Moo Yea-Do Reverse Roundhouse Kick Tutorial
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Upward Hook Back Kick·Moo Yea Do Norco
Welcome to our Moo Yea-Do YouTube Channel!! :) This is a tutorial on how to do a Basic Reverse Roundhouse Kick perform…
Upward Hook Back Kick
SubFamilyアップワード・フック・バック・キック(Appuwādo Fukku Bakku Kikku)
Translation: Upward hook back kick
Overview
The Upward Hook Back Kick combines back kick power with a hooking redirection at the end of the trajectory, sweeping upward and around the target. [1] The initial motion is a standard back kick, but near full extension, the foot hooks upward and inward, creating a scooping effect that can catch targets behind the opponent's guard. [1]
Hooking 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 upward hook 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 upward hook back kick
From close range — Adapted version for tight distance
Variants
High variant
Mid variant
Low variant
Videos
Techniques - Throat Strike (KHALJAEBI)
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Upward Hook Back Kick·Beyond Taekwondo
Also found on Page 60 of the Beyond Sports Taekwondo Poomsae Handbook (5th Edition).
2 videos
What Instructors Say
The upward hook back kick, also called a reverse roundhouse kick, is executed by rotating into a scissor stance where the kicking foot's heel faces upward and backward toward the opponent. Moo Yea Do Norco emphasizes that beginners should start with low kicks before progressing to chest and head height, with the critical element being the snap of the back heel as the leg rotates through the striking arc. The instructor stresses that the foot must spin completely back to its original position rather than remaining extended mid-air, and that forward lean increases proportionally with target height—head kicks require significantly more forward flexion than low kicks. Hand positioning remains elevated throughout to maintain balance, which Moo Yea Do Norco identifies as the most essential component of the technique. The striking surface is consistently the back of the heel, delivered with a sharp rotational snap. While Beyond Taekwondo's transcript appears to address throat strikes rather than back kicks, it does reinforce the importance of hip rotation and body unification for power generation—principles applicable across kicking techniques. Both sources emphasize repetitive practice and proper form over speed, with focus mitt work recommended for developing power and accuracy.
Synthesized from 2 instructors
- Moo Yea Do Norco — Moo Yea-Do Reverse Roundhouse Kick Tutorial: Comprehensive progression methodology from low to high kicks; scissor stance setup; emphasis on heel snap and complete foot rotation back to original position; balance maintenance through hand positioning; lean angle variation by target height.
- Beyond Taekwondo — Techniques - Throat Strike (KHALJAEBI): General principles of hip rotation, body unification for power generation, and daily repetitive practice methodology; emphasis on proper body posture and alignment for technique effectiveness.
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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
Expert
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 upward hook 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 → Upward Hook 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 4.10. A rising back kick that hooks upward — targeting the chin or groin from a low starting position. (De Bremaeker & Faige, Essential Book of Martial Arts Kicks, 2010)
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my foot keep hanging in the air after the upward hook back kick?
According to Moo Yea Do Norco, you must bring your foot back to its original position immediately after the kick—leaving it hanging in the middle is a common mistake. Practice the rotation separately until you can execute it smoothly before adding the upward motion.
How important is hand positioning when performing this kick?
Moo Yea Do Norco emphasizes that balance is the most critical element, and this happens through proper hand and foot movement—avoid letting your hands go 'airplane mode' and instead keep them up and controlled to maintain stability throughout the technique.
What part of my foot should I use to strike with the upward hook back kick?
You should snap the kick with the back of your heel as it comes around, not the front of the foot. Moo Yea Do Norco stresses the importance of this snap in the middle of the motion for proper execution.
How does the Upward Hook Back Kick work?
The Upward Hook Back Kick combines back kick power with a hooking redirection at the end of the trajectory, sweeping upward and around the target. The initial motion is a standard back kick, but near full extension, the foot hooks upward and inward, creating a scooping effect that can catch targets behind the opponent's guard.
Where does the Upward Hook Back Kick come from?
The Upward Hook Back Kick is a specialised variant documented in cross-style kicking methodology. It represents an advanced development of the standard back kick.
Is the Upward Hook 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 Upward Hook Back Kick?
Danger rating 6/10. Back Kick variant with standard striking power
How do I set up the Upward Hook Back Kick?
The standard setup chain: Feint → Upward Hook Back Kick → Follow-up combination.
How do I defend against the Upward Hook Back Kick?
Standard counters include: Step inside range / Block and counter / Low kick to support leg.
What are the variants of the Upward Hook Back Kick?
Common variants: High variant; Mid variant; Low variant.
How effective is the Upward Hook 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 Upward Hook Back Kick?
Top errors to watch for: Attempting without solid back kick foundation / Poor balance / Insufficient power generation.
What are other names for the Upward Hook Back Kick?
The Upward Hook Back Kick is also known as Appuwādo Fukku Bakku Kikku, Hooking Back Kick.