martial arts roundhouse kick tutorial
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Small Roundhouse Kick·Fitness Karate Academy
Here is Martial arts roundhouse kick tutorial for beginners Learn how to kick like a pro in karate, this lesson is abou…
Small Roundhouse Kick
SubFamily小回し蹴り(Ko Mawashi Geri)
HybridTranslation: Ko (小) = small/short, Mawashi (回し) = turning/round, Geri (蹴り) = kick — a compact, short-arc roundhouse kick optimised for close range
Overview
The Small Roundhouse Kick is a tight, compact variant of the roundhouse kick that uses a shortened circular arc and minimal hip rotation, optimised for close range where a full roundhouse kick would be too wide to execute effectively. [1] At standard or long range, the full roundhouse kick (mawashi geri) uses complete hip rotation and a wide circular arc to generate maximum centrifugal force — but at close range, there is insufficient space for this wide arc, and the full hip rotation would turn the body past the target before the kick lands. [1] The Small Roundhouse solves this by keeping the arc tight (approximately 45-60° of hip rotation versus the full roundhouse's 90-120°) and using the knee extension (snap) as the primary power source rather than the hip rotation. [1] The result is a faster, more compact kick that sacrifices raw power for speed and close-range applicability. [1] De Bremaeker and Faige document the Small Roundhouse as one of the roundhouse kick variants in their 89-kick compilation, noting that it fills the tactical gap between the hook kick (which arcs from behind) and the front kick (which travels straight) at close range — the Small Roundhouse provides a mid-angle option at distances where neither a full roundhouse nor a front kick is optimal. [1] In Muay Thai, the equivalent technique is the short Thai kick delivered with the shin at close quarters — Thai fighters naturally shorten the roundhouse arc when fighting in close, using the knee's snap rather than the hip's rotation as the primary power mechanism. [2] The Small Roundhouse is particularly effective when combined with boxing combinations: after a jab-cross at punching range, the Small Roundhouse to the body or head arrives from an angle that straight punches cannot — without requiring the fighter to step back to roundhouse range. [1]
Short RoundhouseCompact Mawashi GeriJPTight RoundhouseClose-Range Round KickAbbreviated RoundhouseQuick Round Kick
History & Origin
The Small Roundhouse developed naturally in competitive martial arts as fighters encountered the close-range tactical gap between boxing punches and full roundhouse kicks. [1] In Muay Thai, the abbreviated roundhouse at close range has been used for centuries — Thai fighters naturally shorten the kick's arc when fighting inside, using the knee snap to deliver rapid shin kicks to the ribs and arms at clinch-adjacent range. [2] In sport karate, the Small Roundhouse evolved as competitors sought ways to score kicks at ranges traditionally dominated by punches — the tight arc and fast delivery allow the kick to function at punching range without the wide commitment of a full roundhouse. [1] De Bremaeker and Faige documented the technique as Section 3.2 in their 2010 compilation, distinguishing it from the full roundhouse based on its reduced arc, altered power mechanism (knee snap vs hip rotation), and close-range tactical application. [1]
Effectiveness
The Small Roundhouse fills a tactical gap that no other technique addresses: at punching range (18-24 inches), full roundhouse kicks are too wide, front kicks may be too linear, and hooks come from a different angle — the Small Roundhouse provides a compact circular attack from an angle that punches cannot replicate. [1] Its rapid delivery speed makes it effective as a combination finisher: after jab-cross exchanges that occupy the opponent's frontal defence, the Small Roundhouse arrives from the side before the guard can adjust. [1] In MMA and Muay Thai, the short Thai kick to the body (a close cousin of the Small Roundhouse) is one of the highest-volume weapons at close range, accumulating damage through repeated impacts rather than single devastating strikes. [2]
Lineage
Competition Record
The Small Roundhouse is used extensively in MMA and Muay Thai competition as a close-range body kick. In sport karate (WKF), the compact roundhouse is a common scoring technique at ranges where a full roundhouse would be too slow. The short Thai kick to the body is one of the highest-volume weapons in Muay Thai stadium competition.
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Compact circular arc of the shin or instep toward the target, powered primarily by knee extension (snap) rather than full hip rotation — the hip rotates only 45-60° instead of the full roundhouse's 90-120°
Joints Involved — Hip (rotation — LIMITED to 45-60°, providing directional guidance but not the primary power), knee (the PRIMARY power source — rapid extension from a chambered position, creating a snapping whip effect), ankle (plantarflexion for instep contact or neutral for shin contact), standing leg (slight rotation to enable the abbreviated hip turn)
Force Vector — Circular, but with a shorter arc radius than a full roundhouse — the kick approaches the target at approximately 30-45° from the side (versus 60-90° for a full roundhouse). The shorter radius means less centrifugal force but faster delivery.
Leverage Principle — By using the knee snap rather than hip rotation as the primary power source, the Small Roundhouse converts the leg from a long lever (the full roundhouse, where the entire leg rotates from the hip) to a short lever (the Small Roundhouse, where the lower leg snaps from the knee). Short levers are faster but weaker — the lower leg has approximately 1/3 the moment of inertia of the full leg, meaning it accelerates approximately 3x faster but delivers 1/3 the rotational force. This trade-off favours speed at close range.
Position & Entry
From punching range after a jab-cross — After landing a jab-cross at close range, the Small Roundhouse fires immediately to the opponent's body or head without stepping back to full kicking range — the tight arc allows the kick at punching distance
From the clinch break — As both fighters separate from the clinch (at elbow-to-fist range), the Small Roundhouse snaps to the ribs or liver before the opponent can re-establish their guard
Against a backing-up opponent at close range — When pressing forward and the opponent backs up but remains at close range, the Small Roundhouse reaches them without the wide arc that a full roundhouse would require
As a counter at close range — When the opponent throws and misses at close range, the Small Roundhouse is fast enough to counter before they can recover — its speed compensates for its reduced power
Mixed with punches — Jab-cross-small roundhouse to the body-cross — the kick integrates seamlessly into boxing combinations because it operates at the same range
Variants
Lead leg Small Roundhouse — the fastest version, delivered with the front leg for jab-like speed
Rear leg Small Roundhouse — slightly more powerful, using the rear leg's rotational advantage
Small Roundhouse to the body — targeting the ribs, liver, or solar plexus at close range (the highest-percentage application)
Small Roundhouse to the head — elevating the compact kick to head level (requires good hip flexibility to maintain the tight arc at high elevation)
Small Roundhouse with shin — using the shin as the striking surface for additional impact (Muay Thai influence)
Chopping Small Roundhouse — angling the kick slightly downward for a chopping effect on the hip or outer thigh
Videos
TAEKWONDO ROUND HOUSE KICK TUTORIAL (POWER) (SPEED) (ACCURACY)
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Small Roundhouse Kick·SKY Life
Do YOU know how to throw a proper TaeKwonDo roundhouse kick? With this tutorial, you’ll find out! Whether you’re brand n…
2 videos
What Instructors Say
The small roundhouse kick (mawashi giri in karate terminology, or 'Rana's kick' in taekwondo parlance) is a fundamental striking technique taught across multiple martial arts disciplines. Fitness Karate Academy emphasizes the basic mechanics: establishing a solid stance with hands raised and eyes focused, then executing the kick by lifting the knee, rotating the standing leg's hip inward, and extending the leg in a circular arc while maintaining upper body control. SKY Life provides more granular progression and biomechanical detail, breaking the technique into four sequential phases: knee lift (driven straight forward rather than around), hip rotation with proper pivot of the supporting foot, combination of these elements, and finally adding speed to the extension. Both instructors stress hip rotation as central to the technique's execution. SKY Life additionally emphasizes that leading with a forward knee chambering—rather than circling the knee outward—generates superior speed and power, and that knee height and position should be adjusted based on target level (face, body, or lower). SKY Life demonstrates the technique in combination forms and at varying distances, illustrating practical application in sparring scenarios. The instructors agree on fundamental mechanics while SKY Life provides greater analytical depth regarding speed, power generation, and accuracy variables.
Synthesized from 2 instructors
- Fitness Karate Academy — martial arts roundhouse kick tutorial: Demonstrates basic roundhouse kick (mawashi giri) mechanics including stance setup, knee lift, hip rotation of standing leg, and extension, with repetition-based practice methodology.
- SKY Life — TAEKWONDO ROUND HOUSE KICK TUTORIAL (POWER) (SPEED) (ACCURACY): Provides four-phase progression (knee up, hip turn, combination, add kick) and emphasizes forward knee chambering over circular knee motion for speed optimization, power generation through knee positioning relative to target height, and practical combination applications.
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
5
High5/10
The Small Roundhouse sacrifices power for speed and close-range applicability. It delivers less force than a full roundhouse but arrives significantly faster. When targeting the liver (right side of the body), even the reduced power can produce the characteristic liver-shot incapacitation. To the head at close range, the snap kick mechanism can produce a concussive whip effect. The primary value is cumulative: rapid, repeated Small Roundhouses to the body accumulate damage over time.
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 key distinction from a full roundhouse is the HIP ROTATION: consciously limit the hip rotation to 45-60° — if the hip rotates fully, the kick widens into a standard roundhouse and loses its close-range advantage (De Bremaeker & Faige, 2010). [1] The power comes from the KNEE SNAP, not the hip: chamber the knee with the hip partially rotated, then snap the lower leg toward the target. Practise the knee snap in isolation: stand on one leg, chamber the kicking knee, and rapidly extend-retract the lower leg without rotating the hip. [1] Integrate with boxing: drill jab-cross-small roundhouse as a continuous three-strike combination. The transition from the cross to the kick should be seamless — the body is already partially rotated from the cross, which sets up the kick's abbreviated hip rotation. [1] On the Thai pads: the pad holder presents the pad at body height approximately 18-24 inches away (punching range, not kicking range) — the fighter must deliver the Small Roundhouse without stepping back. This enforces the compact arc. [2] Speed over power: the Small Roundhouse is a speed weapon, not a power weapon. Train for rapid-fire delivery (3-4 kicks per second) rather than single devastating impact. [1] In sparring, use the Small Roundhouse as a 'punctuation mark' after boxing combinations — the unexpected angle (coming from the side after straight punches from the front) catches opponents who are defending the centreline. [1]
Common Mistakes
!Allowing full hip rotation — if the hip rotates beyond 45-60°, the kick widens into a standard roundhouse that is too slow and wide for close range. Consciously limit the rotation.
!Stepping back to create room for a full kick — the Small Roundhouse is designed for close range; stepping back to kick defeats its purpose. Stay at punching distance and kick with the compact arc.
!Using the hip for power instead of the knee — at close range, the hip cannot generate full rotational force; trying to power the kick through hip rotation produces a slow, off-balance kick. Use the knee snap.
!Kicking too high with the compact arc — the Small Roundhouse is optimised for body-level targets at close range; elevating it to head level at close range is difficult and produces a weak, awkward kick unless the practitioner has exceptional hip flexibility
!Not retracting the kick — the snap mechanism requires immediate retraction (snapping back to the chambered position); leaving the leg extended converts the kick into a push
!Telegraphing by stepping — any step before the kick at close range signals the kick; the Small Roundhouse must fire from the existing stance position
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Check by raising the knee — lifting the lead knee intercepts the kick's compact arc at its midpointElbow block — dropping the elbow to the ribs covers the primary target (Muay Thai standard defence against short body kicks)Step back — one step backward takes the target beyond the Small Roundhouse's limited rangeJab counter — the Small Roundhouse's abbreviated arc creates a brief window where the kicker's guard drops; a fast jab exploits this windowLow kick counter — attacking the standing leg during the kickClinch — closing to clinch range prevents even the compact arc from developing
Setup Chain
1Establish the jab-cross at punching range → Opponent calibrates defence for straight punches (hands high, elbows tight) → After the next jab-cross: instead of resetting, chamber the rear knee → Snap the Small Roundhouse to the opponent's exposed ribs/liver from the same close range → The kick arrives from an angle (the side) that the opponent's centreline defence does not cover → Retract immediately → Follow with a straight punch to capitalise on the opponent adjusting their guard to cover the side
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 3.2 'The Small Roundhouse Kick'. [2] Krauss, E. and Cordoza, G. (2006). Muay Thai Unleashed. McGraw-Hill. Short-range kicking section.pp. De Bremaeker pp.97-99 (Section 3.2 The Small Roundhouse Kick)
description: [1] De Bremaeker 2010 pp.97-99, [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 3.2 'The Small Roundhouse Kick'. [2] Krauss, E. and Cordoza, G. (2006). Muay Thai Unleashed. McGraw-Hill. Short-range kicking section.pp. De Bremaeker pp.97-99 (Section 3.2 The Small Roundhouse Kick)
description: [1] De Bremaeker 2010 pp.97-99, [2] Krauss 2006
Community
Athletics
Requires less hip flexibility than a full roundhouse (the reduced arc demands less range of motion)
Good knee-snap speed (fast-twitch quadriceps for the snapping mechanism)
Balance on the standing leg at close range
Accessible to all body types — the compact nature makes it suitable even for practitioners who lack the flexibility for full roundhouse kicks
Good integration with boxing (practitioners with boxing backgrounds adapt quickly)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I generate more power in my roundhouse kick?
According to SKY Life's roundhouse kick tutorial, keep your knee positioned inside rather than outside, as starting with the knee outside limits your power output. Additionally, when you knee up, always land in front—pulling it back causes you to lose power.
What's the most important footwork element for a roundhouse kick?
Make sure your bottom foot pivots as you turn, and keep your hips rotating throughout the kick. SKY Life emphasizes that proper hip rotation combined with foot pivot is essential for executing the technique correctly.
How can I make my roundhouse kick faster?
Bring your knee up forward in one smooth motion and execute the kick in a single flowing movement rather than separating the steps. SKY Life notes that Taekwondo features some of the best speed and power kicks when performed with this combined motion.
How does the Small Roundhouse Kick work?
The Small Roundhouse Kick is a tight, compact variant of the roundhouse kick that uses a shortened circular arc and minimal hip rotation, optimised for close range where a full roundhouse kick would be too wide to execute effectively. At standard or long range, the full roundhouse kick (mawashi geri) uses complete hip rotation and a wide circular arc to generate maximum centrifugal force — but at close range, there is insufficient space for this wide arc, and the full hip rotation would turn the body past the target before the kick lands.
Where does the Small Roundhouse Kick come from?
The Small Roundhouse developed naturally in competitive martial arts as fighters encountered the close-range tactical gap between boxing punches and full roundhouse kicks. In Muay Thai, the abbreviated roundhouse at close range has been used for centuries — Thai fighters naturally shorten the kick's arc when fighting inside, using the knee snap to deliver rapid shin kicks to the ribs and arms at clinch-adjacent range.
Is the Small 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 Small Roundhouse Kick?
Danger rating 5/10. The Small Roundhouse sacrifices power for speed and close-range applicability. It delivers less force than a full roundhouse but arrives significantly faster. When targeting the liver (right side of the body), even the reduced power can produce the characteristic liver-shot incapacitation. To the head at close range, the snap kick mechanism can produce a concussive whip effect. The primary value is cumulative: rapid, repeated Small Roundhouses to the body accumulate damage over time.
How do I set up the Small Roundhouse Kick?
The standard setup chain: Establish the jab-cross at punching range → Opponent calibrates defence for straight punches (hands high, elbows tight) → After the next jab-cross: instead of resetting, chamber the rear knee → Snap the Small Roundhouse to the opponent's exposed ribs/liver from the same close range → The kick arrives from an angle (the side) that the opponent's centreline defence does not cover → Retract immediately → Follow with a straight punch to capitalise on the opponent adjusting their guard to cover the side.
How do I defend against the Small Roundhouse Kick?
Standard counters include: Check by raising the knee — lifting the lead knee intercepts the kick's compact arc at its midpoint / Elbow block — dropping the elbow to the ribs covers the primary target (Muay Thai standard defence against short body… / Step back — one step backward takes the target beyond the Small Roundhouse's limited range / Jab counter — the Small Roundhouse's abbreviated arc creates a brief window where the kicker's guard drops; a fast ja….
What are the variants of the Small Roundhouse Kick?
Common variants: Lead leg Small Roundhouse (the fastest version, delivered with the front leg for jab…); Rear leg Small Roundhouse (slightly more powerful, using the rear leg's rotational a…); Small Roundhouse to the body (targeting the ribs, liver, or solar plexus at close range…); Small Roundhouse to the head (elevating the compact kick to head level (requires good h…); Small Roundhouse with shin (using the shin as the striking surface for additional imp…); Chopping Small Roundhouse (angling the kick slightly downward for a chopping effect …).
How effective is the Small Roundhouse Kick in competition?
The Small Roundhouse is used extensively in MMA and Muay Thai competition as a close-range body kick. In sport karate (WKF), the compact roundhouse is a common scoring technique at ranges where a full roundhouse would be too slow.
What are common mistakes when doing the Small Roundhouse Kick?
Top errors to watch for: Allowing full hip rotation — if the hip rotates beyond 45-60°, the kick widens into a standard roundhouse that is too… / Stepping back to create room for a full kick — the Small Roundhouse is designed for close range; stepping back to kic… / Using the hip for power instead of the knee — at close range, the hip cannot generate full rotational force; trying t… / Kicking too high with the compact arc — the Small Roundhouse is optimised for body-level targets at close range; elev….
What are other names for the Small Roundhouse Kick?
The Small Roundhouse Kick is also known as Ko Mawashi Geri, Short Roundhouse, Compact Mawashi Geri, Tight Roundhouse, Close-Range Round Kick.