This page provides details on a huge variety of martial arts kicks such as the axe kick, spinning hook kick and flying back kick. It also provides videos and/or written instructions for each of the kicks listed below in order to help martial artists to learn more about specific martial arts kicking techniques. Martial arts kicks are often practiced extensively by martial artists because they are used in a wide range of different situations including self-defense, sparring, katas & forms, breaking techniques and demonstrations. Given the skill and flexibility required, many of the more advanced kicks (i.e. spinning hook kick and butterfly kick) are also used in martial arts movies in order to show the movie hero’s mastery of the martial arts.
Kicking techniques can be done either with bare feet or with martial arts shoes. Some martial arts styles even practice kicks with street shoes (as a martial artist is unlikely to find themselves wearing martial arts shoes or walking around with bare feet in a self-defense situation). For additional kicking information, you should also visit the Black Belt Wiki sections on leg flexibility (necessary for high kicks), leg strength, kicking power, kicking speed and knee strikes.
Martial arts kicks and all other martial arts techniques should only be practiced under the supervision of a trained martial arts instructor in order to prevent injuries and to ensure the proper technique is utilized. In addition, all martial arts techniques and training should be used safely and responsibly.
Kicks – Training Equipment
Basic Martial Arts Kicks – Click on each kick for detailed instructions and/or videos
Axe KickBack KickCrescent KickFront KickPush Kick or Front Thrust KickRoundhouse Kick or Round KickSide Kick
Master List of Martial Arts Kicks (Basic & Advanced) – Click on each kick for detailed instructions and/or videos
Axe Kick – Traditional rear leg axe kick.Front Leg Axe KickBack KickButterfly KickButterfly Twist Kick – A more advanced version of the Butterfly Kick.Calf KickCartwheel KickCrescent KickInside Crescent KickOutside Crescent KickCut KickDouble Front Kick or Jumping Double Front KickDouble Roundhouse Kick or Jumping Double Roundhouse KickDownward Roundhouse Kick or “Brazilian Kick”Foot Sweep Kick – Karate’s Ashi BaraiFlying Back KickFlying Drop KickFlying Front KickFlying Side KickFront KickFront Kick – Ball of Foot – Hit target with ball of foot.Front Kick – Instep – Hit target with instep of foot.Heel Kick Lead Leg, Turning and SpinningHook Kick or Whip KickInverted Roundhouse KickJumping Axe KickJumping Back KickJumping Front Kick or Flying Front KickJumping Roundhouse KickJumping Side Kick or Flying Side KickJumping Spinning Axe Kick or Tornado Axe KickJumping Spinning Crescent KickJumping Spinning Hook Kick or Jumping Reverse Hook Kick
Knee Joint Kick – Karate’s Kansetsu GeriKnee Strike – This section provide instructions for a wide variety of knee strikes.Kyokushin Wheel KickLow Kicks – List of kicks commonly used to strike targets below the waist.Oblique Kick or Scoop KickPush Kick or Front Thrust KickRoll Kicks or Rolling KicksCartwheel KickForward Roll Kick or Forward Falling KickSide Roll Kick or Side Falling Kick, Kyokushin Wheel Kick, etc.Roundhouse Kick or Round KickRoundhouse Kick – Front LegRoundhouse Kick – Rear LegScissor KickScoop KickScorpion KickShin Kick or “Muay Thai Kick”Shin Kick (Hapkido)Side KickSide Kick – Front LegSide Kick – Rear LegSkipping Axe Kick or Hopping Axe Kick, Sliding Axe Kick, etc.Skipping Crescent Kick or Hopping Crescent Kick, Sliding Crescent Kick, etc.Skipping Front Kick or Hopping Front Kick, Sliding Front Kick, etc.Skipping Roundhouse Kick or Hopping Roundhouse Kick, Sliding Roundhouse Kick, etc.Skipping Side Kick or Step Behind Side Kick, Hopping Side Kick, Sliding Side Kick, etc.Slap Kick
Spinning Axe KickSpinning Back KickSpinning Crescent KickSpinning Heel Kick or Spinning Sweep KickSpinning Hook Kick or Spinning Whip Kick, Reverse Roundhouse Kick, Reverse Hook Kick, etc.Spinning Roundhouse Kick or Turning Roundhouse KickSpinning Side Kick or Reverse Side KickStomp Kick – Karate’s FumikomiVertical Stomp KickStop KickStretch KickSweep Kick (Forward Foot)Sweep Kick (Low Heel) or Low Spinning Heel KickSwitch KickToe Kick or Karate’s Tsumasaki GeriTornado Kick or Jumping Spinning Roundhouse Kick, 360 Roundhouse KickTornado Axe KickTwisting Kick or Twist KickUpkickUppercut Back Kick540 Crescent Kick540 Roundhouse Kick540 Spinning Hook Kick
Kicks from the Ground – If you have been knocked to the ground & must defend yourself with a kick.
Front Kick from the GroundRoundhouse Kick from the GroundDefense Against A Leg Grab While On Ground – Hook or Heel KickDefense Against A Leg Grab While On Ground – Roundhouse KickSide Kick from the Ground
Martial Arts Kicks by Martial Arts Style
Eskrima KicksHapkido KicksKarate KicksMuay Thai Kicks & Knee StrikesTaekwondo Kicks
Training Equipment for Stronger & More Accurate Kicks
Tips for Better Kicking PowerHow To Use A Kicking Bag – This “how to” section focuses on kicking bags such as Wavemaster, BOB – Body Opponent Bag, etc.How To Use A Kicking PaddleHow To Use A Kicking ShieldHow To Use A Muay Thai Belly Pad – This tool is also known as a MMA Belly Pad.How To Use Rebreakable Boards – This training tool is used to practice breaking techniques (i.e. break a wooden board with a back kick).How To Use Thai PadsHow To Use A Wing Chun Wooden Striking Dummy – This training tool is also known as Wooden Man Post, Mu Ren Zhuang, etc.For more equipment “how to” instructions and drills, please visit the main Martial Arts Training Equipmentsection.
Self-Defense Kicking Targets – Vital Areas
Groin KickLow Kicks – These are kicks aimed at targets below the waist (generally at the knee or lower).
Defenses Against Kicks
Leg Grab Counter with Armbar – What to do if someone has captured your leg during a kick.How To Catch A Push KickHow To Catch A Roundhouse KickHow To Defend Against A Back KickHow To Defend Against A Front Kick – A wide variety of defenses against a front kick.How To Defend Against A Roundhouse Kick – A wide variety of defenses against a roundhouse kick.How To Defend Against A SideKickHow To Defend Against A Spinning Hook Kick
Misc. Kicking-Related Techniques & Exercises
Side Splits – Side split stretches are often used to achieve higher lateral kicks (i.e. higher roundhouse kick).
Martial Arts Kicks
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