Chopping Low Kick

Variety

チョッピングローキック(Choppingu Rō Kikku)

Transliteration

Translation: chopping low kick

Overview

The Chopping Low Kick is an outside low kick variation delivered with a steep downward angle, where the shin chops into the opponent's thigh from above rather than sweeping across horizontally. ^[1] The chopping trajectory concentrates force into a smaller impact area and drives the shin into the muscle at an angle that compresses it against the femur bone, producing more intense localised damage. ^[1],[2] The chopping low kick is effective against opponents who attempt to absorb leg kicks by flexing their quadriceps, as the downward angle bypasses the muscular resistance. ^[2],[3]

Also known as

Chopping Leg Kick^[1]Downward Angle Low Kick^[2]Stomping Low Kick^[3]

Used in

Muay Thai MMA Kickboxing

History & Origin

The chopping low kick developed as a variation within Muay Thai and Dutch kickboxing, where fighters experimented with different angles to maximise leg kick effectiveness against well-conditioned opponents. ^[1] The technique is taught as an advanced low kick variation in many kickboxing and MMA gyms. ^[2],[3]

Effectiveness

The chopping low kick strikes downward at a steep angle onto the outer thigh. ^[1]

Lineage

A Muay Thai low kick variant. ^[1]

Competition Record

Used in Muay Thai and MMA. ^[1]

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Biomechanical Mechanism

Primary Action — Ballistic extension of the arm — kinetic chain transfers force from the ground through the hips to the fist

Joints Involved — Shoulder (flexion/rotation), elbow (rapid extension), wrist (stabilised on impact), hips (rotation)

Force Vector — Linear (jab, cross) or circular (hook, overhand) depending on the punch type

Kinetic Chain — Ground reaction force → hip rotation → torso rotation → shoulder extension → fist impact — each link amplifies velocity

Position & Entry

From orthodox stance (after jab) — Rotate the rear hip forward, extend the rear hand straight to the target, pivot the rear foot

As counter (pull counter) — Lean back to avoid the incoming jab, fire the cross as the opponent's jab retracts

From clinch break — Push off from the clinch, create space, and fire the straight right as the opponent resets

Variants

Standard cross — rear-hand straight punch with full hip rotation

Counter cross (pull counter) — leaning back to avoid the jab, firing the cross as a counter

Step-in cross — stepping forward with the punch for added reach and power

Body cross — targeting the solar plexus or liver with the straight rear hand

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Ratings

Danger Rating

Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to

High6/10

Most common KO kick; generates ~1,000N force to head (Falco et al. 2009)

Difficulty

Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably

Intermediate

Competition Legality

Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets

Illegal

WBC/Boxing — Only closed-fist punches permitted {src— WBC Rules of Boxing}

Kyokushin — Only closed-fist strikes to body permitted {src— IKO Kyokushin Tournament Rules}

— WT — Prohibited

WT Competition Rules 2024PDF

— WAKO — Closed fist only

WAKO Competition RulesPDF

K-1/GLORY — Closed fist only {src— K-1/GLORY Kickboxing Rules}

Restricted

— WKF — Varies by technique — some open-hand strikes legal ...

WKF Competition Rules 2024PDF

— ITF — Some knife hand techniques legal

ITF Competition RulesPDF

Legal

— palm strikes, slaps permitted

Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF

— IFMA — Legal — palm strikes permitted in Muay Thai

IFMA Muay Thai RulesPDF

Training Notes

✓Throw the low kick with a steep downward angle, similar to an axe chopping into a tree trunk

✓The chopping low kick drives into the thigh from above rather than swinging through at a flat angle

✓Raise the kicking knee slightly higher than a standard low kick, then drive the shin downward into the quadriceps

✓The downward trajectory makes this kick harder to check because it drives over the top of the checking shin

✓Ernesto Hoost's "Hoost low kick" was the prototype of the chopping low kick, and it ended numerous K-1 fights by TKO

✓Use the chopping angle when the opponent checks consistently — the descending arc goes over their shin guard

✓Combine with standard flat-angle low kicks to attack the thigh from multiple vectors

Common Mistakes

!Raising the knee so high that the kick becomes a downward axe kick instead of a roundhouse variant

!Not driving the hip over despite the vertical angle — the hip must still rotate for power

!Losing balance on the support leg because the steep angle shifts bodyweight upward

!Telegraphing the higher chamber by visibly lifting the knee before the chop

!Using only the chopping angle and becoming predictable — alternate between flat and chopping trajectories

!Hitting the knee joint with the descending strike, which is dangerous and potentially illegal

!Not keeping the guard up during the higher chamber — the extra time in the air increases the exposure window

Related Techniques

Jab — range-finding strike that sets up this power technique Check — the primary defensive response to this kicking technique Combination — multi-strike sequence incorporating this technique for higher effectiveness

Counter Techniques

Check (Shin Block) — raise the shin to intercept the kick before it lands Catch and Sweep — catch the kicking leg and sweep the standing leg Step Inside — close distance inside the kick's effective range to smother it

Setup Chain

1Stance and Range — verify correct distance for the kick to land at full extension

2Chamber the Leg — lift the knee to prepare the kicking trajectory

3Execute the Kick — extend the leg through the target with the appropriate striking surface

4Recover — retract the leg and return to fighting stance

Sources & References

Primary Source

Karate-Do Kyohan: The Master Text (Gichin Funakoshi, 1935)

1BookMuay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus, 2002)

Alias sources — [1] Muay Thai Unleashed (Delp, 2006) [2] Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus & Kraitus, 1988) [3] Muay Thai: A Living Legacy (Vail, 2014)

2BookKarate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935)

Effectiveness sources — [1] Muay Thai Unleashed (Delp, 2006)

3OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention

Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities

4CitationMuay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus, 2002)

Alias sources — [1] Muay Thai Unleashed (Delp, 2006) [2] Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus & Kraitus, 1988) [3] Muay Thai: A Living Legacy (Vail, 2014)

5CitationKarate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935)

Effectiveness sources — [1] Muay Thai Unleashed (Delp, 2006)

Community

Athletics

Requires

hip rotation power, rear foot pivot, full kinetic chain coordination

Favours

reach advantage, strong hips for power transfer

Key muscles

glutes, obliques, pectorals, triceps, deltoids

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Chopping Low Kick work?

Where does the Chopping Low Kick come from?

The chopping low kick developed as a variation within Muay Thai and Dutch kickboxing, where fighters experimented with different angles to maximise leg kick effectiveness against well-conditioned opponents. The technique is taught as an advanced low kick variation in many kickboxing and MMA gyms.

Is the Chopping Low Kick legal in competition?

Unified MMA: legal — Legal (palm strikes, slaps permitted); WBC/Boxing: banned — Only closed-fist punches permitted; WKF: restricted — Varies by technique — some open-hand strikes legal in kata, generally restric…; Kyokushin: banned — Only closed-fist strikes to body permitted; WT: banned — Prohibited; ITF: restricted — Some knife hand techniques legal; WAKO: banned — Closed fist only; K: banned — 1/GLORY — Closed fist only; IFMA: legal — Legal — palm strikes permitted in Muay Thai

How dangerous is the Chopping Low Kick?

Danger rating 6/10. High — most common KO kick; generates ~1,000N force to head (Falco et al. 2009)

How do I set up the Chopping Low Kick?

The standard setup chain: Stance and Range → Chamber the Leg → Execute the Kick → Recover.

How do I defend against the Chopping Low Kick?

Standard counters include: Check (Shin Block) — raise the shin to intercept the kick before it lands / Catch and Sweep — catch the kicking leg and sweep the standing leg / Step Inside — close distance inside the kick's effective range to smother it.

What are the variants of the Chopping Low Kick?

Common variants: Standard cross (rear-hand straight punch with full hip rotation); Counter cross (pull counter) (leaning back to avoid the jab, firing the cross as a counter); Step-in cross (stepping forward with the punch for added reach and power); Body cross (targeting the solar plexus or liver with the straight rea…).

How effective is the Chopping Low Kick in competition?

Used in Muay Thai and MMA.

What are common mistakes when doing the Chopping Low Kick?

Top errors to watch for: Raising the knee so high that the kick becomes a downward axe kick instead of a roundhouse variant / Not driving the hip over despite the vertical angle — the hip must still rotate for power / Losing balance on the support leg because the steep angle shifts bodyweight upward / Telegraphing the higher chamber by visibly lifting the knee before the chop.

What are other names for the Chopping Low Kick?

The Chopping Low Kick is also known as Choppingu Rō Kikku, Chopping Leg Kick, Downward Angle Low Kick, Stomping Low Kick.

chopping low kick choppingu r kikku strike kick roundhouse kick low kick outside low kick standard outside low muay thai mma kickboxing chopping leg kick downward angle low kick stomping low kick