How do you set up a high kick?

Question

What does it mean when they say "he's setting up a roundhouse/right cross/right hook?" How and why do they do it?

Answer 1

Basically, you get your opponent into a routine. A great example of this is the fight between Georges St. Pierre and Matt Hughes at UFC 65. Georges throws a repeated combo with a low kick. Matt picks up this combo so when GSP started to throw the combo with the low kick, Matt was ready to block it. However, in blocking the low kick, he left himself open for the high kick. As you'll see if you watch the fight, GSP clocks Matt with the kick and wins the fight.

Basically you are trying to get your opponent into a rhythm you can then disrupt to do your damage with. Zig when your opponent thinks you'll zag and whatnot.

Most commentators notice these repeated combos and comment on them as it it a fairly common occurence in a fight. Hence I think that Joe Rogan noted that GSP was setting up the high kick, though it may have been Couture.

Answer 2

Since kicks like high roundhouse kicks must travel so far you need to set up your opponent. In short you have to get on his week or unguarded side. You can use a move or combination to get your opponent to receive this gift ;) Most kicks take time to travel the front kick is the quickest and is usually used to push back the opponent.
It is not like in the movies where the fights are choreographed. Please don't tell Chuck I said that.
As for the rest of the combinations think of it like a chess game or checkers where you need to think ahead several moves.
A common set of moves a boxer might do to open the abdomen of opponent is to jab at the face repeatedly to get his opponent to raise up his guard and than expose opponent's bread basket for that straight punch to the midsection.

Answer 3

Usually if you just throw a high kick most opponents will block, counter, or jam your attack. Setting up usually refers to a combination of strikes one leading to another, the jab is the classic strike to start off the combo. There is a lot that go into setting up your moves not just striking combos, but footwork, timing, opponents reactions etc. Hope that helps.