List of Martial Arts Kicks

This page provides instructions for a wide variety of martial arts kicks such as the axe kick, spinning hook kick and flying back kick. It provides videos and instructional details for each of the kicks listed below in order to help you to learn that specific martial arts kicking technique.

Martial arts kicks should be practiced extensively because they are used in a wide range of different situations including self-defense, sparring, katas & forms, breaking techniques and demonstrations. Students should only practice these martial arts kicking techniques under the supervision of a trained martial arts instructor. For additional kicking information, you should also visit our flexibility (necessary for high kicks), kicking power and knee strikes sections.

Section supported by Books on Kicking Techniques

Basic Martial Arts Kicks - Click on each kick for detailed instructions and/or videos

• Axe Kick
• Back Kick
• Front Kick
• Push Kick or Front Thrust Kick
• Roundhouse Kick or Round Kick
• Side Kick

List of Basic & Advanced Martial Arts Kicks - Click on each kick for detailed instructions and/or videos

• Axe Kick - Traditional rear leg axe kick.
• Front Leg Axe Kick
• Back Kick
• Butterfly Kick
• Butterfly Twist Kick - A more advanced version of the Butterfly Kick.
• Calf Kick or Low Kick
• Cartwheel Kick
• Crescent Kick
  • Inside Crescent Kick
  • Outside Crescent Kick
• Cut Kick
• Double Front Kick or Jumping Double Front Kick
• Double Roundhouse Kick or Jumping Double Roundhouse Kick
• Downward Roundhouse Kick or "Brazilian Kick"
• Foot Sweep Kick - Karate's Ashi Barai
• Flying Back Kick
• Flying Drop Kick
• Flying Front Kick
• Flying Side Kick
• Front Kick
  • Front 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 Spinning
• Hook Kick or Whip Kick
• Inverted Roundhouse Kick
• Jumping Axe Kick
• Jumping Back Kick
• Jumping Front Kick or Flying Front Kick
• Jumping Roundhouse Kick
• Jumping Side Kick or Flying Side Kick
• Jumping Spinning Axe Kick or Tornado Axe Kick
• Jumping Spinning Crescent Kick
• Jumping Spinning Hook Kick or Jumping Reverse Hook Kick
• Kyokushin Wheel Kick
• Low Kick or Calf Kick
• Oblique Kick or Scoop Kick
• Push Kick or Front Thrust Kick
• Roll Kicks or Rolling Kicks
  • Cartwheel Kick
  • Forward Roll Kick or Forward Falling Kick
  • Side Roll Kick or Side Falling Kick, Kyokushin Wheel Kick, etc.
• Roundhouse Kick or Round Kick
  • Roundhouse Kick - Front Leg
  • Roundhouse Kick - Rear Leg
• Scissor Kick
• Scoop Kick
• Scorpion Kick
• Shin Kick or "Muay Thai Kick"
• Shin Kick (Hapkido)
• Side Kick
  • Side Kick - Front Leg
  • Side Kick - Rear Leg
• Skipping 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 Kick
• Spinning Back Kick
• Spinning Crescent Kick
• Spinning Heel Kick or Spinning Sweep Kick
• Spinning Hook Kick or Spinning Whip Kick, Reverse Roundhouse Kick, Reverse Hook Kick, etc.
• Spinning Roundhouse Kick or Turning Roundhouse Kick
• Spinning Side Kick or Reverse Side Kick
• Stomp Kick - Karate's Fumikomi
• Vertical Stomp Kick
• Stop Kick
• Stretch Kick
• Sweep Kick (Forward Foot)
• Sweep Kick (Low Heel) or Low Spinning Heel Kick
• Switch Kick
• Toe Kick or Karate's Tsumasaki Geri
• Tornado Kick or Jumping Spinning Roundhouse Kick, 360 Roundhouse Kick
• Tornado Axe Kick
• Twisting Kick or Twist Kick
• Upkick
• Uppercut Back Kick
• 540 Roundhouse Kick
• 540 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 Ground
• Roundhouse Kick from the Ground
• Side Kick from the Ground

Martial Arts Kicks by Martial Arts Style

• Eskrima Kicks
• Hapkido Kicks
• Karate Kicks
• Muay Thai Kicks & Knee Strikes
• Taekwondo Kicks

Training Equipment for Stronger & More Accurate Kicks

• Tips for Better Kicking Power
• How 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 Paddle
• How To Use A Kicking Shield
• How 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 Pads
• How 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 Equipment section.

Self-Defense Kicking Targets - Vital Areas

• Groin Kick

Misc. Kicking Techniques

• Leg Grab Counter with Armbar - What to do if someone has captured your leg during a kick.
• How To Catch A Push Kick
• How To Catch A Roundhouse Kick
• Preparing your foot to adapt to a target