Master Rubin's Fight Technique - Tom Cat 3 & 4
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Inward-Tilted Front Kick·PG-2-GP Fitness
Master Rubin's Tom Cat Style Fight Technique 3 & 4 - Learn Street Fighting/ Anti Bullying/ MMA Style Fighting Techniques…
Inward-Tilted Front Kick
SubFamily内傾前蹴り(Uchikei Mae Geri)
descriptiveTranslation: inward-tilted front kick
Overview
The Inward-Tilted Front Kick is a front kick with a trajectory change at the end from outside inward, creating a hybrid between a front kick and a small roundhouse. [1] The kick starts with a regular straight high-knee chamber, then the leg tilts mildly outward while the foot turns inward, causing the ball of the foot to connect from outside in. [1] While not a powerful kick, it is effective against opponents who stand sideways and feel protected from straight kicks. [1] The overall feeling is of a front kick rather than a roundhouse, with the trajectory change adding an element of surprise. [1]
Inside Tilted Front KickInward Angle Front Kick
History & Origin
A hybrid technique in the space between front kicks and roundhouse kicks, practiced in various karate styles and kickboxing as a deception tool. [1]
Effectiveness
Not a powerful kick, but effective as a surprise technique against opponents who stand sideways and feel protected from straight kicks. [1]
Lineage
Documented in De Bremaeker & Faige, Essential Book of Martial Arts Kicks (2010). Practiced across multiple kicking arts. [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 — Front kick with trajectory change at the end from outside inward — hybrid of front kick and small roundhouse
Joints Involved — Hip flexion (chamber), knee extension with mild lateral tilt, ankle inversion
Force Vector — Forward with inward arc at terminal phase
Striking Surface — Ball of foot connecting from outside to inside
Position & Entry
From fighting stance — Chamber knee straight up, then tilt leg outward and turn foot inward during extension
Against sideways opponent — Target exposed ribs from unexpected angle
Variants
From outside 45-degree angle — wider arc for more surprise
Combined with hand feint — jab-kick combo
Videos
Master Rubin's Tom Cat Style Fight Technique 1 & 2 - Using The Attacker's Force Against Them
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Inward-Tilted Front Kick·PG-2-GP Fitness
Face Any Size Attacker & Fight Like a Pro - Learn Street Fighting/ Anti Bullying/ MMA Style Fighting Techniques CAUTION…
How to practice inside block martial arts for beginners part 2
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Inward-Tilted Front Kick·Fitness Karate Academy
Learn inside block martial arts step by step in natural pose and in front stance or zenkutso dachi with Sensei James G…
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3 videosWhat Instructors Say
The inward-tilted front kick is primarily addressed through the Tom Cat style teachings of Master Rubin at PG-2-GP Fitness, though the technique name does not appear explicitly in the provided transcripts. Instead, the instructors focus on defensive hand techniques called 'thumb-cut' movements that employ similar biomechanical principles of angled deflection and forward momentum. Master Rubin emphasizes using the opponent's force against them rather than meeting power with power, a principle applicable to both striking and defensive techniques. The instructional approach involves four sequential movements (numbered 1-4) that combine blocking, striking, and control elements in flowing combinations. PG-2-GP Fitness instructors stress the importance of relaxation over tension, forward movement into attacks rather than backward retreat, and maintaining leg proximity for follow-up control techniques such as knee targeting. The technique is presented as practical self-defense applicable across age ranges and skill levels, with emphasis on timing, hand positioning, and seamless transitions between defensive and offensive actions. Fitness Karate Academy's contribution addresses 45-degree angular body motion, suggesting the body angle plays a crucial role in executing angled defensive techniques, though detail is limited in the available transcript.
Synthesized from 3 instructors
- PG-2-GP Fitness — Master Rubin's Fight Technique - Tom Cat 3 & 4: Demonstrated thumb-cut techniques 3 and 4, showing blocking and striking combinations against lower body attacks from the stomach area, with emphasis on hand positioning and breaking techniques.
- PG-2-GP Fitness — Master Rubin's Tom Cat Style Fight Technique 1 & 2 - Using The Attacker's Force Against Them: Established foundational principles of using opponent force, forward movement into attacks, relaxed hand movement, and integrated knee strikes; demonstrated thumb-cut techniques 1-3 with detailed hand and body positioning for defense and counter-striking.
- Fitness Karate Academy — How to practice inside block martial arts for beginners part 2: Referenced 45-degree body motion principles relevant to angled defensive technique execution.
Learn This Technique
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
3
Moderate3/10
Moderate — limited power due to angle change. Surprise value is the primary weapon.
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Unified MMA— standard striking technique
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDFWKF Karate— controlled contact required
WKF Kumite Rules 2026PDFWT Taekwondo— kicks are primary scoring technique
WT Competition Rules 2026PDFWAKO Kickboxing— full contact permitted
WAKO Full Contact RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓Start as a completely normal front kick — the tilt happens only at the END
✓Overall feeling must be of a front kick, not a roundhouse
✓Keep the tilt mild
✓Less effective than outward-tilted version because inward strikes are more expected
Common Mistakes
!Starting the tilt too early — makes it look like a roundhouse
!Tilting too aggressively
!Telegraphing by pre-rotating the hip
!Not returning to guard quickly
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Jab-cross to occupy hands → inward-tilted front kick to exposed ribs
2Feint straight front kick → change angle at the last moment
Sources & References
Primary Source
De Bremaeker, M. & Faige, R. (2010). Essential Book of Martial Arts Kicks. Tuttle Publishing.
1BookDe Bremaeker, M. & Faige, R. (2010). Essential Book of Martial Arts Kicks. Tuttle Publishing.pp. pp. 35-36
[1] De Bremaeker & Faige, Essential Book of Martial Arts Kicks (2010), Section 1.10, pp. 35-36
2CitationDe Bremaeker, M. & Faige, R. (2010). Essential Book of Martial Arts Kicks. Tuttle Publishing.pp. pp. 35-36
[1] De Bremaeker & Faige, Essential Book of Martial Arts Kicks (2010), Section 1.10, pp. 35-36
Community
Athletics
Requires
hip flexibility, fine motor control of kicking trajectory
Key muscles
hip flexors, quadriceps, hip adductors
Frequently Asked Questions
Why shouldn't I back up when someone attacks me?
Master Rubin emphasizes that backing up gives momentum to your opponent, allowing them to hit you more effectively. Instead, move forward and to the side to take them off balance.
How do I practice the inward-tilted front kick sequence?
Master Rubin teaches practicing the kick in a numbered sequence (one through four), then bringing it back, repeating the pattern to build muscle memory and proper form.
What's the key principle of Tom Cat style defensive technique?
According to Master Rubin, Tom Cat style uses relaxation and forward movement to redirect an attacker's force against them, rather than meeting power with power like in karate tournaments.
How does the Inward-Tilted Front Kick work?
The Inward-Tilted Front Kick is a front kick with a trajectory change at the end from outside inward, creating a hybrid between a front kick and a small roundhouse. The kick starts with a regular straight high-knee chamber, then the leg tilts mildly outward while the foot turns inward, causing the ball of the foot to connect from outside in.
Where does the Inward-Tilted Front Kick come from?
A hybrid technique in the space between front kicks and roundhouse kicks, practiced in various karate styles and kickboxing as a deception tool.
Is the Inward-Tilted Front Kick legal in competition?
Unified MMA: Legal: legal — standard striking technique; WKF Karate: Legal: legal — controlled contact required; WT Taekwondo: Legal: legal — kicks are primary scoring technique; WAKO Kickboxing: Legal: legal — full contact permitted
How dangerous is the Inward-Tilted Front Kick?
Danger rating 3/10. Low-Moderate — limited power due to angle change. Surprise value is the primary weapon.
How do I set up the Inward-Tilted Front Kick?
The standard setup chain: Jab-cross to occupy hands → inward-tilted front kick to exposed ribs → Feint straight front kick → change angle at the last moment.
How do I defend against the Inward-Tilted Front Kick?
Standard counters include: Step back out of range / Block with rear elbow / Inside parry to redirect.
What are the variants of the Inward-Tilted Front Kick?
Common variants: From outside 45-degree angle (wider arc for more surprise); Combined with hand feint (jab-kick combo).
How effective is the Inward-Tilted Front 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 Inward-Tilted Front Kick?
Top errors to watch for: Starting the tilt too early — makes it look like a roundhouse / Tilting too aggressively / Telegraphing by pre-rotating the hip / Not returning to guard quickly.
What are other names for the Inward-Tilted Front Kick?
The Inward-Tilted Front Kick is also known as Uchikei Mae Geri, Inside Tilted Front Kick, Inward Angle Front Kick.