Back Kick Tutorial - Increase Your Power
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Short Back Kick·Scott Adkins
World renowned martial artist Scott Adkins teaches you how to improve the speed and power of the BACK KICK. One of the m…
Short Back Kick
SubFamilyショート・バック・キック(Shōto Bakku Kikku)
TransliterationTranslation: Short back kick — a compact back kick with minimal leg extension, optimised for very close range where a full back kick would over-extend
Overview
The Short Back Kick is a compact variant of the back kick that uses minimal leg extension to deliver the heel into a target directly behind the practitioner, optimised for very close range situations where a full-extension back kick (ushiro geri kekomi) would over-extend and miss or lose power. [1] The technique resembles a mule's kicking motion — hence the common name 'Mule Kick' — with a short, sharp hip extension that drives the heel straight backward into the opponent's midsection, groin, knee, or shin from distances as close as 12-18 inches. [1] While the standard back kick chambers the knee high and thrusts the leg out to full extension (reaching targets 3-4 feet behind), the Short Back Kick keeps the knee relatively low and the extension minimal — the power comes from a sharp hip extension (gluteal contraction) rather than a full leg thrust, producing a compact, fast kick that operates in the space between clinch range and standard kicking range. [1] De Bremaeker and Faige document the Short Back Kick as the close-range member of the back kick family, filling the tactical gap where the opponent is too close for a standard back kick but positioned behind the practitioner — a common situation in multiple-attacker scenarios, after a missed spinning technique, or when the opponent circles to the practitioner's rear quarter. [1] In MMA, the Short Back Kick has been used effectively against opponents who circle behind the fighter during cage-wall exchanges — the compact kick fires backward without the fighter needing to fully turn around, maintaining their position against the cage while punishing the opponent's circling movement. [2] The technique's simplicity — it is essentially a backward hip thrust with the heel — makes it accessible to beginners while remaining effective at the highest levels. [1]
Mule KickClose-Range Back KickUshiro Geri Keage (short version)JPDonkey KickStomping Back KickHeel Thrust Back
History & Origin
The Short Back Kick exists in various forms across virtually all kicking martial arts as the natural solution to the close-range rear-threat problem. [1] In karate, short backward kicks appear as applications (bunkai) of certain kata movements. In taekwondo, the abbreviated back kick is taught as a close-range variant of dwi chagi. [1] The 'mule kick' name comes from the visual resemblance to a mule or horse's kicking motion — a short, sharp backward thrust of the hind leg — and has been used colloquially in martial arts and MMA commentary for decades. [2] Krav Maga incorporates the Short Back Kick as a standard response to rear approaches and rear clinching, recognising that self-defence situations rarely provide the space for full-extension back kicks. [1] De Bremaeker and Faige documented the technique as the close-range variant in the back kick family (Section 4.2) in their 2010 compilation. [1]
Effectiveness
The Short Back Kick fills a specific tactical gap: situations where the opponent is close behind and there is insufficient distance or time for a full back kick, spinning technique, or turn-and-face response. [1] Its simplicity (backward hip thrust) makes it one of the most reliable techniques under stress — there is no complex chamber, spin, or visual tracking required. [1] In self-defence, the Short Back Kick to the knee or groin is considered one of the most effective first-response techniques to a rear approach because it operates without needing to see the attacker or turn around. [1] In MMA, the compact backward kick has been used against cage-wall circling and in clinch exchanges where the opponent shifts to the fighter's back. [2]
Lineage
Universal martial arts technique (appears independently in karate, TKD, kung fu, self-defence systems) → documented as the close-range back kick variant by De Bremaeker & Faige (2010). [1]
Competition Record
The Short Back Kick is used in MMA cage exchanges when the opponent circles to the fighter's back. In self-defence scenarios, the backward kick to the knee or groin is a standard first-response technique. The 'mule kick' has been called by UFC commentators during cage-clinch exchanges where fighters fire short backward kicks to the opponent's lead leg.
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Short-range hip extension (gluteal contraction) driving the heel directly backward — the leg extends minimally (30-50% of full extension) to keep the kick compact and close-range
Joints Involved — Hip (extension — the primary and almost sole power source, driven by the gluteus maximus), knee (partial extension — just enough to present the heel behind the body, NOT full extension), ankle (dorsiflexion to present the heel as the striking surface), standing leg (slight forward lean for counterbalance), core (engagement for trunk stability)
Force Vector — Straight backward — the heel travels on a direct linear path behind the practitioner, perpendicular to the facing direction
Leverage Principle — The Short Back Kick uses the hip extensors (gluteus maximus — the strongest muscle in the human body) as the primary power source, which is why the kick can generate surprising force from minimal movement. Unlike a full back kick where the quadriceps and hip extensors share the workload, the Short Back Kick relies almost exclusively on gluteal power, which is the most powerful hip movement available. The short lever arm (minimal leg extension) limits the velocity but the raw force of the gluteal contraction compensates, producing a kick that is not fast but is harder than its compact size would suggest.
Position & Entry
Against an opponent behind you (self-defence) — When grabbed or approached from behind, fire the Short Back Kick directly backward into the attacker's groin, knee, or shin without turning around
After a missed spinning technique — When a spin-back kick or spinning hook kick misses and the body is turned away from the opponent, the Short Back Kick fires as an immediate close-range correction
Against cage circling (MMA) — When pinned against the cage and the opponent circles to the side or behind, fire the Short Back Kick into their lead knee or midsection without turning
In the clinch (backward) — When the opponent clinches from behind (rear waist lock, back clinch), the Short Back Kick targets their groin or lead leg
Against a multiple attacker from behind — In multiple-attacker scenarios, the Short Back Kick addresses the threat behind without abandoning the facing direction toward the front threat
Variants
Standard Mule Kick — straight backward heel thrust at body level
Low Mule Kick — targeting the opponent's lead knee or shin from behind
Groin Mule Kick — targeting the groin directly (self-defence only)
Stamping Short Back Kick — driving the foot downward and backward onto the opponent's foot or shin (common in clinch situations)
Rapid-fire Short Back Kick — multiple quick backward thrusts in succession
Spinning Short Back Kick — a minimal spin (45-90°) combined with the short thrust for a close-range hybrid
Videos
Back kick tutorial full motion Taekwondo / Martial arts / 태권도 / kick / 킥
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Short Back Kick·Kids taekwondo canada
It was very fun and exciting to make a "Full motion Back KICK" tutorial video. I am not the "Best" but I will try hard t…
2 videos
What Instructors Say
The back kick is executed from a fighting stance through a three-step sequence: stepping or switching the feet to create a clear line of sight, rotating the body 180 degrees, and driving the heel straight backward toward the target. Both Scott Adkins and Kids Taekwondo Canada emphasize keeping the hips low and facing away from the opponent—not elevated as in a side kick—to maintain a direct, efficient trajectory. Scott Adkins stresses pushing off the floor immediately upon weight transfer to generate power from ground reaction force and hip rotation, avoiding the common error of chambering the knee first, which dissipates momentum. Kids Taekwondo Canada recommends locking the supporting arm against a wall to control shoulder opening and ensuring the kicking leg stays close to the support leg during extension to prevent the knee from flaring outward. Both instructors note that telegraphing is a significant weakness; Adkins recommends disguising the technique through seamless weight switches and feints, while Kids Taekwondo Canada advises pushing hard off the ground just before the kick to maintain surprise. The heel strikes with power concentrated through hip drive and floor force, making it among the most devastating kicks in martial arts.
Synthesized from 2 instructors
- Scott Adkins — Back Kick Tutorial - Increase Your Power: Detailed mechanics of power generation from floor and hips; emphasis on low hip position; chamber-free execution; disguise tactics through footwork and feints; combination applications with other kicks
- Kids Taekwondo Canada — Back kick tutorial full motion Taekwondo / Martial arts / 태권도 / kick / 킥: Step-by-step structured progression; shoulder control via supporting arm lock; knee chamber height and control; prevention of outward knee flare; ground push timing for explosive power; slow-to-fast-motion pedagogical approach
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
6
High6/10
The Short Back Kick's compact range limits its power compared to a full back kick, but the heel's hard surface and the gluteal muscle's raw force produce a genuinely painful and disruptive impact. When targeting the knee (a common application), the backward-directed force hyperextends the joint from behind — one of the knee's most vulnerable loading directions. When targeting the groin, even moderate force is incapacitating. [1]
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Beginner
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 power comes from the HIP EXTENSION, not the leg: practise by standing at a wall, facing the wall, and driving the heel backward into a pad held behind you. Focus on the gluteal contraction — the kick should feel like a hip thrust, not a leg push (De Bremaeker & Faige, 2010). [1] On the heavy bag: stand with your back approximately 18 inches from the bag and fire Short Back Kicks into it. The bag should swing from the hip-driven impact. If the kick feels like a gentle push, the gluteal engagement is insufficient. [1] The heel MUST be the contact surface — dorsiflexion (toes pulled toward the shin) presents the calcaneus behind the body. Kicking with the sole of the foot distributes force over a wider area and reduces penetrating effect. [1] Train from multiple starting situations: facing forward (standard), after a missed spin (recovery), pinned against a wall (self-defence), clinched from behind (anti-grappling). The Short Back Kick should become the automatic response whenever a threat appears behind you at close range. [1] In self-defence training, drill the Short Back Kick as the FIRST response to a rear approach: someone grabs your shoulder from behind → immediately fire the Short Back Kick to their knee or groin → then turn and continue. The kick buys time to turn and face the threat. [1] Speed over power at close range: the Short Back Kick should be fast (0.2-0.3 seconds from initiation to contact) rather than powerful. At knee-targeting range, even moderate force causes significant pain and disruption. [1]
Common Mistakes
!Over-extending — kicking too far back converts the Short Back Kick into a standard back kick, losing the close-range advantage. The extension should be 30-50% of full leg length.
!Using the quadriceps instead of the glutes — pushing backward with the leg muscles produces a weaker kick than driving backward with the hip extensors (gluteals). The power source is the HIP, not the LEG.
!Kicking with the sole instead of the heel — the sole distributes force; the heel concentrates it. Dorsiflex the ankle aggressively.
!Losing balance forward — the backward kick naturally pushes the body forward; the standing leg must be braced to prevent falling forward
!Looking backward before kicking — turning the head to look behind telegraphs the kick. The Short Back Kick should fire blind (or with only peripheral awareness) to maintain surprise.
!Targeting too high — the Short Back Kick is a close-range weapon for low-to-mid targets (knee, thigh, groin, lower abdomen). Attempting to kick high with the short extension produces a weak, off-balance kick.
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Step to the side — the Short Back Kick travels straight backward; stepping laterally avoids itMaintain distance — the kick has very short range (12-18 inches); staying beyond this distance negates itBlock with the thigh — turning the lead thigh to absorb the kick on the quadriceps rather than the knee jointGrab the kicking leg — if the backward kick is anticipated, grabbing the foot or ankle from behind creates a takedown opportunityCircle wider — the Short Back Kick punishes close circling; maintaining a wider circle when moving behind the opponent prevents the kick from reachingTakedown — shooting for a takedown from behind (rear body lock) during the kick's brief recovery period
Setup Chain
1Threat detected behind the practitioner (grab, approach, circling movement) → WITHOUT turning around: fire the Short Back Kick by extending the hip backward → Heel drives into the target (knee, groin, thigh, shin) behind → Opponent reacts to pain/disruption → Use the bought time to TURN and face the threat → Continue with forward-facing techniques
2In MMA: opponent circles to the back quarter during cage exchange → fire the Short Back Kick to their lead knee → opponent stops circling → reset position and continue cage work
Sources & References
Primary Source
Essential Book of Martial Arts Kicks (De Bremaeker & Faige, 2010)
1Book[1] De Bremaeker, M. and Faige, R. (2010). Essential Book of Martial Arts Kicks. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4629-0558-4. Section 4.2 'The Short Back Kick'. [2] UFC fight records — close-range backward kick usage in cage exchanges.pp. De Bremaeker pp.148-150 (Section 4.2 The Short Back Kick)
description: [1] De Bremaeker 2010 pp.148-150
2OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
3Citation[1] De Bremaeker, M. and Faige, R. (2010). Essential Book of Martial Arts Kicks. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4629-0558-4. Section 4.2 'The Short Back Kick'. [2] UFC fight records — close-range backward kick usage in cage exchanges.pp. De Bremaeker pp.148-150 (Section 4.2 The Short Back Kick)
description: [1] De Bremaeker 2010 pp.148-150
Community
Athletics
Minimal flexibility requirements (no high kick required — the kick operates at knee-to-waist level)
Strong gluteal muscles for the hip extension power source
Good proprioception for targeting behind the body without visual tracking
Balance on the standing leg during the backward thrust
Accessible to ALL body types and fitness levels — this is one of the simplest kicks in martial arts
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I position my heel and knee when throwing a back kick?
You want to kick with your heel higher than your toes, and keep your knee down rather than raised up. Scott Adkins emphasizes that raising your knee up will open your hip and compromise the technique.
What's the most common mistake people make with hip positioning on a back kick?
Many people incorrectly raise their hip or turn it like a side kick, when instead you should keep your hip down and your back facing the target, maintaining a straight line directly backward into your opponent. Scott Adkins notes that chambering the knee high wastes the power generated from pushing off the floor.
How do I ensure my back kick travels in a straight line?
Keep your kicking leg slightly touching your support leg to prevent your knee from opening outward, and focus on kicking straight back rather than at an angle. Kids Taekwondo Canada emphasizes that keeping shoulders straight and aiming over your shoulder helps maintain this direct trajectory.
How does the Short Back Kick work?
The Short Back Kick is a compact variant of the back kick that uses minimal leg extension to deliver the heel into a target directly behind the practitioner, optimised for very close range situations where a full-extension back kick (ushiro geri kekomi) would over-extend and miss or lose power. The technique resembles a mule's kicking motion — hence the common name 'Mule Kick' — with a short, sharp hip extension that drives the heel straight backward into the opponent's midsection, groin, knee, or shin from distances as close as 12-18 inches.
Where does the Short Back Kick come from?
The Short Back Kick exists in various forms across virtually all kicking martial arts as the natural solution to the close-range rear-threat problem. In karate, short backward kicks appear as applications (bunkai) of certain kata movements.
Is the Short Back 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 Short Back Kick?
Danger rating 6/10. The Short Back Kick's compact range limits its power compared to a full back kick, but the heel's hard surface and the gluteal muscle's raw force produce a genuinely painful and disruptive impact. When targeting the knee (a common application), the backward-directed force hyperextends the joint from behind — one of the knee's most vulnerable loading directions. When targeting the groin, even moderate force is incapacitating.
How do I set up the Short Back Kick?
The standard setup chain: Threat detected behind the practitioner (grab, approach, circling movement) → WITHOUT turning around: fire the Short Back Kick by extending the hip backward → Heel drives into the target (knee, groin, thigh, shin) behind → Opponent reacts to pain/disruption → Use the bought time to TURN and face the threat → Continue with forward-facing techniques → In MMA: opponent circles to the back quarter during cage exchange → fire the Short Back Kick to their lead knee → opponent stops circling → reset position and continue cage work.
How do I defend against the Short Back Kick?
Standard counters include: Step to the side — the Short Back Kick travels straight backward; stepping laterally avoids it / Maintain distance — the kick has very short range (12-18 inches); staying beyond this distance negates it / Block with the thigh — turning the lead thigh to absorb the kick on the quadriceps rather than the knee joint / Grab the kicking leg — if the backward kick is anticipated, grabbing the foot or ankle from behind creates a takedown….
What are the variants of the Short Back Kick?
Common variants: Standard Mule Kick (straight backward heel thrust at body level); Low Mule Kick (targeting the opponent's lead knee or shin from behind); Groin Mule Kick (targeting the groin directly (self-defence only)); Stamping Short Back Kick (driving the foot downward and backward onto the opponent'…); Rapid-fire Short Back Kick (multiple quick backward thrusts in succession); Spinning Short Back Kick (a minimal spin (45-90°) combined with the short thrust fo…).
How effective is the Short Back Kick in competition?
The Short Back Kick is used in MMA cage exchanges when the opponent circles to the fighter's back. In self-defence scenarios, the backward kick to the knee or groin is a standard first-response technique.
What are common mistakes when doing the Short Back Kick?
Top errors to watch for: Over-extending — kicking too far back converts the Short Back Kick into a standard back kick, losing the close-range … / Using the quadriceps instead of the glutes — pushing backward with the leg muscles produces a weaker kick than drivin… / Kicking with the sole instead of the heel — the sole distributes force; the heel concentrates it. Dorsiflex the ankle… / Losing balance forward — the backward kick naturally pushes the body forward; the standing leg must be braced to prev….
What are other names for the Short Back Kick?
The Short Back Kick is also known as Shōto Bakku Kikku, Mule Kick, Close-Range Back Kick, Ushiro Geri Keage (short version), Donkey Kick.