Imagine yourself in the ring, faced off with your MMA opponent who suddenly takes a spin in the blink of an eye, leaving you not time to react before a foot or shin is colliding with your abdomen. A heel digs into your kidneys and bone on bone contact causes a snap. Before you know it you’re on the ground and the fight is over.
If in that position, you were most likely hit by a spinning back kick. Famous in traditional martial arts like Taekwondo, Karate or Muay Thai, this kick is one of the most powerful kicks you can learn. What makes it so powerful is the torque involved, speeding up that leg to create incredible driving force that when comes into contact with a person, taking them out in an instant.
Now, we may not condone such actions out of the ring so let’s keep this above board, however, it’s a sweet move to learn and should be anyone’s go-to kick, if you can pull it off that is.
Check out this video below by Wonderboy Thompson for some tips on how to get that momentum up and how to lay the perfect spinning back kick, maybe breaking ribs in the process:
For the best spinning back kick remember:
- Step forward to gain momentum
- Turn and spin your body away from your opponent, using your arms to gain momentum.
- Look over your shoulder to see your rival, and aim your kick.
- Lift your knee in preparation for a kick.
- Drive the heel forward towards your target, and when contact is made then follow through with the momentum to displace the most power possible before returning to your normal fighting stance.
The instructor makes it clear that you must always keep your eye on the opponent when throwing this strike, and it makes sense. A well-aimed kick can wreak havoc on your opponent and has been used hundreds of times to secure a win in the ring.
If you’re more into Muay Thai, then check this video for tips on how to knockout with a spinning Muay Thai version of the back kick.
Next time you are in the gym, make this move a priority and you’ll soon be getting KOs left right and centre…just try not to break any ribs purposefully at least.
