Round Kick/ Turning Kick Tip: How to Pivot with Power
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Drop Roundhouse Kick·Ando Mierzwa
►Click here for my Kicking Basics Course! http://www.senseiando.com/kicking-basics-course/ There are many ways to thro…
Drop Roundhouse Kick
SubFamilyドロップ・ラウンドハウス・キック(Doroppu Raundohausu Kikku)
Translation: Drop roundhouse kick
Overview
The Drop Roundhouse Kick is a roundhouse delivered while intentionally dropping the body, attacking from an unexpected low angle. [1] The dropping motion creates a unique circular trajectory that comes from below the opponent's visual field. [1] It can be used both offensively and as a surprise counter. [1]
Dropping RoundhouseSacrifice Roundhouse
History & Origin
Effectiveness
Offers specific tactical advantages over the standard roundhouse 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 — Roundhouse Kick mechanics modified for drop roundhouse kick variant
Joints Involved — Hip, knee, ankle — specific to roundhouse kick trajectory
Force Vector — Modified roundhouse kick trajectory
Leverage Principle — Hip rotation and leg extension generate force along the roundhouse kick arc
Position & Entry
From fighting stance — Chamber and execute the drop roundhouse kick
From close range — Adapted version for tight distance
Variants
High variant
Mid variant
Low variant
Videos
Muay Thai Tip: Drop Step for Kicks
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Drop Roundhouse Kick·BAM Channel
Intermediate level students at West Los Angeles College drill the drop step for kicking. www.muaythaiamerica.net
2 videos
What Instructors Say
The drop roundhouse kick is a technical variation that emphasizes rapid foot repositioning to improve speed, range, and the ability to pursue a moving opponent. SenseiAndo.com focuses on the foundational pivot mechanics that underpin all roundhouse kicks, emphasizing that pivoting on the ball of the foot—not the heel or flat foot—is essential for power generation and knee safety. Ando's progressions stress drilling the pivot in isolation, from slow pivots to airborne pivots and squat-based pivots, to build core-driven power independent of the kicking leg. BAM Channel, teaching from a Muay Thai context, specifically addresses the drop step as a tactical tool: immediately dropping (resetting) the standing foot after the kick lands accelerates repositioning for multiple kicks, enables the fighter to chase a retreating opponent, and maintains hip mobility for continued offensive combinations. Both instructors agree on the importance of hip engagement—Ando emphasizes pivoting to set up the kick's power, while BAM stresses that the hip must move back after the drop step to maintain striking force. Where they diverge, Ando treats the roundhouse as a general striking tool with multiple valid expressions, whereas BAM presents the drop step within combative Muay Thai sequences, including chaining multiple kicks and applying the concept to push kicks and knees. Both note that beginners should practice the fundamental mechanics before adding speed or complexity.
Synthesized from 2 instructors
- SenseiAndo.com — Round Kick/ Turning Kick Tip: How to Pivot with Power: Detailed pivot mechanics and progression drills (slow pivot, air pivot, single-leg balance pivot, continuous pivot, squat-based pivot) to build power and control through proper ball-of-foot pivoting and core engagement.
- BAM Channel — Muay Thai Tip: Drop Step for Kicks: Tactical application of the drop step to accelerate kick delivery, enable pursuit of moving opponents, and facilitate multiple consecutive kicks while maintaining hip positioning and power generation.
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
6
High6/10
Roundhouse 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 roundhouse kick before attempting the drop roundhouse kick (De Bremaeker & Faige, 2010)
✓Practise with pad work for targeting accuracy
Common Mistakes
!Attempting without solid roundhouse kick foundation
!Poor balance
!Insufficient power generation
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Feint → Drop Roundhouse 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 roundhouse kick foundation
Good balance and coordination
Notes
Documented in De Bremaeker & Faige, Section 3.5. A roundhouse kick delivered while dropping to the ground — the dropping motion adds a downward angle to the circular trajectory. (De Bremaeker & Faige, Essential Book of Martial Arts Kicks, 2010)
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the most common mistake when pivoting for a roundhouse kick?
According to Ando Mierzwa, pivoting on your heel or flat foot is a major mistake that can injure your knee. Always pivot on the ball of your foot to maintain proper control and protect your joints.
How should I practice the pivot movement before throwing the actual kick?
Ando Mierzwa recommends starting with slow, controlled pivots on the ball of your foot without throwing the kick, so you can focus on your setup and core engagement rather than just your kicking foot. Once you feel comfortable, gradually add speed and power to the pivot.
Can I chamber the kick with my knee or should I step out and throw my hip?
Ando Mierzwa notes that both approaches work—you can lead with a knee chamber or step out and throw the hip. The key is that either way, you must maintain a proper pivot on the ball of your foot.
How does the drop step help with kick timing?
According to the BAM Channel, resetting your foot with a drop step allows you to get the kick off faster, and the hip still needs to move back to generate proper power and maintain distance management against a moving opponent.
How does the Drop Roundhouse Kick work?
The Drop Roundhouse Kick is a roundhouse delivered while intentionally dropping the body, attacking from an unexpected low angle. The dropping motion creates a unique circular trajectory that comes from below the opponent's visual field.
Where does the Drop Roundhouse Kick come from?
The Drop Roundhouse Kick is a specialised variant documented in cross-style kicking methodology. It represents an advanced development of the standard roundhouse kick.
Is the Drop Roundhouse 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 Roundhouse Kick?
Danger rating 6/10. Roundhouse Kick variant with standard striking power
How do I set up the Drop Roundhouse Kick?
The standard setup chain: Feint → Drop Roundhouse Kick → Follow-up combination.
How do I defend against the Drop Roundhouse Kick?
Standard counters include: Step inside range / Block and counter / Low kick to support leg.
What are the variants of the Drop Roundhouse Kick?
Common variants: High variant; Mid variant; Low variant.
How effective is the Drop Roundhouse 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 Roundhouse Kick?
Top errors to watch for: Attempting without solid roundhouse kick foundation / Poor balance / Insufficient power generation.
What are other names for the Drop Roundhouse Kick?
The Drop Roundhouse Kick is also known as Doroppu Raundohausu Kikku, Dropping Roundhouse, Sacrifice Roundhouse.