Khao loi, the Muay Thai flying knee: prerequisites, IFMA rules, age limits for knees to the head, risks. Build-up only with a coach.
The honest answer: khao loi is the flying knee of Muay Thai – a knee strike from a jump – and it is spectacular, but only makes sense when distance, timing and landing sit. In IFMA rules the knee is an ordinary scoring technique: a point is given for each Muay Thai skill (punch, kick, knee, elbow) that strikes a target without being blocked [1].
This guide is a guide to understanding. You learn prerequisites, rules and risks. There is no routine to copy, because a knee in the air forgives no mistakes: whoever reacts wrongly mid-jump lands badly – or hits the partner where it was not intended.
The stepping stone is the straight knee, khao trong. Without a secure khao trong there is no khao loi. That is the logic of the technique catalogue, not a study finding.
The steps describe the learning build-up, not the technique.
Khao trong runs in control on pads and bag, first on the ground. The jump stays out. Milestone: your coach sees your straight knee as stable and controlled.
You train take-off and landing separately, with a coach and a soft surface. In IFMA rules it is, among other things, a foul to strike while a body part other than the feet touches the floor, or to fall onto an opponent lying on the floor [1]. That shows how important a clean landing is. Milestone: you land stably on both feet.
Training only against pads or bag, never against a partner's head. Milestone: you hit the pad in control, even when the pad moves.
The IFMA restricts knee strikes by age: for 12 to 13 years, elbow and knee strikes to the head are banned, for 10 to 11 years every strike to the head [1]. Seniors, U23 and the classes from 14 years have no restriction [1]. The groin is not a scoring target, and intentional strikes there may be fouls [1]. Milestone: you know the rules of your class.
Only after your coach's clearance and only with protective equipment. Milestone: your coach sees control even under pressure.
This guide does not replace supervised training or a coach. You practise jumping knees and knee strikes to the head only with a coach, against pads, under supervision and, in sparring, with protective equipment.
Ask your coach about the landing test: before you try a jumping knee you show that you can abort at any moment and land safely on both feet. Whoever can abort has the technique under control.
Yes, knees are scoring techniques in the IFMA [1]. Age classes have restrictions for knees to the head [1].
Under IFMA rules, knee and elbow strikes to the head are banned for 12 to 13 years, every strike to the head for 10 to 11; from 14 there is no restriction [1].
Via khao trong, pad work and control, with a coach. A video does not replace that.
In IFMA championship bouts 91.4% had no health issues afterwards [3]; in surveys injuries are more frequent, mainly at the extremities [2].
No. You need a coach, pads and protection.
Muay Thai for Beginners: The Art of Eight Limbs