How to HOOK KICK - Amazing Martial Arts Kicking
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Straight Leg Hook Kick·Kung Fu & Tai Chi Center w/ Jake Mace
How to HOOK KICK - Amazing Martial Arts Kicking. Here's my short tutorial on how all Martial Artists, especially Kung F…
Straight Leg Hook Kick
SubFamily直脚鉤蹴り(Chokkyaku Kagi Geri)
HybridTranslation: Chokkyaku (直脚) = straight leg, Kagi (鉤) = hook, Geri (蹴り) = kick — a hook kick delivered with the leg kept straight throughout, creating a wider arc and longer reach than the standard bent-knee hook kick
Overview
The Straight Leg Hook Kick is delivered with the kicking leg kept straight (or nearly straight) throughout the entire hooking arc, creating a wider trajectory and longer reach than the standard bent-knee hook kick while relying entirely on hip rotation for power rather than the typical knee-snap that characterises the standard version. [1] In the standard hook kick (huryeo chagi in taekwondo, ura mawashi geri in karate), the knee chambers first, the leg extends to full length as it passes the target, then the knee bends to 'hook' the heel back into the target from behind — a retraction-based striking mechanism. [1] The Straight Leg variant eliminates the retraction: the entire leg swings through the arc as a single rigid unit, and the hooking action comes from the hip rotation continuing past the target, sweeping the heel across the target surface in a wide arc from outside to inside. [1] This produces a fundamentally different impact: the standard hook kick snaps backward into the target (a whip-like retraction), while the Straight Leg Hook sweeps through the target (a bat-like swing), delivering heavier but slower impact with significantly more follow-through. [1] De Bremaeker and Faige document the Straight Leg Hook Kick as the first variant in the hook kick chapter of their 89-kick compilation, noting that its wider arc and different timing make it effective against opponents who have trained to defend the standard hook kick's retraction-based rhythm. [1] The technique is sometimes called the 'wheel kick' when delivered at head height, referencing the wheel-like circular motion of the fully extended leg. [1] In taekwondo and sport karate competition, the Straight Leg Hook Kick has produced numerous spectacular head-kick knockouts because the wide arc approaches the head from an angle that the standard frontal guard cannot cover — the heel arrives from behind and above the ear, a direction that conventional hand guards do not protect. [2]
Extended Hook KickBoxingStiff-Leg Hook KickBoxingFull-Arc Hook KickBoxingWheel Kick (when targeting the head)Heel Hook KickBoxingLong Hook KickBoxing
History & Origin
The Straight Leg Hook Kick appears across multiple martial arts traditions that favour wide, sweeping circular leg movements. [1] In taekwondo, both ITF and WT systems include straight-leg hooking variations as standard competition techniques. [2] In capoeira, the armada and meia lua de compasso use similar fully-extended circular leg sweeps as core techniques. [1] In Northern Chinese kung fu and wushu, sweeping hook kicks with straight legs are common in both forms and combat applications. [1] De Bremaeker and Faige documented the technique as Section 5.1 in their 2010 compilation, placing it as the first variant in the hook kick family. [1] The technique has gained prominence in modern competition through highlight-reel head-kick knockouts, particularly in taekwondo where the heel sweeping around the opponent's guard produces some of the sport's most dramatic finishes. [2]
Effectiveness
The Straight Leg Hook Kick is one of the most effective head-targeting techniques in martial arts because the heel approaches from a direction that the standard frontal guard cannot protect: from behind and above the ear. [1] The wide arc means the kick bypasses the guard entirely rather than impacting against it. [1] The full-length lever arm produces angular momentum sufficient for immediate knockout when the heel contacts the temple or jaw. [2] The technique is most effective as a surprise weapon — its wider arc is visible if the opponent is watching for it, so it works best when disguised by combinations, feints, or after the opponent's attention has been drawn in another direction. [1] In WT taekwondo competition, hook kicks (including the straight-leg variant) are among the highest-scoring single techniques due to the bonus points awarded for head contact. [2]
Lineage
Traditional circular kicking techniques (capoeira armada, Northern kung fu sweeping kicks, TKD hook kicks) → straight-leg variant developed for competition reach and timing advantages → documented by De Bremaeker & Faige (2010). [1]
Competition Record
The Straight Leg Hook Kick (and its spinning variant) has produced numerous highlight-reel head-kick knockouts in WT and ITF taekwondo World Championships and Olympic Games. In kickboxing, the 'wheel kick' variant is responsible for several career-defining knockouts. In MMA, the spinning heel kick (a close relative) has produced memorable UFC finishes by fighters including Edson Barboza (spinning heel kick KO of Terry Etim, UFC 142).
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — The entire leg (hip-to-heel) swings as a single rigid unit in a wide hooking arc from outside to inside, powered entirely by hip rotation — no knee chamber, no retraction snap
Joints Involved — Hip (the SOLE power source — full rotation driving the extended leg through the arc), knee (maintained in slight flexion or near-full extension — NO chamber-snap cycle), ankle (dorsiflexion to present the heel as the striking surface), standing leg (pivot on the ball of the foot for full rotation)
Force Vector — Circular, from outside to inside, sweeping across the target surface. The wider radius (full leg length, approximately 40 inches) compared to the standard hook kick's retraction arc (lower leg, approximately 18 inches) produces more angular momentum at the same rotational speed.
Leverage Principle — The full-length lever arm produces maximum angular momentum: p = mvr, where r (radius) is the full leg length. The longer lever accelerates more slowly (higher moment of inertia) but carries more total momentum at the contact point. The heel, at the end of the longest possible lever arm, achieves the highest velocity of any point on the body during the kick. The follow-through quality means the heel does not stop at the target surface (as in a retraction hook) but sweeps THROUGH it, delivering energy over a longer contact duration — this is the 'bat effect' that produces heavy, concussive impacts.
Position & Entry
From fighting stance (rear leg, head height) — Rotate the body on the standing leg, swinging the extended rear leg in a wide arc from outside the body toward the opponent's head — the heel sweeps across the temple or jaw from behind
From fighting stance (lead leg) — A faster but less powerful version using the front leg, often used as a surprise lead technique in competition
After a feint or combination — Jab-cross to draw the opponent's guard high and central, then sweep the Straight Leg Hook around the guard from the outside — the wide arc reaches the back of the head where the guard cannot protect
As a counter — When the opponent throws and misses, the Straight Leg Hook's wide arc catches them during their recovery — the extended reach reaches targets that a standard counter-hook would fall short of
Against a taller opponent — The wider arc provides greater reach than a standard hook kick, partially compensating for the height disadvantage
Variants
Standard Straight Leg Hook (rear leg) — the full-power version using the rear leg with complete hip rotation
Lead Leg Straight Hook — faster delivery from the front leg for surprise scoring
Spinning Straight Leg Hook — adding a 180° spin before the hook for additional rotational force (the highest-power variant)
Low Straight Leg Hook — targeting the body or legs with the sweeping arc
Jumping Straight Leg Hook — adding a jump for height and spectacle
360° Straight Leg Hook — full rotation before the hook (approaching the 360 Spin Crescent in mechanics)
Videos
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
8
Very High8/10
The Straight Leg Hook Kick to the head produces devastating knockouts because the heel arrives from behind and above the ear — a direction the standard frontal guard cannot protect. The full-length lever arm generates enormous angular momentum, and the heel's concentrated surface delivers high-pressure impact. Tournament knockouts from the straight-leg hook kick are among the most spectacular in martial arts competition. [1,2]
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
✓The hip rotation must be complete and explosive — without the knee snap, the hip is the ONLY power source. Develop rotational hip power through medicine ball throws, cable wood chops, and rotational jumps (De Bremaeker & Faige, 2010). [1] The leg must remain RIGID throughout the arc: any knee bend during the swing converts the technique into a standard hook kick and loses the wide-arc advantage. Practise with deliberate knee stiffness initially. [1] The standing leg pivot is critical: the ball of the standing foot must rotate a FULL 180° or more to enable the hip to complete the hook's arc. An incomplete pivot restricts the arc and produces a weak, off-balance kick. [1] Hamstring flexibility is essential: the straight leg at head height requires full hamstring range of motion. If the hamstrings are tight, the leg cannot reach head level without compensatory body lean, which weakens the kick. Stretch the hamstrings daily: standing and seated forward folds, PNF stretching, dynamic leg swings. [1] On the heavy bag: the Straight Leg Hook should produce a different sound than the standard hook — a deeper, heavier THUD with visible bag follow-through, rather than the sharp CRACK of a snap hook. The bag should swing in a wide arc from the sweeping impact. [1] Drill the 'wheel kick' application: practise sweeping the heel across a partner's focus mitt held behind and above their ear — the heel must arrive from the outside and sweep across, not from the front. [1] In sparring, the Straight Leg Hook works best against opponents who have retreated just beyond standard kicking range — the wider arc provides the extra reach to catch them. [1]
Common Mistakes
!Bending the knee during the arc — the defining error: if the knee bends and then snaps, the technique becomes a standard hook kick and loses the wide-arc characteristics. The knee must remain consistently straight or near-straight.
!Insufficient hip rotation — without the knee snap, incomplete hip rotation produces a weak, short-arc kick. The hip must rotate fully through the hooking trajectory.
!Targeting with the ball of the foot — the HEEL must be the contact surface (dorsiflexion presenting the calcaneus). The ball of the foot on a straight-leg arc risks metatarsal fracture.
!Over-committing the body — the wider arc and follow-through make the Straight Leg Hook difficult to abort mid-motion. If the kick misses, the body's rotation continues, leaving the kicker off-balance.
!Poor standing-leg pivot — an incomplete pivot restricts the arc and forces the body to compensate by leaning, which reduces power and accuracy
!Kicking too slowly — the wider arc naturally makes the kick slower than the standard hook; excessive slowness makes it easy to see and block. The hip rotation must be explosive to minimise the arrival time.
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Duck under the arc — the straight-leg hook travels at head height; ducking below the arc avoids it entirelyStep inside — closing distance before the wide arc develops jams the kick at short range where it cannot generate powerLean back — pulling the head back as the heel approaches causes it to sweep through empty spaceStraight counter — the wide arc exposes the kicker's back during the middle of the rotation; a fast straight counter during this window catches the kicker mid-spinLow kick to the standing leg — attacking the pivot leg during the extended arcBlock with both hands behind the head — covering the back of the head with both arms intercepts the heel (though the force may still be concussive)
Setup Chain
1Establish jab-cross combinations to draw the opponent's guard high and central → Opponent focuses on defending straight-line attacks from the front → Initiate the Straight Leg Hook with explosive hip rotation → Extended leg sweeps in a wide arc from outside → Heel travels around the opponent's guard, approaching from behind and above the ear → Heel impacts the temple or jaw from the unguarded direction → The wide arc's follow-through carries the heel THROUGH the target → Knockout or severe stunning
2If missed: recover to fighting stance quickly or flow into a follow-up technique
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. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4629-0558-4. Section 5.1 'The Straight Leg Hook Kick'. [2] Pieter, W. and Heijmans, J. (1997). Scientific Coaching for Olympic Taekwondo. Meyer & Meyer Sport. Hook kick analysis.pp. De Bremaeker pp.177-180 (Section 5.1 The Straight Leg Hook Kick)
description: [1] De Bremaeker 2010 pp.177-180, [2] Pieter 1997
2OtherJapanese Martial Arts Hybrid Terminology
Mixed Japanese-Western terminology — combines traditional Japanese terms with katakana loanwords
3Citation[1] De Bremaeker, M. and Faige, R. (2010). Essential Book of Martial Arts Kicks. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4629-0558-4. Section 5.1 'The Straight Leg Hook Kick'. [2] Pieter, W. and Heijmans, J. (1997). Scientific Coaching for Olympic Taekwondo. Meyer & Meyer Sport. Hook kick analysis.pp. De Bremaeker pp.177-180 (Section 5.1 The Straight Leg Hook Kick)
description: [1] De Bremaeker 2010 pp.177-180, [2] Pieter 1997
Community
Athletics
Requires excellent hamstring flexibility for the straight leg at head height
Strong hip rotators for the sole power source
Good balance on the standing leg during the wide arc
Proprioception for the follow-through (the body continues rotating after the kick)
Above-average cardiovascular fitness (the wide arc is physically demanding)
Tall practitioners with long legs gain the most absolute reach advantage
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the two main ways to practice the straight leg hook kick?
Jake Mace teaches two methods: first, hanging the leg out in a big circle while keeping it as straight as possible with a wide arc, and second, a snapped version from a chambered knee position similar to a punching snap, which is the version recommended for actual fighting.
How should I execute the hook kick for fighting?
Start with your back pocket and butt cheek facing the target, then snap the kick with a pop, flicking your leg so your heel nearly touches your own butt—this snapped version has better accuracy and speed than the wide-arc training method.
What's a good drill to practice the hook kick at different heights?
Have your partner hold targets at three different levels—high, medium, and low—and practice multiple repetitions of the snapped hook kick at each height to build consistency and accuracy.
How does the Straight Leg Hook Kick work?
The Straight Leg Hook Kick is delivered with the kicking leg kept straight (or nearly straight) throughout the entire hooking arc, creating a wider trajectory and longer reach than the standard bent-knee hook kick while relying entirely on hip rotation for power rather than the typical knee-snap that characterises the standard version. In the standard hook kick (huryeo chagi in taekwondo, ura mawashi geri in karate), the knee chambers first, the leg extends to full length as it passes the target, then the knee bends to 'hook' the heel back into the target from behind — a retraction-based striking mechanism.
Where does the Straight Leg Hook Kick come from?
The Straight Leg Hook Kick appears across multiple martial arts traditions that favour wide, sweeping circular leg movements. In taekwondo, both ITF and WT systems include straight-leg hooking variations as standard competition techniques.
Is the Straight Leg 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 Straight Leg Hook Kick?
Danger rating 8/10. The Straight Leg Hook Kick to the head produces devastating knockouts because the heel arrives from behind and above the ear — a direction the standard frontal guard cannot protect. The full-length lever arm generates enormous angular momentum, and the heel's concentrated surface delivers high-pressure impact. Tournament knockouts from the straight-leg hook kick are among the most spectacular in martial arts competition.
How do I set up the Straight Leg Hook Kick?
The standard setup chain: Establish jab-cross combinations to draw the opponent's guard high and central → Opponent focuses on defending straight-line attacks from the front → Initiate the Straight Leg Hook with explosive hip rotation → Extended leg sweeps in a wide arc from outside → Heel travels around the opponent's guard, approaching from behind and above the ear → Heel impacts the temple or jaw from the unguarded direction → The wide arc's follow-through carries the heel THROUGH the target → Knockout or severe stunning → If missed: recover to fighting stance quickly or flow into a follow-up technique.
How do I defend against the Straight Leg Hook Kick?
Standard counters include: Duck under the arc — the straight-leg hook travels at head height; ducking below the arc avoids it entirely / Step inside — closing distance before the wide arc develops jams the kick at short range where it cannot generate power / Lean back — pulling the head back as the heel approaches causes it to sweep through empty space / Straight counter — the wide arc exposes the kicker's back during the middle of the rotation; a fast straight counter ….
What are the variants of the Straight Leg Hook Kick?
Common variants: Standard Straight Leg Hook (rear leg) (the full-power version using the rear leg with complete h…); Lead Leg Straight Hook (faster delivery from the front leg for surprise scoring); Spinning Straight Leg Hook (adding a 180° spin before the hook for additional rotatio…); Low Straight Leg Hook (targeting the body or legs with the sweeping arc); Jumping Straight Leg Hook (adding a jump for height and spectacle); 360° Straight Leg Hook (full rotation before the hook (approaching the 360 Spin C…).
How effective is the Straight Leg Hook Kick in competition?
The Straight Leg Hook Kick (and its spinning variant) has produced numerous highlight-reel head-kick knockouts in WT and ITF taekwondo World Championships and Olympic Games. In kickboxing, the 'wheel kick' variant is responsible for several career-defining knockouts.
What are common mistakes when doing the Straight Leg Hook Kick?
Top errors to watch for: Bending the knee during the arc — the defining error: if the knee bends and then snaps, the technique becomes a stand… / Insufficient hip rotation — without the knee snap, incomplete hip rotation produces a weak, short-arc kick. The hip m… / Targeting with the ball of the foot — the HEEL must be the contact surface (dorsiflexion presenting the calcaneus). T… / Over-committing the body — the wider arc and follow-through make the Straight Leg Hook difficult to abort mid-motion.….
What are other names for the Straight Leg Hook Kick?
The Straight Leg Hook Kick is also known as Chokkyaku Kagi Geri, Extended Hook Kick, Stiff-Leg Hook Kick, Full-Arc Hook Kick, Wheel Kick (when targeting the head).