AXE KICK
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Inside Axe Kick·Gabriel Varga
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Inside Axe Kick
SubFamily内踵落とし(Uchi Kakato Otoshi)
TraditionalTranslation: inside axe kick
Overview
The 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]
History & Origin
The inside axe kick is a variation developed in taekwondo and karate competition, where fighters discovered that an inside trajectory could bypass traditional high-kick defences. [1] The technique became a regular part of taekwondo competitive tactics, particularly effective against opponents with wide guard positions. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
The inside axe kick raises the leg across the body and brings it down from the inside. [1]
Lineage
A taekwondo and karate technique. [1]
Competition Record
Used in TKD and MMA. [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
1 video
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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
✓Raise the kicking leg across the body (inside-out trajectory) and drop the heel down onto the target
✓The inside axe kick crosses the centre line, making it effective against opponents standing in a wide or squared stance
✓The leg sweeps inward then drops — the arc comes from inside to outside across the opponent's guard
✓Use it when the opponent's lead hand is low or when they are leaning forward, exposing the collarbone and shoulder
✓The inside trajectory is less common than the outside and therefore less expected
✓Chamber by lifting the knee across the body, then extend the leg upward before chopping down
✓The inside axe kick can also target the forearm to break down the guard physically
Common Mistakes
!Crossing the leg so far inside that you lose balance and fall toward the kick
!Not raising the leg high enough before chopping — the height is what creates the "axe" trajectory
!Aiming at the top of the head where the skull is strongest — target the collarbone, temple, or bridge of the nose
!Pulling the kick short and not following through the downward chop
!Exposing the groin during the inside trajectory — keep the hip turned slightly to protect
!Telegraphing by rotating the hips before the leg rises
!Over-using the inside axe kick — it is a surprise technique and loses effectiveness with repetition
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 Taekwondo Textbook (Kukkiwon, 2006) [2] Taekwondo: The State of the Art (Park, 1989) [3] Karate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935)
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 Taekwondo Textbook (Kukkiwon, 2006) [2] Taekwondo: The State of the Art (Park, 1989) [3] Karate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935)
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
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use my toes or heel when throwing an inside axe kick?
According to Gabriel Varga, if you want to be more controlled, point your toes so they brush down the top of the head. If you want maximum damage, pull your toes back and strike with the heel instead.
How do I generate more power in my axe kick?
Gabriel Varga emphasizes keeping your leg straight rather than extending and shooting it down, and focusing on the 'whip and the drop' motion. The faster you drop the kick, the more power you generate, and significant flexibility is required to chamber the leg high enough for maximum force.
How should I set up an inside axe kick in a fight?
Gabriel Varga recommends setting up the axe kick by first throwing a front kick to establish distance, then a low kick to keep your opponent worried about range, and only then whipping the axe kick up and dropping it down.
What's the key to actually landing knockdowns with an axe kick?
Gabriel Varga notes that knockdowns with the axe kick are very rare, with Andy Hook being one of the few who successfully scored them consistently, and he attributes this to Hook's use of a straight-leg chamber combined with excellent height and dropping speed.
How does the Inside Axe Kick work?
The 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. 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.
Where does the Inside Axe Kick come from?
The inside axe kick is a variation developed in taekwondo and karate competition, where fighters discovered that an inside trajectory could bypass traditional high-kick defences. The technique became a regular part of taekwondo competitive tactics, particularly effective against opponents with wide guard positions.
Is the Inside 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 Inside Axe Kick?
Danger rating 6/10. High — downward heel strike; collarbone/head impact risk
How do I set up the Inside Axe Kick?
The standard setup chain: Stance and Range → Chamber the Leg → Execute the Kick → Recover.
How do I defend against the Inside 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 Inside 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 Inside Axe Kick in competition?
Used in TKD and MMA.
What are common mistakes when doing the Inside Axe Kick?
Top errors to watch for: Crossing the leg so far inside that you lose balance and fall toward the kick / Not raising the leg high enough before chopping — the height is what creates the "axe" trajectory / Aiming at the top of the head where the skull is strongest — target the collarbone, temple, or bridge of the nose / Pulling the kick short and not following through the downward chop.
What are other names for the Inside Axe Kick?
The Inside Axe Kick is also known as Uchi Kakato Otoshi, Naeryeo Chagi, Inside Downward Kick, Kakato Geri Uchi.