Scott Adkins Lead Round Kick Tutorial
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Hopping Roundhouse Kick·Scott Adkins
This Lead Leg Round Kick Tutorial is brought to you by World renowned martial artist Scott Adkins. This kick is a swift …
Hopping Roundhouse Kick
SubFamily跳び回し蹴り(Tobi Mawashi Geri)
HybridTranslation: Tobi (跳び) = jumping/hopping, Mawashi (回し) = turning/round, Geri (蹴り) = kick — a roundhouse kick preceded by a quick skip-step to close distance while maintaining power
Overview
The Hopping Roundhouse Kick combines a quick skip-step forward with a rear-leg roundhouse kick, using the hop to close distance rapidly while maintaining the full power and circular trajectory of the rear leg's roundhouse. [1] The technique uses the same foot-replacement principle as the Hopping Front Kick: the rear foot slides forward to replace the front foot's position, and the front foot — now momentarily in the rear position — delivers the roundhouse kick with full hip rotation, adding the forward momentum of the skip to the kick's rotational force. [1] The skip-step occurs below the opponent's primary visual focus (feet moving along the floor are less detectable than upper body movement), and the roundhouse that follows arrives with both the circular rotational force of the hip rotation AND the linear forward momentum of the hop — producing a kick approximately 20-30% more powerful than a static roundhouse from the same distance. [1],[2] De Bremaeker and Faige document the Hopping Roundhouse as one of the most commonly used distance-closing kicks in competitive martial arts, used across karate, taekwondo, Muay Thai, and kickboxing. [1] The technique is ubiquitous in UFC striking: fighters regularly use the skip-step to close distance for body kicks and head kicks, often disguised within punching combinations where the forward footwork appears to be part of the boxing. [3] The Hopping Roundhouse to the body (especially the liver on the right side) is one of the highest-percentage finishing techniques in professional kickboxing, with fighters like Giorgio Petrosyan, Buakaw Banchamek, and Saenchai using it as a primary weapon. [2],[3]
Skip RoundhouseSkipping Mawashi GeriJPHop Step RoundhouseSliding RoundhouseSwitch Step RoundhouseRunning Roundhouse
History & Origin
The Hopping Roundhouse developed in competitive martial arts as fighters sought to close distance for the roundhouse kick — which requires medium range to be effective — without the telegraphing associated with stepping forward normally. [1] In Muay Thai, the skip-step body kick has been a standard weapon since at least the mid-20th century, with Thai fighters using the subtle forward movement to bridge distance for their devastating shin kicks. [2] In sport karate and taekwondo, the technique evolved independently as competitors needed to score kicks against opponents maintaining defensive long range. [1] De Bremaeker and Faige documented the technique in their 2010 compilation, noting its universal presence across kicking martial arts. [1] In modern MMA and kickboxing, the Hopping Roundhouse is one of the most frequently used techniques, with elite strikers like Giorgio Petrosyan, Buakaw Banchamek, and Israel Adesanya demonstrating its effectiveness at the highest levels. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
The Hopping Roundhouse is one of the most effective distance-closing kicks in combat sports, combining the devastating power of the roundhouse kick with the surprise distance closure of the skip-step. [1],[2] The skip-step body kick (targeting the liver) is one of the highest-percentage finishing techniques in professional kickboxing and Muay Thai — the liver's physiological vulnerability to impact (parasympathetic response causing blood pressure drop and leg collapse) means that a well-placed body kick produces incapacitation regardless of the opponent's toughness or willpower. [2],[3] In MMA, the skip-step head kick has produced numerous highlight-reel knockouts, with fighters like Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker using the distance-closing footwork to land head kicks from ranges the opponent considered safe. [3]
Lineage
Competition Record
Giorgio Petrosyan — considered the greatest technical kickboxer ever, multiple Glory/K-1 titles using the skip-step body kick as a primary weapon || Buakaw Banchamek — K-1 World MAX champion, renowned for devastating skip-step roundhouse kicks || Israel Adesanya — UFC middleweight champion, uses the hopping roundhouse extensively || Saenchai — Lumpinee champion, master of the skip-step entry || The skip-step body roundhouse is one of the most commonly scored techniques in Glory and ONE Championship kickboxing.
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Two-phase: Phase 1 (skip-step) — rear foot slides forward to replace front foot (closing approximately 18-24 inches), Phase 2 (kick) — formerly front foot delivers a full rear-leg roundhouse kick with complete hip rotation
Joints Involved — Both ankles (skip-step slides along the floor), rear knee (extension to push forward during the skip), then standard roundhouse joints: standing leg (pivot on the ball of the foot), kicking hip (rotation — the full 90-120° rotation of a rear-leg roundhouse), kicking knee (flexion during chamber, extension for the swing), kicking ankle (plantarflexion for instep or neutral for shin)
Force Vector — Circular (standard roundhouse trajectory) PLUS linear (forward momentum from the skip-step) — the combined vector produces a spiralling impact with both forward penetration and lateral cutting force
Leverage Principle — The skip-step adds the body's linear momentum to the roundhouse's rotational force — these two force components are additive because they operate on perpendicular axes (forward + lateral). A standard roundhouse delivers only rotational force; the hopping version delivers rotational + translational force, increasing the total impact by approximately 20-30%. This is the same principle that makes a running punch harder than a standing punch.
Position & Entry
From fighting stance at long range — Quick shuffle: rear foot slides to front foot's position, front foot immediately lifts and delivers the roundhouse — the opponent perceives a slight forward movement followed by a sudden kick from an unexpected range
After a jab-cross combination — The jab-cross turns the body partially and covers the initial foot movement; the skip-roundhouse fires immediately after the cross lands
Against a retreating opponent — When the opponent steps back to escape your punching range, the skip-step bridges the gap and the roundhouse catches them before they can set their feet
From a feint — Feint a front kick (chamber straight) to draw the opponent's block, then convert to the roundhouse on the same leg — the skip provides the forward momentum
As a body kick in Muay Thai — The skip-step teep (push kick) and skip-step roundhouse to the body use identical footwork, making them interchangeable entries — the opponent cannot distinguish which kick is coming until the hip rotates
Variants
Hopping body roundhouse — the standard version, targeting the ribs/liver (highest-percentage application)
Hopping head kick — elevating the roundhouse to head level after the skip (requires good flexibility and timing)
Hopping low kick — targeting the outer thigh or calf with the skip-step entry
Hopping switch roundhouse — switching stance during the skip for deceptive timing
Hopping roundhouse to the arm — targeting the opponent's blocking arm to weaken their guard
Long-range hop — extended skip covering 24-36 inches for maximum distance closure
Videos
JUMPING ROUNDHOUSE KICK | A Complete Beginner's Tutorial
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Hopping Roundhouse Kick·AIKIDO SILVERDALE
Min Milosavljevic takes us through a beginner's guide on how to develop a fast smooth and powerful jumping Roundhouse ki…
2 videos
What Instructors Say
The hopping roundhouse kick is executed by pushing off the front foot while rotating the body in the air, a technique emphasized by both Aikido Silverdale and Scott Adkins, though with distinct pedagogical focuses. Aikido Silverdale stresses the mechanical sequence: a slight hip turn (acting as a wind-up), a sink into the stance, weight transfer from heel to toe on the front foot, and an upward lift of the torso as the push-off occurs. This approach prioritizes rotation efficiency and concealment—by pushing off rather than opening the front foot first, the technique telegraphs less to an opponent. The kicking leg itself should aim horizontally (as if sweeping a ball off a table), with impact delivered via the shoelaces and top of the foot. Aikido Silverdale acknowledges flexibility limitations may result in hook-kick variations, which are acceptable. Scott Adkins, approaching from a Taekwondo background, emphasizes the lead-leg roundhouse variant, highlighting the importance of turning the back foot first to position the hips, leaning back for greater reach, and critically, bringing the knee across the opponent's centerline for maximum power generation. Both instructors agree the kick is difficult for opponents to perceive and requires proper hip positioning, though they diverge on entry mechanics and power delivery emphasis.
Synthesized from 2 instructors
- Aikido Silverdale — JUMPING ROUNDHOUSE KICK | A Complete Beginner's Tutorial: Detailed mechanical breakdown of the hopping roundhouse: weight distribution on front foot, hip winding, sink-and-push sequence, heel-to-toe weight transfer, torso lift, and proper kicking trajectory (horizontal plane). Emphasizes concealment through push-off mechanics rather than front-foot opening.
- Scott Adkins — Scott Adkins Lead Round Kick Tutorial: Lead-leg roundhouse technique from Taekwondo perspective: back-foot rotation to establish hip position, upper-body lean-back for reach and balance, and knee-across-centerline positioning for power generation via quad extension. Notes this kick is harder to see coming and effective in both semi-contact and full-contact sparring.
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
8
Very High8/10
The Hopping Roundhouse to the body can fracture ribs, rupture the liver (producing immediate incapacitation), or cause diaphragm spasm. To the head, the combined rotational and forward force produces knockouts with high reliability. The technique's danger is amplified by the difficulty of defending it — the skip-step closes distance faster than the opponent expects, and the kick arrives with more power than a standard roundhouse from the same range. Giorgio Petrosyan, considered the greatest technical kickboxer ever, has produced dozens of knockouts with the hopping body kick. [2,3]
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
✓The skip-step footwork is identical to the Hopping Front Kick — drill the foot replacement (rear foot slides to front foot's position) until it becomes smooth and automatic before adding the roundhouse (De Bremaeker & Faige, 2010). [1] The upper body must remain still during the skip — any rising, bobbing, or forward lean telegraphs the distance closure. The skip should be invisible from the waist up. [1] The kick fires at the INSTANT the sliding rear foot plants — no pause between the plant and the kick. Any gap between planting and kicking loses the forward momentum that makes the technique powerful. [1] Drill on the Thai pads: the pad holder stands at roundhouse range + 18 inches (beyond standard kicking distance) — the fighter must use the skip-step to close the gap and land the roundhouse on the pads. [2] Combine with boxing: drill jab-cross-skip roundhouse as a five-count combination (1-2, skip, kick). The jab-cross covers the skip footwork and the opponent's attention. [1] In Muay Thai pad work, the skip-step roundhouse to the body is one of the most heavily drilled techniques because of its high finish rate in competition. Drill 3 rounds of 3 minutes focused exclusively on skip-step body kicks. [2] Film yourself from the front: the head level should not change during the skip. If the head rises during the skip-step, the technique is telegraphed. [1]
Common Mistakes
!Telegraphing with the upper body — any movement above the waist during the skip alerts the opponent. The head, shoulders, and hands should remain stationary while the feet move.
!Pausing between the skip and the kick — a visible pause between planting the sliding foot and launching the roundhouse gives the opponent time to block or counter. The transition must be seamless.
!Skipping too high — the feet should slide along the floor; hopping into the air is slow, visible, and leaves the fighter airborne.
!Kicking at the wrong range — the skip-step is designed to close a specific distance (approximately 18-24 inches). Kicking from too close (after an unnecessary skip) or too far (skip-step wasn't long enough) produces a weak kick at the wrong angle.
!Not rotating the hip fully — the skip provides forward momentum but does NOT replace hip rotation; the hip must still rotate fully for maximum roundhouse power
!Over-reliance — using the skip-step roundhouse for every kick allows the opponent to time the footwork. Vary entries: some kicks from static, some with the skip, some from a step.
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Side step — moving laterally during the skip avoids the roundhouse's circular pathCheck by raising the knee — the shin check is the primary Muay Thai defence against body roundhouses, including the hopping variantTeep (push kick) — firing a front kick into the opponent's midsection during their skip-step stops the forward momentumRear straight counter — timing a cross to arrive as the opponent's roundhouse is in flight (their chin is exposed during the rotation)Low kick to the standing leg — attacking the pivot leg during the roundhouseClinch — closing to clinch range before the roundhouse can develop
Setup Chain
1Establish the jab rhythm at punching range → Opponent adjusts to the jab and prepares counters → Throw jab-cross to turn the body and cover the skip footwork → Skip: rear foot slides forward to replace front foot → Front foot immediately lifts and chambers the roundhouse → Full hip rotation fires the roundhouse to the body (ribs/liver) or head → Forward momentum from the skip adds 20-30% power → Kick lands with combined rotational + linear force → Retract and follow up with punching combination
2Alternative: skip-step to feint roundhouse, opponent checks → immediately follow with a punch combination to the opening created by the check
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 3.5 'The Hopping Roundhouse Kick'. [2] Krauss, E. and Cordoza, G. (2006). Muay Thai Unleashed. McGraw-Hill. Skip-step kicking section. [3] UFC and Glory Kickboxing fight records.pp. De Bremaeker pp.105-106 (Section 3.5)
description: [1] De Bremaeker 2010 pp.105-106, [2] Krauss 2006
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 3.5 'The Hopping Roundhouse Kick'. [2] Krauss, E. and Cordoza, G. (2006). Muay Thai Unleashed. McGraw-Hill. Skip-step kicking section. [3] UFC and Glory Kickboxing fight records.pp. De Bremaeker pp.105-106 (Section 3.5)
description: [1] De Bremaeker 2010 pp.105-106, [2] Krauss 2006
Community
Athletics
Standard roundhouse kick flexibility and hip rotation
Good footwork coordination for the skip-step
Explosive calves for the rapid forward slide
Balance during the transition from skip to kick
Accessible to all body types — the skip compensates for short legs by adding forward distance
Shin conditioning recommended for Muay Thai-style delivery
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the key to generating power in a hopping roundhouse kick?
Push off hard with your front foot and rotate in the air rather than opening up and pushing off with your back foot. Aikido Silverdale emphasizes that failing to push off properly can lock you up and potentially cause injuries by making you cross your body.
How should I position my body and hips for a roundhouse kick?
Turn your hips slightly, shift your weight forward onto your front foot, and keep your toes pointed out to get into a side-on position. Scott Adkins notes that you should lean back to open up easier and get your knee across to the other side of the target for maximum power.
What's the correct striking surface and technique for the kick itself?
Use the top of your foot (where the shoelaces are) as your point of impact, and think of the kick like you're trying to kick a ball off a table—avoid kicking up or down. Aikido Silverdale recommends focusing on swift hip rotation with the sequence: turn hips, sink, heel, toes, lift off and come through.
How can I make my roundhouse kick faster and harder?
Get your knee across to the other side of your opponent's body and use the force of your quads to drive the kick through, rather than leaving it as a flick. Scott Adkins explains that bringing the knee all the way over makes a significant difference in power delivery.
How does the Hopping Roundhouse Kick work?
The Hopping Roundhouse Kick combines a quick skip-step forward with a rear-leg roundhouse kick, using the hop to close distance rapidly while maintaining the full power and circular trajectory of the rear leg's roundhouse. The technique uses the same foot-replacement principle as the Hopping Front Kick: the rear foot slides forward to replace the front foot's position, and the front foot — now momentarily in the rear position — delivers the roundhouse kick with full hip rotation, adding the forward momentum of the skip to the kick's rotational force.
Where does the Hopping Roundhouse Kick come from?
The Hopping Roundhouse developed in competitive martial arts as fighters sought to close distance for the roundhouse kick — which requires medium range to be effective — without the telegraphing associated with stepping forward normally. In Muay Thai, the skip-step body kick has been a standard weapon since at least the mid-20th century, with Thai fighters using the subtle forward movement to bridge distance for their devastating shin kicks.
Is the Hopping 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 Hopping Roundhouse Kick?
Danger rating 8/10. The Hopping Roundhouse to the body can fracture ribs, rupture the liver (producing immediate incapacitation), or cause diaphragm spasm. To the head, the combined rotational and forward force produces knockouts with high reliability. The technique's danger is amplified by the difficulty of defending it — the skip-step closes distance faster than the opponent expects, and the kick arrives with more power than a standard roundhouse from the same range. Giorgio Petrosyan, considered the greatest technical kickboxer ever, has produced dozens of knockouts with the hopping body kick.
How do I set up the Hopping Roundhouse Kick?
The standard setup chain: Establish the jab rhythm at punching range → Opponent adjusts to the jab and prepares counters → Throw jab-cross to turn the body and cover the skip footwork → Skip: rear foot slides forward to replace front foot → Front foot immediately lifts and chambers the roundhouse → Full hip rotation fires the roundhouse to the body (ribs/liver) or head → Forward momentum from the skip adds 20-30% power → Kick lands with combined rotational + linear force → Retract and follow up with punching combination → Alternative: skip-step to feint roundhouse, opponent checks → immediately follow with a punch combination to the opening created by the check.
How do I defend against the Hopping Roundhouse Kick?
Standard counters include: Side step — moving laterally during the skip avoids the roundhouse's circular path / Check by raising the knee — the shin check is the primary Muay Thai defence against body roundhouses, including the h… / Teep (push kick) — firing a front kick into the opponent's midsection during their skip-step stops the forward momentum / Rear straight counter — timing a cross to arrive as the opponent's roundhouse is in flight (their chin is exposed dur….
What are the variants of the Hopping Roundhouse Kick?
Common variants: Hopping body roundhouse (the standard version, targeting the ribs/liver (highest-p…); Hopping head kick (elevating the roundhouse to head level after the skip (re…); Hopping low kick (targeting the outer thigh or calf with the skip-step entry); Hopping switch roundhouse (switching stance during the skip for deceptive timing); Hopping roundhouse to the arm (targeting the opponent's blocking arm to weaken their guard); Long-range hop (extended skip covering 24-36 inches for maximum distance …).
How effective is the Hopping Roundhouse Kick in competition?
Giorgio Petrosyan — considered the greatest technical kickboxer ever, multiple Glory/K-1 titles using the skip-step body kick as a primary weapon || Buakaw Banchamek — K-1 World MAX champion, renowned for devastating skip-step roundhouse kicks || Israel Adesanya — UFC middleweight champion, uses the hopping roundhouse extensively || Saenchai — Lumpinee champion, master of the skip-step entry || The skip-step body roundhouse is one of the most commonly scored techniques in Glory and ONE Championship kickboxing.
What are common mistakes when doing the Hopping Roundhouse Kick?
Top errors to watch for: Telegraphing with the upper body — any movement above the waist during the skip alerts the opponent. The head, should… / Pausing between the skip and the kick — a visible pause between planting the sliding foot and launching the roundhous… / Skipping too high — the feet should slide along the floor; hopping into the air is slow, visible, and leaves the figh… / Kicking at the wrong range — the skip-step is designed to close a specific distance (approximately 18-24 inches). Kic….
What are other names for the Hopping Roundhouse Kick?
The Hopping Roundhouse Kick is also known as Tobi Mawashi Geri, Skip Roundhouse, Skipping Mawashi Geri, Hop Step Roundhouse, Sliding Roundhouse.