Scott Adkins Spinning Hook Kick Tutorial
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Small Heel Back Hook Kick·Scott Adkins
World renowned martial artist Scott Adkins teaches you how to improve the speed and power of the SPINNING HOOK KICK. One…
Small Heel Back Hook Kick
SubFamilyスモール・ヒール・バック・フック・キック(Sumōru Hīru Bakku Fukku Kikku)
Translation: Small heel back hook kick
Overview
The Small Heel Back Hook Kick is a short-range hook kick striking with the heel in a tight arc, optimised for close-quarters fighting. [1] The compact motion and hard heel striking surface make it effective at ranges where a full hook kick cannot develop. [1]
Compact Heel Hook KickBoxing
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
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 — Hook Kick mechanics modified for small heel back 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 small heel back hook kick
From close range — Adapted version for tight distance
Variants
High variant
Mid variant
Low variant
Videos
1 video
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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
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
✓Master the standard hook kick before attempting the small heel back 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 → Small Heel Back 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 5.5. A compact hook kick using a shorter arc — the heel travels in a tighter circle for faster delivery at close range. (De Bremaeker & Faige, Essential Book of Martial Arts Kicks, 2010)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the hook kick a powerful kick?
Scott Adkins notes that the hook kick is not the most powerful kick, but it can be useful in a real situation to distract an opponent so you can follow up with something else.
How do I chamber and execute a proper hook kick?
According to Scott Adkins, you need to chamber the knee up and hook with the heel, bringing the leg in while keeping your foot in the correct position—this foundation is essential before attempting a spinning version.
What's the most efficient way to do a spinning hook kick?
Scott Adkins teaches that the easiest and most efficient method is to start with a back kick switch, then go higher and turn it into a hook kick at the last minute rather than committing to a spinning motion early.
How do I maintain balance and readiness after throwing a hook kick?
Scott Adkins emphasizes that regaining your balance and returning to your fighting stance as quickly as possible after the kick is essential, so you're ready for whatever comes next.
How does the Small Heel Back Hook Kick work?
The Small Heel Back Hook Kick is a short-range hook kick striking with the heel in a tight arc, optimised for close-quarters fighting. The compact motion and hard heel striking surface make it effective at ranges where a full hook kick cannot develop.
Where does the Small Heel Back Hook Kick come from?
The Small Heel Back Hook Kick is a specialised variant documented in cross-style kicking methodology. It represents an advanced development of the standard hook kick.
Is the Small Heel Back 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 Small Heel Back Hook Kick?
Danger rating 6/10. Hook Kick variant with standard striking power
How do I set up the Small Heel Back Hook Kick?
The standard setup chain: Feint → Small Heel Back Hook Kick → Follow-up combination.
How do I defend against the Small Heel Back Hook Kick?
Standard counters include: Step inside range / Block and counter / Low kick to support leg.
What are the variants of the Small Heel Back Hook Kick?
Common variants: High variant; Mid variant; Low variant.
How effective is the Small Heel Back Hook 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 Small Heel Back Hook Kick?
Top errors to watch for: Attempting without solid hook kick foundation / Poor balance / Insufficient power generation.
What are other names for the Small Heel Back Hook Kick?
The Small Heel Back Hook Kick is also known as Sumōru Hīru Bakku Fukku Kikku, Compact Heel Hook Kick.