You
can cause serious injury or even death with a flying knee. Only use it
under controlled conditions in martial arts sparring, or in a life or
death situation.
PUNCH and KICK .com
Punch and Kick
PUNCHandKICK.com is your FREE guide to martial arts techniques.
We provide simple step by step instructions on how to perform the most effective punches, kicks, throws, falls, submissions, and weapons techniques.
If you have a comment, question, or would like to see a martial arts technique that isn't listed here, contact us through the form at the bottom of this page.
Photographs courtesy Third Coast Martial Arts, Master John Seay, Kent Ninomiya
We provide simple step by step instructions on how to perform the most effective punches, kicks, throws, falls, submissions, and weapons techniques.
If you have a comment, question, or would like to see a martial arts technique that isn't listed here, contact us through the form at the bottom of this page.
Photographs courtesy Third Coast Martial Arts, Master John Seay, Kent Ninomiya
Knockout Punch
Third Coast Martial Arts, Logan Seay, Blaise Cole
A knockout punch is a definitive way to end a physical confrontation quickly. With a single strike you can put an opponent down and prevent him from causing any more harm. A knockout punch requires much more than brute strength. You need perfect form, precise aim, and flawless technique. A skilled fighter can knock out a much larger opponent with a single punch.
Start with your stance. A knockout punch requires the use of your entire body. This starts with your feet. Your fighting stance should be comfortable and stable. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and one foot a step forward. The forward foot should be opposite your dominant hand. For example, a right handed person should stand with their left foot forward.
Push off your rear foot. Power for a knockout punch is generated from the ground up. Drive forward off of the rear foot and push the hip on that side toward your target. This requires some practice. Your hip must move forward before your upper body.
Rotate your upper body to follow your hip. The shoulders swing next
toward the target. Your dominant arm should be coiled up in a folded
position behind your shoulder waiting to strike.
Extend your punching arm toward the target. Aim is extremely important.
A knockout punch should be delivered to the side of the chin, side of
the jaw, or side of the head at the temple. If you hit your opponent
anywhere else you probably wont knock him out. Keep your eyes focused
on your target throughout the knockout punch. If you look away you will
miss.
Maintain perfect form through the impact. Strike the target with the
first two knuckles of your fist. Your wrist, elbow, and shoulder must
be in perfect alignment. Push off with your rear leg and drive power
through your entire body to your fist. Hit through the target. Do not
stop at the point of impact. It is whipping sensation experienced by
your opponent's head that causes the knockout.
Knocking
out a person is extremely dangerous. It can cause serious injury or
even death. Do not knock out anyone unless it is under controlled fight
conditions or a matter of life and death.
Tornado Kick
Third Coast Martial Arts, Blaise Cole
The Tornado Kick is a spectacular maneuver in martial arts. It involves spinning 360 degrees while in mid air while switching lead legs and kicking with your original plant foot. It requires quite a bit of coordination and lots of practice just to do the kick. If you want to hit a target with a tornado kick you will need to practice even more.
Assume a fighting stance with one leg a step ahead of the other. Your feet should be shoulder width apart. Spring lightly on the balls of your feet. Hold your hands up in front of you with fists clenched. Face your target.
Point the heel of your lead foot at your target. You do this by keeping the ball of your lead foot on the ground and twisting your heel outward. When you have done this your back should be turned toward your target. Maintain eye contact with your target as long as you can.
Transfer your weight to your foot with the heel pointed toward your target. At the same time quickly whip the knee of your other leg up and around your body completing the turn you started when you pointed your heel. Be sure this leg remains bent as it comes around.
Use the momentum of your knee spinning around to bring around your plant leg. The leg that was on the ground is the one that will do the kicking. The momentum of your knee will carry your body upward and forward. As it does, kick your straight plant leg around in an arc that peaks at your target. Reacquire the target as your head whips around. You can't hit what you can't see. You should still be in mid air when you strike your target.
Finish the tornado spin and come to a soft landing. Your momentum will keep you going past the impact point. Come down on both legs with knees bent.
The tornado kick must be done as one fluid motion. You are spinning around like a tornado and need a lot of circular speed. Focus on whipping your body around and using the motion of both legs to pull the rest of the body. You can also add a step going into the tornado kick to give you a head start. Instead of starting from a standing position, step into the heel point. That will give you some added rotational speed when you begin your tornado kick.
Do not attempt to use a tornado kick in sparring or combat. It takes a very long time to wind up for a tornado kick. Your opponent would have plenty of time to see it coming and knock you down when you are in mid air with your back to them. The tornado kick is not very practical for real life situations. It is more of a show kick.
Third Coast Martial Arts, Blaise Cole
The Tornado Kick is a spectacular maneuver in martial arts. It involves spinning 360 degrees while in mid air while switching lead legs and kicking with your original plant foot. It requires quite a bit of coordination and lots of practice just to do the kick. If you want to hit a target with a tornado kick you will need to practice even more.
Assume a fighting stance with one leg a step ahead of the other. Your feet should be shoulder width apart. Spring lightly on the balls of your feet. Hold your hands up in front of you with fists clenched. Face your target.
Point the heel of your lead foot at your target. You do this by keeping the ball of your lead foot on the ground and twisting your heel outward. When you have done this your back should be turned toward your target. Maintain eye contact with your target as long as you can.
Transfer your weight to your foot with the heel pointed toward your target. At the same time quickly whip the knee of your other leg up and around your body completing the turn you started when you pointed your heel. Be sure this leg remains bent as it comes around.
Use the momentum of your knee spinning around to bring around your plant leg. The leg that was on the ground is the one that will do the kicking. The momentum of your knee will carry your body upward and forward. As it does, kick your straight plant leg around in an arc that peaks at your target. Reacquire the target as your head whips around. You can't hit what you can't see. You should still be in mid air when you strike your target.
Finish the tornado spin and come to a soft landing. Your momentum will keep you going past the impact point. Come down on both legs with knees bent.
The tornado kick must be done as one fluid motion. You are spinning around like a tornado and need a lot of circular speed. Focus on whipping your body around and using the motion of both legs to pull the rest of the body. You can also add a step going into the tornado kick to give you a head start. Instead of starting from a standing position, step into the heel point. That will give you some added rotational speed when you begin your tornado kick.
Do not attempt to use a tornado kick in sparring or combat. It takes a very long time to wind up for a tornado kick. Your opponent would have plenty of time to see it coming and knock you down when you are in mid air with your back to them. The tornado kick is not very practical for real life situations. It is more of a show kick.
Tornado Kick Defense
Third Coast Martial Arts
The tornado kick defense is a way to make an opponent pay for daring to think he could throw a tornado kick on you. A tornado kick is a showy maneuver involving a spinning jump kick in mid air. Although it looks spectacular, it is a low probability kick and puts the person performing the technique at great risk. If an opponent is throwing a tornado kick at you, he is showing you that he does not respect your ability to defend yourself. Show him otherwise with the tornado kick defense.
Look for signals that a tornado kick is coming. When someone throws a tornado kick, he must first turn his front foot around and point his heel at you. This is followed by a tornado spin with his knee whipping around followed by his kicking leg. Sometimes a martial artist will step into a tornado kick, but he still needs to point the heel of the stepping foot at you to start a tornado kick. Look for this. When you see your opponent winding up for a tornado kick, launch your defense.
Step forward and toward the front of your opponent when you see him initiating the tornado kick. Think of it as sliding along a diagonal line in the direction your opponent is spinning. The moment you see him turn his heel toward you, he is committed to the maneuver, so you should be able to do this easily. Your opponent will be moving toward, then reach out with his kicking leg. As he enters the tornado spin, he will expect you to be standing in the same spot when he comes around. You won't be.
Smack your opponent in the rear end with a jump side kick. Your opponent will have his back to you while he is spinning in mid air. Since you have moved away from where he expects you to be, his kick is useless. Since he is in mid air, there is nothing he can do to stop you.
Push off your opponent with your kick, and withdraw your kicking leg. This is important since your opponent will be collapsing in front of you and you don't want to be brought down with him. Since your opponent is spinning in mid air, a kick to his center of gravity will take his legs out from under him. If you hit him cleanly, he will fall flat on his backside.
Follow up with an attack. Your opponent will most likely be off balance with his back to you. Close the distance and follow up with a front kick or scissor kick. Your opponent will think twice before trying to throw another tornado kick at you.
Roundhouse Kick
Third Coast Martial Arts, Logan Seay
The roundhouse kick is an essential technique in any martial arts training that involves kicking. It is halfway between a front kick and a side kick yet completely unique at the same time. The nature of the roundhouse kick allows it to be thrown deceptively so it can sneak between defenses while delivering power from the hip and circular momentum.
Assume a fighting stance. Stand with feet shoulder width apart and one foot a step ahead of the other. Your weight should be evenly distributed between your legs. Keep your hands in front of you with fists clenched. Face your target.
Shift your weight to your front leg while your pivot the foot so that your toes point outward. You should be standing on the ball of your foot. The foot should be parallel to your target. This may feel uncomfortable but you will only be in this position for a fraction of a second.
Bring your body around to follow your pivoted foot. Lead with your hip. Your kicking leg should trail behind. This is important to generate the force of the roundhouse kick. Push your hip forward as you whip your body around in an arc toward your target. Keep your hands up and near your body.
Follow your hip with your trailing leg. As you swing your leg around it should be wound up for the kick by bending your leg. At the last moment kick your foot outward so that the potential energy stored up in your hip, knee, foot and circular momentum are released at once. Your leg should now be fully extended and impacting your target with your body comfortably at a 90 degree angle to your target. Your foot should have followed a sweeping arc from the ground up and around to the target. Strike your target with the instep of your foot or the ball of your foot.
Recover from the roundhouse kick. Do this by either pulling your leg back to the starting position or stepping forward on the kicking leg. If you are perfectly balanced on your plant leg then you can withdraw your foot. If you kicked for power and leaned into the roundhouse kick then you can advance by stepping forward.
Roundhouse kicks can be done for speed or power. When done for speed they are intended to loosen up an opponent by attacking the sides and the legs. When done for power they are intended to do damage to ribs or the head. Roundhouse kicks can be delivered from a standing position, while walking forward or jumping. It is one of the most versatile kicks in martial arts.
Third Coast Martial Arts, Logan Seay
The roundhouse kick is an essential technique in any martial arts training that involves kicking. It is halfway between a front kick and a side kick yet completely unique at the same time. The nature of the roundhouse kick allows it to be thrown deceptively so it can sneak between defenses while delivering power from the hip and circular momentum.
Assume a fighting stance. Stand with feet shoulder width apart and one foot a step ahead of the other. Your weight should be evenly distributed between your legs. Keep your hands in front of you with fists clenched. Face your target.
Shift your weight to your front leg while your pivot the foot so that your toes point outward. You should be standing on the ball of your foot. The foot should be parallel to your target. This may feel uncomfortable but you will only be in this position for a fraction of a second.
Bring your body around to follow your pivoted foot. Lead with your hip. Your kicking leg should trail behind. This is important to generate the force of the roundhouse kick. Push your hip forward as you whip your body around in an arc toward your target. Keep your hands up and near your body.
Follow your hip with your trailing leg. As you swing your leg around it should be wound up for the kick by bending your leg. At the last moment kick your foot outward so that the potential energy stored up in your hip, knee, foot and circular momentum are released at once. Your leg should now be fully extended and impacting your target with your body comfortably at a 90 degree angle to your target. Your foot should have followed a sweeping arc from the ground up and around to the target. Strike your target with the instep of your foot or the ball of your foot.
Recover from the roundhouse kick. Do this by either pulling your leg back to the starting position or stepping forward on the kicking leg. If you are perfectly balanced on your plant leg then you can withdraw your foot. If you kicked for power and leaned into the roundhouse kick then you can advance by stepping forward.
Roundhouse kicks can be done for speed or power. When done for speed they are intended to loosen up an opponent by attacking the sides and the legs. When done for power they are intended to do damage to ribs or the head. Roundhouse kicks can be delivered from a standing position, while walking forward or jumping. It is one of the most versatile kicks in martial arts.
Standing Side Kick
Third Coast Martial Arts, Blaise Cole
The standing side kick is a basic strike taught in many martial arts. Different martial arts teach it in slightly different ways, but most use the same basic motion. It involves "chambering" the leg by raising the knee, turning the body away from the target and then firing the kick using the power of the hip and chambered leg. The standing side kick is both powerful and versatile. It is important to learn to do it with perfect technique before advancing in the martial arts.
Stand in a
Raise the knee of your rear leg as high as you can. As you do this, all your weight will transfer to your support leg. Maintain perfect balance and do not wobble. Spreading the toes on your support foot can help with balance.
Rotate the hip of your kicking leg toward your target. As you do this, the knee of your kicking leg will move away from the target and your body will turn. Your plant foot will turn perpendicular to your target. Rotate on the ball of your foot. This is "chambering" the kicking leg for the standing side kick. You are drawing it back for more power. Keep your arms in front of you for balance. Resist the temptation to flail them around to compensate for your turn. Maintain eye contract with the target.
Thrust your kicking leg out sideways. The motion of the standing side kick is like stomping something in mid-air. Use your hip and the bend of the knee to unleash the power you have stored up. Fire your leg outward as you turn your hip over. You will be facing slightly away from your target as you perform the standing side kick. Turn your head to maintain eye contact with the target throughout the kick. Never take your eyes off of your target.
Impact your target with your heel. This is the hardest part of your foot and it is used to taking a pounding. To strike with your heel, you must point your toes down and pull them back as you kick. You can kick a very hard object with your heel and not feel any pain or suffer any damage.Power Side Kick
Third Coast Martial Arts, Logan Seay
The power side kick is one of the most explosive kicks in martial arts. It is also known as a step side kick or sliding side kick. The martial artist gains power by sliding sideways, winding up their leg and hip, then unleashing it in a single powerful blow. It can be used to finish off an opponent or break down a door. The power side kick is an essential technique for every martial artist to know.
Stand in a fighting stance with feet about one shoulder width apart. Distribute your weight evenly between your feet. Hold your hands up in clenched fists. Turn your head to look at your target. Maintain eye contact with the target throughout the power side kick.
Step toward your target with your rear leg while keeping your forward leg where it is. Place your rear foot behind your forward leg. You should now be standing with your legs crossed standing flat on your front foot and on the ball of the rear foot. You will only be in this position for a fraction of a second. The purpose of the step is to propel you toward your target with significant momentum.
Wind up for the power side kick by raising the knee of your front leg. Bring it as high up and away from your target as you can. The more you turn your hip the more power you will have in your power side kick. Transfer your weight to your back leg. Your body should still be moving forward from the momentum produced by your initial step.
Unleash your power side kick as you approach your target. Time your kick by estimating your momentum, the speed of your kick and the length of your leg. They must all be released at the same moment into your target. When you kick push your leg out sideways with your hip as if you are stomping your target. Strike the target with the heel of your foot.
Follow through with the power side kick. Be sure to transfer all your energy by kicking through your target. Do not pull your leg back too soon. Since this is a power kick you want to cause maximum damage. You therefore must be extremely accurate with your power side kick. Maintain eye contact with your target through the entire kick and aim at it with the heel of your kicking foot.
Since the power side kick is dependent on momentum, many martial artists like to skip into it. Instead of taking deliberate steps try shuffling your feet like you are running sideways. Just be sure to step behind your kicking foot.
Third Coast Martial Arts, Logan Seay
The power side kick is one of the most explosive kicks in martial arts. It is also known as a step side kick or sliding side kick. The martial artist gains power by sliding sideways, winding up their leg and hip, then unleashing it in a single powerful blow. It can be used to finish off an opponent or break down a door. The power side kick is an essential technique for every martial artist to know.
Stand in a fighting stance with feet about one shoulder width apart. Distribute your weight evenly between your feet. Hold your hands up in clenched fists. Turn your head to look at your target. Maintain eye contact with the target throughout the power side kick.
Step toward your target with your rear leg while keeping your forward leg where it is. Place your rear foot behind your forward leg. You should now be standing with your legs crossed standing flat on your front foot and on the ball of the rear foot. You will only be in this position for a fraction of a second. The purpose of the step is to propel you toward your target with significant momentum.
Wind up for the power side kick by raising the knee of your front leg. Bring it as high up and away from your target as you can. The more you turn your hip the more power you will have in your power side kick. Transfer your weight to your back leg. Your body should still be moving forward from the momentum produced by your initial step.
Unleash your power side kick as you approach your target. Time your kick by estimating your momentum, the speed of your kick and the length of your leg. They must all be released at the same moment into your target. When you kick push your leg out sideways with your hip as if you are stomping your target. Strike the target with the heel of your foot.
Follow through with the power side kick. Be sure to transfer all your energy by kicking through your target. Do not pull your leg back too soon. Since this is a power kick you want to cause maximum damage. You therefore must be extremely accurate with your power side kick. Maintain eye contact with your target through the entire kick and aim at it with the heel of your kicking foot.
Since the power side kick is dependent on momentum, many martial artists like to skip into it. Instead of taking deliberate steps try shuffling your feet like you are running sideways. Just be sure to step behind your kicking foot.
Flying Side Kick
Third Coast Martial Arts, Nick Virden
The flying side kick is a technique made famous by Bruce Lee. The image of Lee soaring through the air evokes feelings of power, grace and style. The flying side kick not only shows off the flair of martial arts, it also has practical applications. It is a finishing move and can be used to break down doors.
Start with a run up. The flying side kick requires a significant amount of horizontal speed. The faster you are traveling the more powerful the kick will be. See how fast you can go in three or four large steps.
Keep your body facing forward as you thrust a knee in the air. The leg that knee is on will be the leg that does the kicking. As your knee is rising into the air, launch your body upward with the other leg. Focus on jumping up not forward. Your speed from running has already provided you with forward momentum for your flying side kick.
Roll your body on its side while you are flying through the air. Do this in the direction away from your lead leg. Moving your arms in that direction while keeping them in tight to your body will help you roll. Your lead leg should still be in a cocked position.
Thrust your cocked leg outward in a side kick while retracting your other leg. This action should be like releasing the energy stored in a spring. You need to time the kick so that you are fully extended at the exact moment you make contact with your target. This will take some practice. You must take into account your horizontal velocity from running, your vertical height in relation to your target, and the timing and reach of your kick. Impact your target with the outside knife edge of your foot or your heel.
Transfer all the energy from your run up and flying side kick into your target. At that moment your horizontal velocity will be reduced to zero. Don't keep your kicking leg knee locked or you might jam it. Allow it to bend as you complete your flying side kick. Push off of your target and land on both feet. This should be a soft landing under complete control. Immediately take a fighting stance that prepares you for your next move.
Scissor Kick
Third Coast Martial Arts, Nick Virden
The scissor kick is commonly used in many martial arts including karate, tae kwon do and hapkido. It is a powerful kick that uses speed and momentum to deliver an impressive impact. The technique requires coordination and timing.
Stand in a fighting stance. Your feet should be shoulder-width apart with one foot a step ahead of the other. Arms should be in front of you with fists clenched.
Thrust the knee of your back leg forward and upward as if you are punching with your knee. At the same time, launch yourself into the air by jumping upward on your front leg.
Scissor your legs while in mid-air. The "scissor" motion requires switching the position of your legs while you are floating above the ground. Drop your knee at the same time you kick your launching leg upward. This is the leg that was forward when you started and the leg that will do the kicking.
Focus on your target. The scissor kick aims for a high target like the head. Your foot should impact the target with one of three surfaces: the ball of the foot, the instep or the heel. These are hard surfaces that will protect you from the impact.
Land on your trailing leg. This is the leg that was trailing when you began. Follow with your kicking leg touching down a step ahead of the trailing leg. You will notice that you are in the exact same position that you were when you started.
Flying Knee
Third Coast Martial Arts, Blaise Cole
A flying knee is an effective martial arts technique for use against an opponent who is dropping down. This happens when the opponent is shooting for your legs or is in a weakened state. Either way, there is an opening in the opponent's defenses. A flying knee can quickly end a fight if it impacts the head.
Look for the opportunity to throw a flying knee. It is ideally used when an opponent is shooting for your legs or they are bent over with their arms dropped.
Step toward your opponent to close the distance. You will need to get close enough so that you can close the distance between you with one giant leap.
Launch yourself upward and forward while you drive your knee at your target. Jump high if you are attacking a taller opponent. Jump far if you are attacking an opponent who is far away. Be sure to lead with your knee.
Stay focused on your target. The opponent will likely be moving while you are flying through the air. Zero in the head. Take into account that it could be coming toward you at the same time. Compensate for the distance.
Strike the target with the hard part of your kneecap. Ideally this should be your opponent's nose, but even a forehead strike can cause a knockout. Avoid striking your opponent on the top of the head. This will drive your opponent backward, but could also injure you.
Drive through the target. You must knock the opponent backward with your flying knee. If you do not, you will be the one driven backward and off balance.
Third Coast Martial Arts, Blaise Cole
A flying knee is an effective martial arts technique for use against an opponent who is dropping down. This happens when the opponent is shooting for your legs or is in a weakened state. Either way, there is an opening in the opponent's defenses. A flying knee can quickly end a fight if it impacts the head.
Look for the opportunity to throw a flying knee. It is ideally used when an opponent is shooting for your legs or they are bent over with their arms dropped.
Step toward your opponent to close the distance. You will need to get close enough so that you can close the distance between you with one giant leap.
Launch yourself upward and forward while you drive your knee at your target. Jump high if you are attacking a taller opponent. Jump far if you are attacking an opponent who is far away. Be sure to lead with your knee.
Stay focused on your target. The opponent will likely be moving while you are flying through the air. Zero in the head. Take into account that it could be coming toward you at the same time. Compensate for the distance.
Strike the target with the hard part of your kneecap. Ideally this should be your opponent's nose, but even a forehead strike can cause a knockout. Avoid striking your opponent on the top of the head. This will drive your opponent backward, but could also injure you.
Drive through the target. You must knock the opponent backward with your flying knee. If you do not, you will be the one driven backward and off balance.
