The rear teep is the power version of Muay Thai's push kick. It's slower than the lead teep, but it hits SIGNIFICANTLY harder -- sometimes hard enough to put people on the floor.
Here's why it works.
The rear leg sits behind your center of mass. When you drive it forward, your entire body weight transfers through the kick. Compare that to the lead teep, which is more of a range-management tool. The rear teep is a weapon.
The drill is straightforward. Good hip rotation is everything. From your stance, drive the rear knee up high, then extend the leg and thrust your hips forward into the target. The power comes from the hip extension, not from pushing with your leg muscles.
One key difference from the lead teep: your shoulders come closer to square as you throw the rear teep. With the lead teep, you turn almost sideways. With the rear teep, your body stays more forward-facing through the motion. This changes the angle and the power delivery.
The rear teep is devastating against aggressive fighters who like to press forward. You can slam it into their body as they advance, or use it as a combination finisher after punches to create distance. Either way, the force drives them backward, disrupts their rhythm, and can score big in a Muay Thai bout.
Timing matters. Because the rear teep is slower to launch, it's easier to read than a lead teep. So you need setups. Throw a jab first. Feint a cross. Get their hands busy, then fire the rear teep to the body while their guard is occupied up top.
For the complete teep breakdown including the lead teep and counters, check out our full teep kick technique guide. Get the full course in the Ultimate Muay Thai Training System.