Crescent Kick Tutorial
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Inside Crescent Kick·Technical Taekwondo
kicking tutorial on the inside and outside crescent kicks with a few variations Thank You for Watching. Subscribe for M…
Inside Crescent Kick
SubFamily内三日月蹴り(Uchi Mikazuki-geri)
TraditionalTranslation: inside crescent kick
Overview
The Inside Crescent Kick subfamily covers crescent kicks that travel from the outside to the inside in a sweeping arc, with the kicking leg crossing the body's centreline as it strikes. [1] The inside crescent kick uses hip adduction to swing the extended leg inward, impacting with the sole or ball of the foot against the opponent's temple, jaw, or the side of the head. [1],[2] This kick can also be used to slap down an opponent's guard or deflect a lead hand, opening a path for follow-up strikes. [2],[3]
History & Origin
The inside crescent kick developed within Korean and Chinese martial arts traditions that emphasised versatile, circular kicking techniques for both offensive striking and defensive parrying applications. [1] In taekwondo, the inside crescent kick is taught as a fundamental technique and is used in both forms (poomsae) and sparring. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
The inside crescent kick sweeps from outside to inside. [1]
Lineage
A TKD and karate technique. [1]
Competition Record
Used in competition. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Ballistic extension of the arm — kinetic chain transfers force from the ground through the hips to the fist
Joints Involved — Shoulder (flexion/rotation), elbow (rapid extension), wrist (stabilised on impact), hips (rotation)
Force Vector — Linear (jab, cross) or circular (hook, overhand) depending on the punch type
Kinetic Chain — Ground reaction force → hip rotation → torso rotation → shoulder extension → fist impact — each link amplifies velocity
Position & Entry
From orthodox stance (after jab) — Rotate the rear hip forward, extend the rear hand straight to the target, pivot the rear foot
As counter (pull counter) — Lean back to avoid the incoming jab, fire the cross as the opponent's jab retracts
From clinch break — Push off from the clinch, create space, and fire the straight right as the opponent resets
Videos
Taekwondo Vol. 3 (Inside Crescent Kick)
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Inside Crescent Kick·Stellar Martial Arts
2 videos
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
5
High5/10
Arcing kick; primarily used for guard manipulation
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
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
✓Swing the kicking leg from outside to inside across the body, striking the target with the flat of the foot or sole
✓The inside crescent kick is used to knock aside the opponent's rear guard hand or to strike the temple from the outside
✓The leg crosses the centre line during the arc, reaching its peak at the target
✓Swing from the hip, keeping the leg straight and using the hip flexors to power the inward arc
✓The inside crescent kick can be used to set up other techniques: sweep the guard aside, then follow with a straight punch
✓In Taekwondo forms (poomsae), the inside crescent kick is used to demonstrate control and flexibility
✓Target the padded area of the temple or the wrist of an extended guard hand
Common Mistakes
!Not swinging the leg high enough to reach the head — the arc must rise to target height
!Bending the knee during the swing, which shortens the reach and weakens the whipping force
!Over-crossing the centre line and losing balance as the leg pulls the body sideways
!Not controlling the foot after impact — the leg continues past the target and you must pull it back
!Throwing the inside crescent from too close, where the circular arc cannot develop
!Using the inside crescent as a standalone power technique without follow-up
!Dropping the guard hand on the kicking side during the high swing
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] Karate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935) [3] Dynamic Karate (Nakayama, 1966)
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] Karate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935) [3] Dynamic Karate (Nakayama, 1966)
6CitationKarate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Comprehensive Asian Fighting Arts (Draeger & Smith, 1969)
Community
Athletics
Requires
hip rotation power, rear foot pivot, full kinetic chain coordination
Favours
reach advantage, strong hips for power transfer
Key muscles
glutes, obliques, pectorals, triceps, deltoids
Sub-techniques
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I warm up for the inside crescent kick?
Technical Taekwondo recommends swinging your leg up and making a big circle from one shoulder across to the opposite shoulder to loosen your hips, even though you won't make such an exaggerated motion during the actual kick.
What's the difference between a snap crescent kick and a front snap kick?
The snap crescent kick has a tighter range than a front snap kick because you're carrying the hip through into a circular motion while lifting the knee and popping it out, according to Technical Taekwondo.
What angle should I lift my leg at for the inside crescent kick?
Stellar Martial Arts recommends lifting your leg at around a 45-degree angle between the front and the side; if you lift too far toward the front, your opponent's hands or shoulder may block the kick.
Why is the inside crescent kick hard to see coming?
Technical Taekwondo notes that the rear leg snap crescent is compact and folds in quickly, popping up almost like a vertical front kick, making it difficult for opponents to detect.
How does the Inside Crescent Kick work?
The Inside Crescent Kick subfamily covers crescent kicks that travel from the outside to the inside in a sweeping arc, with the kicking leg crossing the body's centreline as it strikes. The inside crescent kick uses hip adduction to swing the extended leg inward, impacting with the sole or ball of the foot against the opponent's temple, jaw, or the side of the head.
Where does the Inside Crescent Kick come from?
The inside crescent kick developed within Korean and Chinese martial arts traditions that emphasised versatile, circular kicking techniques for both offensive striking and defensive parrying applications. In taekwondo, the inside crescent kick is taught as a fundamental technique and is used in both forms (poomsae) and sparring.
Is the Inside Crescent 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 Crescent Kick?
Danger rating 5/10. High — arcing kick; primarily used for guard manipulation
How do I set up the Inside Crescent Kick?
The standard setup chain: Stance and Range → Chamber the Leg → Execute the Kick → Recover.
How do I defend against the Inside Crescent 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 Crescent Kick?
Common variants: Standard cross (rear-hand straight punch with full hip rotation); Counter cross (pull counter) (leaning back to avoid the jab, firing the cross as a counter); Step-in cross (stepping forward with the punch for added reach and power); Body cross (targeting the solar plexus or liver with the straight rea…).
How effective is the Inside Crescent Kick in competition?
Used in competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Inside Crescent Kick?
Top errors to watch for: Not swinging the leg high enough to reach the head — the arc must rise to target height / Bending the knee during the swing, which shortens the reach and weakens the whipping force / Over-crossing the centre line and losing balance as the leg pulls the body sideways / Not controlling the foot after impact — the leg continues past the target and you must pull it back.
What are other names for the Inside Crescent Kick?
The Inside Crescent Kick is also known as Uchi Mikazuki-geri, An Bandal Chagi, Uchi Mikazuki Geri, Inward Crescent.