How To Do One Of The Most DEVASTATING Kicks | Spinning Hook Kick Tutorial
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Drop Hook Kick·Spence Crosby
Join me Spence Crosby in learning how to do one of the most devastating kicks in all of martial arts. The spinning hook …
Drop Hook Kick
SubFamilyドロップ・フック・キック(Doroppu Fukku Kikku)
Translation: Drop hook kick
Overview
History & Origin
Effectiveness
Offers specific tactical advantages over the standard hook kick in appropriate situations. [1]
Lineage
Cross-style martial arts kicking tradition; documented in kick compendiums. [1]
Competition Record
An acrobatic kick variation primarily seen in demonstrations and point-fighting tournaments. Not practical in full-contact competition due to the ground recovery time required. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Hook Kick mechanics modified for drop hook kick variant
Joints Involved — Hip, knee, ankle — specific to hook kick trajectory
Force Vector — Modified hook kick trajectory
Leverage Principle — Hip rotation and leg extension generate force along the hook kick arc
Position & Entry
From fighting stance — Chamber and execute the drop hook kick
From close range — Adapted version for tight distance
Variants
High variant
Mid variant
Low variant
Videos
3 Tips To Make Your Hook Kick SUPER EFFECTIVE !!!
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Drop Hook Kick·Stephen Wonderboy Thompson
In today's Technique Tuesday, I bring my buddy and world class point fighter, Trent Spence, to give us some tips on how …
2 videos
What Instructors Say
The drop hook kick is a versatile striking technique that combines defensive footwork with explosive kicking mechanics. Stephen Wonderboy Thompson and Trent Spence emphasize three primary execution methods: a defensive clearing technique where the practitioner steps backward to create distance before launching the hook kick as the opponent closes the gap; an offensive approach using a 'universal chamber' position that keeps opponents guessing by allowing seamless transitions between hook kicks, round kicks, and side kicks; and a backdoor variant where the fighter pivots off the back foot while stepping laterally, allowing the kick to land as the opponent moves forward. Both instructors stress the importance of hip dexterity and flexibility to achieve height and speed. Spence Crosby's analysis of the spinning hook kick variant adds critical technical details: striking with the heel rather than toes to maximize damage and reduce injury risk, maintaining proper chamber position until full release point to ensure balance and power generation, using hip rotation to generate momentum, stiffening the kicking leg upon extension, and maintaining visual contact with the target throughout the spin to prevent wasted energy and vulnerability. Common across all instruction is the emphasis on timing, precise footwork spacing, and the need for extensive practice to make the technique feel natural before advanced applications.
Synthesized from 2 instructors
- Stephen Wonderboy Thompson — 3 Tips To Make Your Hook Kick SUPER EFFECTIVE !!!: Demonstrated three hook kick variations: defensive clearing technique with backstep, offensive universal chamber method for deception, and backdoor hook kick using lateral pivot footwork. Emphasized hip dexterity and keeping opponents guessing.
- Spence Crosby — How To Do One Of The Most DEVASTATING Kicks | Spinning Hook Kick Tutorial: Detailed technical breakdown of spinning hook kick mechanics including proper chambering, heel strike preference, hip engagement, leg stiffening at extension, footwork spacing, target spotting through peripheral vision, and common mistakes in timing and balance.
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
6
High6/10
Hook 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 hook kick before attempting the drop hook kick (De Bremaeker & Faige, 2010)
✓Practise with pad work for targeting accuracy
Common Mistakes
!Attempting without solid hook kick foundation
!Poor balance
!Insufficient power generation
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Feint → Drop Hook 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 hook kick foundation
Good balance and coordination
Notes
Documented in De Bremaeker & Faige, Section 5.11. A hook kick delivered while dropping to the ground — acrobatic variant used in demonstrations and point-fighting. (De Bremaeker & Faige, Essential Book of Martial Arts Kicks, 2010)
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the most common mistake when throwing a spinning hook kick?
According to Spence Crosby, a major mistake is a sloppy chamber position—you need to maintain proper form when chambering the kick before extending it.
Should I strike with my heel or toes when throwing a hook kick?
Spence Crosby recommends striking with your heel rather than your toes, since striking with toes risks breaking them.
What's the universal chamber and why should I use it?
Stephen Wonderboy Thompson's universal chamber is a high chamber position that keeps your opponent guessing because from that position you can throw a side kick, hook kick, or round kick—once you commit to a lower chamber, your opponent knows what's coming.
How do I set up a hook kick defensively?
Stephen Wonderboy Thompson steps back to create distance, which gives him time to land the hook kick through his opponent's face while they're moving defensively.
How does the Drop Hook Kick work?
The Drop Hook Kick delivers a hook kick while dropping the body, creating a sweeping low-level attack. The drop changes the plane of the attack, making the hook trajectory come from an unexpected low angle.
Where does the Drop Hook Kick come from?
The Drop Hook Kick is a specialised variant documented in cross-style kicking methodology. It represents an advanced development of the standard hook kick.
Is the Drop Hook 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 Drop Hook Kick?
Danger rating 6/10. Hook Kick variant with standard striking power
How do I set up the Drop Hook Kick?
The standard setup chain: Feint → Drop Hook Kick → Follow-up combination.
How do I defend against the Drop Hook Kick?
Standard counters include: Step inside range / Block and counter / Low kick to support leg.
What are the variants of the Drop Hook Kick?
Common variants: High variant; Mid variant; Low variant.
How effective is the Drop Hook Kick in competition?
An acrobatic kick variation primarily seen in demonstrations and point-fighting tournaments. Not practical in full-contact competition due to the ground recovery time required.
What are common mistakes when doing the Drop Hook Kick?
Top errors to watch for: Attempting without solid hook kick foundation / Poor balance / Insufficient power generation.
What are other names for the Drop Hook Kick?
The Drop Hook Kick is also known as Doroppu Fukku Kikku, Dropping Hook Kick.