360' Axe Kick Tutorial | 360 Kick | How to do 360' Axe kick .
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Axe Kick·Akashkrt
360' Axe Kick Tutorial. 360' Axe kick is a very powerful and effective kick. It especially used in takewondo, mma and…
Axe Kick
Family踵落とし(Kakato Otoshi)
TraditionalTranslation: axe kick / heel drop
Overview
The Axe Kick family groups kicking techniques in which the leg is raised high — often above the opponent's head — and then brought straight down onto the target in a chopping motion, using the heel or sole of the foot as the impact surface. [1] The axe kick generates force through the combination of gravitational acceleration and the active hip flexor contraction that pulls the leg downward, creating a hammering effect capable of striking the collarbone, shoulder, top of the head, or face of an opponent. [1],[2] Axe kicks are most closely associated with taekwondo, where they are a competition staple scoring technique, but they also appear in karate (kakato geri) and MMA. [2],[3] The technique requires exceptional hip flexibility and hamstring length to raise the leg above head height before executing the downward chop. [3]
History & Origin
The axe kick developed primarily within Korean martial arts, becoming a signature technique in taekwondo competition where its dramatic overhead trajectory scores as a head kick. [1] The technique was influenced by Chinese northern kung fu styles that emphasised high, flexible kicking, and was refined for modern taekwondo sport competition in the 1970s and 1980s. [1],[2] Andy Hug, the Swiss-born karate and K-1 champion, popularised the axe kick in full-contact kickboxing during the 1990s, demonstrating its knockout potential against world-class opponents. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
The axe kick raises the leg high and brings it down onto the opponent's head or shoulder. [1]
Lineage
The axe kick is prominent in taekwondo and karate. [1]
Competition Record
The axe kick is used in taekwondo, karate, and MMA competition. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Ballistic leg extension or rotation — the shin or foot impacts the target at high velocity
Joints Involved — Hip (flexion/rotation), knee (extension for front kicks, flexion-extension for roundhouse), ankle (stabilised)
Force Vector — Linear (front kick/teep — hip flexion and knee extension) or rotational (roundhouse — hip rotation with shin contact)
Kinetic Chain — Pivot foot rotation → hip turn → femur whip → shin contact — the leg acts as a heavy bat with the hip as the pivot
Position & Entry
From fighting stance — Raise the leg high (straight or crescent), drive the heel down onto the target (collarbone, shoulder, or head)
From close range — Short-arc axe kick brought down quickly when the opponent's hands are low
As counter (after opponent's kick) — Raise the leg as the opponent recovers from their kick, bring the heel down
Videos
How to AXE KICK - Martial Arts Tutorial
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Axe Kick·MP Elite Fitness
Axe kick. This video demonstrates how to axe kick, including the kick technique, foot position, where to strike to and h…
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
6
High6/10
Downward heel strike; collarbone/head impact risk
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Advanced
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Illegal
WBC/Boxing — All kicks prohibited in boxing {src— WBC Rules of Boxing}
Legal
— Unified MMA — Legal striking technique
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDFKyokushin — Legal at full power to body and head {src— IKO Kyokushin Tournament Rules}
— WT — Legal, body kick 2 points, head kick 3 points, spinn...
WT Competition Rules 2024PDF— WAKO — Legal in Full Contact and Low Kick formats
WAKO Competition RulesPDFK-1/GLORY — Legal {src— K-1/GLORY Kickboxing Rules}
— IFMA — Legal — kicks are a core Muay Thai technique
IFMA Muay Thai RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓The axe kick lifts the leg high and then drives the heel downward onto the target — typically the collarbone, shoulder, or head
✓Raise the straight or slightly bent leg as high as possible, then drop the heel with gravitational force added to the downward pull of the hip flexors
✓The axe kick bypasses the guard from above — it comes over the top of a standard boxing guard
✓Use it against opponents who shell up with a high guard or who are leaning forward with their head low
✓Andy Hug popularised the axe kick in K-1, using it to devastating effect against kickboxers who had no defence for overhead attacks
✓The kick can be thrown with either the inside (across the body) or outside (along the body line) trajectory
✓Flexibility is essential — the leg must reach head height or above before the downward chop begins
Common Mistakes
!Not raising the leg high enough, so the downward chop hits the guard rather than coming over it
!Throwing the axe kick from too far away — it must be in close-to-mid range for the heel to land on the target
!Losing balance on the support leg during the high raise — strengthen the standing leg and core
!Telegraphing by leaning the upper body back before the leg lifts
!Landing the axe kick on the top of the opponent's head, which risks injuring the kicker's heel or ankle
!Not following up after a landed axe kick — the opponent is often stunned, and immediate follow-up is critical
!Attempting the axe kick without sufficient flexibility, which causes the kick to stall at shoulder height
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Stance and Range — verify correct distance for the kick to land at full extension
2Chamber the Leg — lift the knee to prepare the kicking trajectory
3Execute the Kick — extend the leg through the target with the appropriate striking surface
4Recover — retract the leg and return to fighting stance
Sources & References
Primary Source
Karate-Do Kyohan: The Master Text (Gichin Funakoshi, 1935)
1BookMuay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus, 2002)
Alias sources — [1] Kukkiwon Textbook (2006) [2] Dynamic Karate (Nakayama, 1966) [3] Kukkiwon Textbook (2006)
2BookKarate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Comprehensive Asian Fighting Arts (Draeger & Smith, 1969)
Official karate technique names (和語/漢語)
4OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)
Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)
5CitationMuay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus, 2002)
Alias sources — [1] Kukkiwon Textbook (2006) [2] Dynamic Karate (Nakayama, 1966) [3] Kukkiwon Textbook (2006)
6CitationKarate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Comprehensive Asian Fighting Arts (Draeger & Smith, 1969)
Community
Athletics
Requires
exceptional hip flexibility, hamstring length, leg raising speed
Favours
extremely flexible hips for raising the leg above head height
Key muscles
hip flexors, hamstrings (eccentric), quadriceps, core
Sub-techniques
Inside Axe Kick
SubFamilyThe Inside Axe Kick subfamily covers axe kicks where the leg is raised by swinging it upward from the inside (medial side) of the opponent's guard and then brought straight down onto the target. [1] The inside trajectory means the kicking leg passes close to or between the opponent's arms as it ascends, making it more difficult to block because it enters through the centreline. [1,2] The inside axe kick targets the collarbone, shoulder, or head of the opponent, and its inside arc can bypass defences oriented to block lateral or outside attacks. [2,3]
1 genera·1 techniquesExplore
Outside Axe Kick
SubFamilyThe Outside Axe Kick subfamily covers axe kicks where the leg is raised by swinging it upward from the outside (lateral side) of the body in a wide arc before being brought straight down onto the target. [1] The outside trajectory gives the kick a wider, more visible path than the inside variant, but it can generate more momentum due to the larger arc and is effective at clearing the opponent's guard from the outside before striking downward. [1,2] The outside axe kick targets the same areas — collarbone, shoulder, face, and top of head — but approaches from a different angle. [2,3]
1 genera·1 techniquesExplore
Notes
The axe kick (naeryeo chagi in TKD, kakato otoshi geri in karate) drops the heel vertically onto the target. Andy Hug popularized the technique in K-1 kickboxing in the 1990s. (De Bremaeker & Faige, Essential Book of Martial Arts Kicks)
Frequently Asked Questions
What part of the foot do you strike with in an axe kick?
You strike with the heel, which in Japanese is called Kekato. You pull your toes all the way back to ensure the heel makes contact with the target.
What's a common mistake beginners make when throwing an axe kick?
A common mistake is swinging the leg all the way through, which turns it into a kyage kick instead. You must bring the leg down the centre line straight through rather than allowing it to swing across.
How can I practice keeping my axe kick on the centre line?
Place two cones or items on the floor in front of you and practice so your leg finishes between the cones. This ensures you don't deviate from the centre line and maintains proper technique.
What are the main target areas for an axe kick?
The heel can come down into the top of the head, or strike straight down onto other target areas on the opponent.
How does the Axe Kick work?
The Axe Kick family groups kicking techniques in which the leg is raised high — often above the opponent's head — and then brought straight down onto the target in a chopping motion, using the heel or sole of the foot as the impact surface. The axe kick generates force through the combination of gravitational acceleration and the active hip flexor contraction that pulls the leg downward, creating a hammering effect capable of striking the collarbone, shoulder, top of the head, or face of an opponent.
Where does the Axe Kick come from?
The axe kick developed primarily within Korean martial arts, becoming a signature technique in taekwondo competition where its dramatic overhead trajectory scores as a head kick. The technique was influenced by Chinese northern kung fu styles that emphasised high, flexible kicking, and was refined for modern taekwondo sport competition in the 1970s and 1980s.
Is the Axe Kick legal in competition?
Unified MMA: legal — Legal striking technique; WBC/Boxing: banned — All kicks prohibited in boxing; WKF: legal — Legal, chudan (body) kick scores 2 points, jodan (head) kick scores 3 points; Kyokushin: legal — Legal at full power to body and head; WT: legal — Legal, body kick 2 points, head kick 3 points, spinning body 4 points, spinni…; WAKO: legal — Legal in Full Contact and Low Kick formats; K: legal — 1/GLORY — Legal; IFMA: legal — Legal — kicks are a core Muay Thai technique
How dangerous is the Axe Kick?
Danger rating 6/10. High — downward heel strike; collarbone/head impact risk
How do I set up the Axe Kick?
The standard setup chain: Stance and Range → Chamber the Leg → Execute the Kick → Recover.
How do I defend against the Axe Kick?
Standard counters include: Check (Shin Block) — raise the shin to intercept the kick before it lands / Catch and Sweep — catch the kicking leg and sweep the standing leg / Step Inside — close distance inside the kick's effective range to smother it.
What are the variants of the Axe Kick?
Common variants: Outside axe kick (raising the leg outside and bringing the heel straight down); Inside axe kick (raising the leg inside in a crescent arc before chopping …); Spinning axe kick (adding a spin before the downward chop).
How effective is the Axe Kick in competition?
The axe kick is used in taekwondo, karate, and MMA competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Axe Kick?
Top errors to watch for: Not raising the leg high enough, so the downward chop hits the guard rather than coming over it / Throwing the axe kick from too far away — it must be in close-to-mid range for the heel to land on the target / Losing balance on the support leg during the high raise — strengthen the standing leg and core / Telegraphing by leaning the upper body back before the leg lifts.
What are other names for the Axe Kick?
The Axe Kick is also known as Kakato Otoshi, Naeryo Chagi, Kakato Geri, Hammer Kick.