body to attack the ribs or obliques	Close
Flying knee (khao loi)	Knee thrown after leaping fully off the ground	Mid to long

The straight knee, khao trong in Thai, is the classic technique for attacking the opponent’s body from short to mid-range. The skip knee builds on it by adding the closing step.

Skip knee in MMA

Skip knees show up less often in MMA cages than in Muay Thai rings, and the reason is wrestling. Committing the body forward to throw a knee leaves a fighter open to a level change and a double-leg, so many MMA strikers favour knees from the clinch or as counters off a defended takedown. Fighters with deep Muay Thai backgrounds still use the skip knee as part of a wider striking arsenal, often setting it up behind jabs or feints to disguise the closing step.

One frequently cited example sits between the skip knee and the flying knee. At UFC 84 in 2008, BJ Penn finished Sean Sherk in the third round with what UFC.com called a “short-hopping knee,” delivered as Sherk bounced off the cage. The strike dropped Sherk and let Penn close out with punches to retain his lightweight title. The label “skipping knee” gets used loosely in commentary for any knee thrown with a small forward hop rather than a full leap.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the skip knee legal in MMA?

Yes. Knee strikes to a standing opponent are legal under the Unified Rules of MMA, regardless of whether the fighter throws them from a stationary stance, a skip, or a full leap. Knees to a grounded opponent remain illegal in most promotions, including the UFC.

Where is the skip knee usually aimed?

The body, most often the midsection, ribs, or solar plexus. Taller fighters or those clearing a downed guard can target the head, but body knees are the safer percentage shot.

Is a skip knee the same as a switch knee?

No. A switch knee involves swapping the lead and rear legs mid-motion, so the knee comes from what was originally the front leg. A skip knee keeps the stance the same and adds a small forward hop with the base foot.

Is a skip knee the same as a flying knee?

No. A skip knee keeps the support foot on or close to the ground, while a flying knee launches both feet entirely into the air for a longer, more committed strike.

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Sources

1. Self Defense Tutorials. “A Drill to Make Multiple Knee Strikes Powerful and Instinctive.” Accessed May 2026.
2. Evolve University. “The Ultimate Guide To Muay Thai Knees.” Accessed May 2026.
3. Sanabul Sports. “Basic Striking: Knee Strikes.” Accessed May 2026.
4. UFC.com. “By the Numbers: The art of the flying knee.” Accessed May 2026.
5. MuayThailand.co.uk. “Muay Thai Knees.” Accessed May 2026.
6. ESPN. “MMA and UFC glossary.” Accessed May 2026.
7. Evolve MMA. “Here’s What You Need To Know About Setting Up Knees In MMA.” Accessed May 2026.

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