How to Fix Your Spinning Back Kick / Turning Side Kick
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Spin-Forward Back Kick·Ando Mierzwa
The spinning back kick is a powerful strike... if you throw it correctly! But many people make one big mistake. Try this…
Spin-Forward Back Kick
SubFamilyスピン・フォワード・バック・キック(Supin Fowādo Bakku Kikku)
Translation: Spin-forward back kick
Overview
The Spin-Forward Back Kick is a back kick preceded by a forward-moving spin, simultaneously closing distance and generating rotational power. [1] Unlike a standard spinning back kick which maintains position, this variant covers ground forward during the spin, making it an effective attacking technique against retreating opponents. [1]
Forward-Spinning Back Kick
History & Origin
Effectiveness
Offers specific tactical advantages over the standard back kick in appropriate situations. [1]
Lineage
Cross-style martial arts kicking tradition; documented in kick compendiums. [1]
Competition Record
Primarily a training, demonstration, and point-fighting technique. Rarely seen in full-contact MMA or kickboxing due to acrobatic risk and telegraphing. Appears occasionally in TKD and point-fighting karate tournaments. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Back Kick mechanics modified for spin-forward back kick variant
Joints Involved — Hip, knee, ankle — specific to back kick trajectory
Force Vector — Modified back kick trajectory
Leverage Principle — Hip rotation and leg extension generate force along the back kick arc
Position & Entry
From fighting stance — Chamber and execute the spin-forward back kick
From close range — Adapted version for tight distance
Variants
High variant
Mid variant
Low variant
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
6
High6/10
Back Kick variant with standard striking power
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
✓Master the standard back kick before attempting the spin-forward back kick (De Bremaeker & Faige, 2010)
✓Practise with pad work for targeting accuracy
Common Mistakes
!Attempting without solid back kick foundation
!Poor balance
!Insufficient power generation
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Feint → Spin-Forward Back Kick → Follow-up combination
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: 89 Kicks from Karate, Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Jeet Kune Do, and Others. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4629-0558-4.
2Citation[1] De Bremaeker, M. and Faige, R. (2010). Essential Book of Martial Arts Kicks: 89 Kicks from Karate, Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Jeet Kune Do, and Others. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4629-0558-4.
[1] De Bremaeker & Faige, Essential Book of Martial Arts Kicks (2010)
Community
Athletics
Requires solid back kick foundation
Good balance and coordination
Notes
Documented in De Bremaeker & Faige, Section 4.8. The attacker spins forward (opposite to the standard spin-back) before delivering the back kick. Less common than spin-back but creates a different timing and angle. (De Bremaeker & Faige, Essential Book of Martial Arts Kicks, 2010)
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my spinning back kick keep turning into a side kick?
According to Ando Mierzwa, the most common mistake is spotting your target with both eyes instead of one. When you turn your head fully to look at the target with both eyes, your feet naturally follow the rotation of your head, converting the back kick into a side kick. Spot with just one eye to keep your feet and shoulders properly aligned.
Should I think of the spinning back kick as a spinning movement or something else?
Ando Mierzwa recommends thinking of it as a turnaround technique rather than a spinning technique. If you turn just enough so your shoulders square toward the target with one eye visible, you get a back kick; if you keep turning further and can see with both eyes, it becomes a side kick. The key is controlling how much you turn, not spinning in a full circle.
What happens if I spin all the way around when throwing a back kick?
Ando Mierzwa warns that spinning too far will cause your kick to go off-line with your target and your foot will fly into space, throwing you off balance. The solution is to stop the rotation early—only turn as much as needed to execute the kick properly.
Can I throw a spinning back kick without looking at the target at all?
Yes, according to Ando Mierzwa, you can throw a devastating spinning back kick without looking. However, he recommends keeping your hands up and your eyes on the target—even if it's just the corner of one eye—using the formula: turn, peak, kick.
How does the Spin-Forward Back Kick work?
The Spin-Forward Back Kick is a back kick preceded by a forward-moving spin, simultaneously closing distance and generating rotational power. Unlike a standard spinning back kick which maintains position, this variant covers ground forward during the spin, making it an effective attacking technique against retreating opponents.
Where does the Spin-Forward Back Kick come from?
The Spin-Forward Back Kick is a specialised variant documented in cross-style kicking methodology. It represents an advanced development of the standard back kick.
Is the Spin-Forward 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 Spin-Forward Back Kick?
Danger rating 6/10. Back Kick variant with standard striking power
How do I set up the Spin-Forward Back Kick?
The standard setup chain: Feint → Spin-Forward Back Kick → Follow-up combination.
How do I defend against the Spin-Forward Back Kick?
Standard counters include: Step inside range / Block and counter / Low kick to support leg.
What are the variants of the Spin-Forward Back Kick?
Common variants: High variant; Mid variant; Low variant.
How effective is the Spin-Forward Back Kick in competition?
Primarily a training, demonstration, and point-fighting technique. Rarely seen in full-contact MMA or kickboxing due to acrobatic risk and telegraphing.
What are common mistakes when doing the Spin-Forward Back Kick?
Top errors to watch for: Attempting without solid back kick foundation / Poor balance / Insufficient power generation.
What are other names for the Spin-Forward Back Kick?
The Spin-Forward Back Kick is also known as Supin Fowādo Bakku Kikku, Forward-Spinning Back Kick.