Khao Khong
เข่าโค้ง
Literally: curved knee
Khao Khong is a Muay Thai knee strike thrown along a circular path, used almost exclusively in the clinch to catch the opponent off guard.
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Khao Khong (เข่าโค้ง), literally the arcing or curving knee, is a Muay Thai knee strike thrown along a circular path. The hip rotates and the resulting torque is transferred to the upper part of the opponent's body, giving the strike its power. It targets the ribs and the obliques rather than maximum damage. It belongs among the six traditionally named knee strikes (khao). While Khao Trong, Khao Chiang and Khao Tat follow a straight, oblique or horizontal path, Khao Khong curves and is used almost exclusively in the clinch. There it is meant to catch the opponent off guard, especially combined with feints or partial throws, and defensively it disrupts their balance. It commonly appears in mutual exchanges of strikes in the clinch. The circular path, use in the clinch and the element of surprise are described consistently by three independent sources. We have not been able to document who gave the strike this name.