The calf kick has changed MMA, and even though there’s no perfect defense, you can make your leg a lot more resilient when it lands. Most fighters don’t realize the calf kick shuts down the stabilizers that keep the lower leg aligned. When the peroneals and lateral calf collapse, the foot loses control and the stance falls apart. Strengthening the toes, foot, and ankle helps the leg absorb and spread the impact instead of taking it all in one spot. And it’s not just the big toe — when the fourth