Uppercut Back Kick

SubFamily

アッパーカット・バック・キック(Appākatto Bakku Kikku)

Transliteration

Translation: Uppercut back kick — a back kick with an upward rising trajectory, targeting the chin or solar plexus from below-behind, combining the back kick's rearward direction with the uppercut's upward angle

Overview

The Uppercut Back Kick delivers a back kick with an upward-rising trajectory, targeting the opponent's chin, solar plexus, or groin from below and behind, combining the directional advantage of the back kick (striking behind the practitioner) with the angular advantage of an uppercut (rising from below the opponent's visual field). ^[1] While the standard back kick (ushiro geri kekomi) travels in a straight horizontal line backward, the Uppercut Back Kick angles upward at approximately 30-60° from horizontal, driving the heel upward and behind into targets that are above the standard back kick's trajectory. ^[1] The technique is particularly effective against opponents who lean forward or duck — the rising heel catches them under the chin as they drop their head, or drives upward into the solar plexus from below the protective arm guard. ^[1] De Bremaeker and Faige document the Uppercut Back Kick as one of the back kick variants in their 89-kick compilation, noting that it fills a tactical gap: the standard back kick misses opponents who duck or lean forward, while the uppercut variant rises to meet them at their lowered position. ^[1] The mechanical execution uses the same hip extension as a standard back kick but adds hip flexion to elevate the heel's trajectory — the kick effectively 'scoops' upward behind the practitioner rather than thrusting straight backward. ^[1] In MMA, the rising back kick has been used by fighters to catch opponents who duck under spinning attacks — the opponent ducks to avoid a spinning head kick, and the rising heel catches them under the chin as they come up. ^[2]

Also known as

Rising Back KickUpward Back KickUshiro Age GeriJPScooping Back KickBack Uppercut KickBoxing

Used in

Karate Taekwondo MMA Kickboxing Wushu

History & Origin

The Uppercut Back Kick represents a combination of two fundamental martial arts concepts: the backward-directed kick (present in all kicking martial arts) and the upward-rising strike (the uppercut principle). ^[1] The technique appears in various karate kata as back-kick applications that rise to meet lowered opponents, and in taekwondo as a competitive variant used against opponents who duck under spinning techniques. ^[1] De Bremaeker and Faige documented the Uppercut Back Kick as Section 4.6 in their 2010 compilation, noting its tactical value against the universal defensive reaction of ducking. ^[1] In MMA, the rising back kick has been used by fighters with karate and taekwondo backgrounds who recognise that opponents frequently duck when they see a spin beginning — the Uppercut Back Kick punishes this ducking response. ^[2]

Effectiveness

The Uppercut Back Kick is a specialist technique that exploits the universal defensive reaction of ducking: when fighters perceive a high attack (spin, head kick), they instinctively duck — and the Uppercut Back Kick is designed specifically to catch the ducking opponent on the way down or on the way up. ^[1] The rising heel under the chin produces a knockout mechanism (head rotation + hyperextension) that is difficult to defend because it arrives from below and behind simultaneously. ^[1] The technique is most effective when used as a REACTION to ducking rather than as a standalone attack — it punishes a specific defensive response rather than initiating an exchange. ^[1] In MMA, the rising back kick has produced knockouts when opponents duck under spinning attacks, confirming the technique's viability at the highest competition levels. ^[2]

Lineage

Traditional back kick + uppercut rising principle → combined as a specialist anti-ducking technique → documented by De Bremaeker & Faige (2010). ^[1]

Competition Record

Used in MMA by fighters with karate and taekwondo backgrounds as a counter to opponents who duck under spinning techniques. The technique has produced knockout finishes when the rising heel catches a ducking opponent's chin. In WT taekwondo competition, the rising back kick variant scores bonus points as a spinning technique.

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Biomechanical Mechanism

Primary Action — Hip extension (driving the leg backward) combined with hip flexion at the endpoint (elevating the heel upward), creating a curved upward trajectory behind the practitioner

Joints Involved — Hip (extension for the backward drive PLUS flexion at the terminal phase to elevate the heel), knee (extension to present the heel behind and above), ankle (dorsiflexion to present the calcaneus as the striking surface), standing leg (forward lean for counterbalance), core (engagement to control the complex trajectory)

Force Vector — Backward and upward — the heel travels on a curved path that rises as it extends behind the body. The upward component adds approximately 30-60° of elevation to the standard backward vector.

Leverage Principle — The rising trajectory exploits a defensive blind spot: most fighters defend against attacks from the front and sides, and their low-line defence (chin tucked, hands at face level) is calibrated for attacks coming from above or at their level. The Uppercut Back Kick arrives from BELOW and BEHIND — two directions that standard defence does not address simultaneously. The heel's upward path under the chin produces a 'lever' effect where the chin is driven upward, causing cervical hyperextension and rotational acceleration of the head — the same knockout mechanism as a boxing uppercut.

Position & Entry

Against a ducking opponent — When the opponent ducks to avoid a high roundhouse or spinning kick, the Uppercut Back Kick rises to meet their lowered chin from below

After a missed spin — When a spinning technique misses and the body is turned away, the rising back kick scoops upward into the opponent who may have ducked or leaned forward to avoid the spin

Against a forward-leaning opponent — When the opponent leans forward (common when attempting takedowns or slipping punches), the Uppercut Back Kick targets their exposed chin or solar plexus from below

From the clinch break — As fighters separate from the clinch, the Uppercut Back Kick fires upward into the opponent's midsection — the upward angle reaches targets that a straight back kick would pass under

As a counter to a takedown — When the opponent shoots for a takedown and lowers their level, the rising heel targets their chin or the top of their head from behind

Variants

Standard Uppercut Back Kick — rear leg fires backward and upward at 30-45° targeting the chin

Deep Uppercut Back Kick — steeper angle (45-60°) for opponents who are very low (ducking or shooting)

Short-range Uppercut Back — compact version for close range, using minimal extension but maximum upward drive

Spinning Uppercut Back Kick — adding a spin before the rising back kick for additional power

Mule-style Uppercut — using the Short Back Kick mechanics (minimal extension) with an added upward component

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Ratings

Danger Rating

Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to

Very High8/10

The Uppercut Back Kick to the chin produces the same knockout mechanism as a boxing uppercut — rotational acceleration of the head around the cervical spine — but delivered with the heel (a much harder surface than the fist) and from below (a more difficult angle to defend). When landing under the chin of a ducking opponent, the kick has produced spectacular knockouts. To the solar plexus from below, the upward-driving heel can cause severe diaphragm spasm. [1]

Difficulty

Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably

Advanced

Competition Legality

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 2025PDF

— body

WKF Competition Rules 2024PDF

Kyokushin — 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 RulesPDF

K-1/GLORY — Legal {src— K-1/GLORY Kickboxing Rules}

— IFMA — Legal — kicks are a core Muay Thai technique

IFMA Muay Thai RulesPDF

Training Notes

✓Practise the standard back kick first — the Uppercut Back Kick is a trajectory MODIFICATION of the standard version, not a separate technique. Master the hip extension and heel presentation before adding the upward elevation (De Bremaeker & Faige, 2010). ^[1] The upward trajectory comes from ELEVATING THE HIP at the end of the kick — as the leg extends backward, the hip flexes slightly to lift the heel upward. Drill this hip elevation in isolation: stand facing a wall, extend the leg backward, then practice lifting the heel higher without moving the standing leg. ^[1] On the heavy bag: hang the bag and stand with your back to it. Practise driving the heel upward and into the bag from below — the kick should strike the bag on its underside, not its front face. If the kick hits the front face, it is a standard back kick and needs more upward angle. ^[1] Partner drill: the partner holds a focus mitt at chin height from behind — the kicker fires the Uppercut Back Kick upward into the mitt. Vary the mitt height to develop range of upward angles. ^[1] The visual challenge: the Uppercut Back Kick is even more 'blind' than the standard back kick because the upward trajectory requires targeting an elevated point behind and above the practitioner. Develop the ability to sense the opponent's position through peripheral vision and spatial awareness rather than direct visual tracking. ^[1] In sparring, the Uppercut Back Kick works best as a REACTION to the opponent ducking: if you throw a high technique and the opponent ducks, the Uppercut Back Kick catches them on the way up. Time the kick to arrive as the opponent begins to rise from their duck. ^[1]

Common Mistakes

!Insufficient upward angle — the kick travels backward but not upward, becoming a standard back kick that misses the ducking opponent. The hip must elevate the heel above the horizontal plane.

!Over-extending upward — elevating too steeply (past 60°) turns the kick into an awkward upward stamp with no backward reach, losing the back kick's characteristic.

!Not presenting the heel — in the excitement of the complex trajectory, practitioners sometimes forget to dorsiflex the ankle, striking with the sole rather than the concentrated heel

!Loss of balance — the combined backward and upward movement significantly challenges balance; the standing leg must be firmly grounded and the body leaned forward as a counterbalance

!Telegraphing by looking — turning the head to look behind and ABOVE the shoulder (tracking the elevated target) is an even more obvious telegraph than a standard back kick head turn. Rely on spatial awareness.

!Mistiming against a ducking opponent — firing the uppercut too early (while they're still ducking) aims the kick below them; firing too late (after they've risen) aims above them. The kick must arrive during the transition from ducked to upright.

Related Techniques

Standard Back KickShort Back KickSpin-Back Side KickDownward Back KickUppercut

Counter Techniques

Don't duck — the simplest counter: standing upright rather than ducking removes the target the Uppercut Back Kick is designed to reach Step back — retreating creates distance that the kick cannot cover (its range is reduced by the upward angle)Low level change — shooting for a takedown directly (going LOWER than the kick's trajectory) can pass under the rising heel Side step — lateral movement takes the chin off the kick's backward-upward path Block with the forearms — raising both forearms overhead to create a barrier above the face Jab to the body during the turn — when the kicker begins to turn for the back kick, a fast jab to their exposed body can disrupt the kick before the upward component develops

Setup Chain

1Throw a high technique (spinning hook kick, head-level roundhouse) → Opponent ducks to avoid the high technique → The high technique misses over their head → Immediately fire the Uppercut Back Kick: hip extends backward, then elevates to drive the heel UPWARD → Rising heel catches the opponent under the chin as they begin to rise from the duck → Head snaps upward from the impact → Follow up with additional techniques if the opponent is staggered but still standing

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 4.6 'The Uppercut Back Kick'. [2] UFC and MMA fight records — rising back kick usage against ducking opponents.pp. De Bremaeker pp.156-157 (Section 4.6 The Uppercut Back Kick)

description: [1] De Bremaeker 2010 pp.156-157

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 4.6 'The Uppercut Back Kick'. [2] UFC and MMA fight records — rising back kick usage against ducking opponents.pp. De Bremaeker pp.156-157 (Section 4.6 The Uppercut Back Kick)

description: [1] De Bremaeker 2010 pp.156-157

Community

Athletics

Requires good hip flexibility for the combined backward extension and upward elevation

Strong gluteal muscles for the hip extension power

Good hamstring flexibility for the upward trajectory

Exceptional spatial awareness for targeting behind and above without direct visual tracking

Good balance on the standing leg during the asymmetric backward-upward movement

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Uppercut Back Kick work?

Where does the Uppercut Back Kick come from?

Is the Uppercut 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 Uppercut Back Kick?

Danger rating 8/10. The Uppercut Back Kick to the chin produces the same knockout mechanism as a boxing uppercut — rotational acceleration of the head around the cervical spine — but delivered with the heel (a much harder surface than the fist) and from below (a more difficult angle to defend). When landing under the chin of a ducking opponent, the kick has produced spectacular knockouts. To the solar plexus from below, the upward-driving heel can cause severe diaphragm spasm.

How do I set up the Uppercut Back Kick?

The standard setup chain: Throw a high technique (spinning hook kick, head-level roundhouse) → Opponent ducks to avoid the high technique → The high technique misses over their head → Immediately fire the Uppercut Back Kick: hip extends backward, then elevates to drive the heel UPWARD → Rising heel catches the opponent under the chin as they begin to rise from the duck → Head snaps upward from the impact → Follow up with additional techniques if the opponent is staggered but still standing.

How do I defend against the Uppercut Back Kick?

Standard counters include: Don't duck — the simplest counter: standing upright rather than ducking removes the target the Uppercut Back Kick is … / Step back — retreating creates distance that the kick cannot cover (its range is reduced by the upward angle) / Low level change — shooting for a takedown directly (going LOWER than the kick's trajectory) can pass under the risin… / Side step — lateral movement takes the chin off the kick's backward-upward path.

What are the variants of the Uppercut Back Kick?

Common variants: Standard Uppercut Back Kick (rear leg fires backward and upward at 30-45° targeting th…); Deep Uppercut Back Kick (steeper angle (45-60°) for opponents who are very low (du…); Short-range Uppercut Back (compact version for close range, using minimal extension …); Spinning Uppercut Back Kick (adding a spin before the rising back kick for additional …); Mule-style Uppercut (using the Short Back Kick mechanics (minimal extension) w…).

How effective is the Uppercut Back Kick in competition?

What are common mistakes when doing the Uppercut Back Kick?

Top errors to watch for: Insufficient upward angle — the kick travels backward but not upward, becoming a standard back kick that misses the d… / Over-extending upward — elevating too steeply (past 60°) turns the kick into an awkward upward stamp with no backward… / Not presenting the heel — in the excitement of the complex trajectory, practitioners sometimes forget to dorsiflex th… / Loss of balance — the combined backward and upward movement significantly challenges balance; the standing leg must b….

What are other names for the Uppercut Back Kick?

The Uppercut Back Kick is also known as Appākatto Bakku Kikku, Rising Back Kick, Upward Back Kick, Ushiro Age Geri, Scooping Back Kick.

uppercut back kick rising back kick upward back kick chin kick scooping kick ducking counter back kick heel karate taekwondo MMA strike