Spinning Hook Kick

Genus

Translation: spinning hook kick

Range & classification

Overview

The Spinning Hook Kick is a rotational kick where the fighter spins 180 degrees or more and delivers a hooking kick to the opponent's head, striking with the heel as the leg retracts through a curved arc. ^[1] The spinning hook kick combines the deceptive hooking trajectory with the power of a full-body spin, creating a technique that is extremely difficult to defend because the angle and timing of impact are nearly impossible to predict. ^[1],[2] This technique primarily targets the jaw or temple and has produced numerous highlight-reel knockouts across combat sports. ^[2],[3]

Also known as

Dwi Huryeo ChagiKR^[1]Ushiro Ura Mawashi GeriJP^[2]Wheel Kick^[3]

Used in

Taekwondo MMA Kickboxing Karate Sanda

History & Origin

The spinning hook kick (dwi huryeo chagi) is one of taekwondo's most celebrated techniques and has been a competition weapon since the sport's early competitive era. ^[1] In MMA, the spinning hook kick (also called the spinning heel kick) produced one of the sport's most famous knockouts when Edson Barboza knocked out Terry Etim at UFC 142 in 2012. ^[2],[3]

Country of origin· shown in random order

KoreaTaekwondo
BrazilMMA
USAMMA, Kickboxing
Japan裏回し蹴り(Ura Mawashi-geri)Kickboxing, Karate
ChinaSanda

Effectiveness

The spinning hook kick generates tremendous force through full rotational momentum, with the heel striking the target (typically the temple or jaw) at the apex of a 360-degree spin. ^[1] The kick is difficult to see coming when well-timed, as the spin conceals the trajectory until the last moment. ^[1]

Lineage

The spinning hook kick is a signature technique of taekwondo, where it is known as dwi huryeo chagi, and has been part of the art's kicking repertoire since its formalisation. ^[1] It is also found in karate (ushiro mawashi geri) and was adopted by kickboxers and MMA fighters. ^[1]

Competition Record

Mirko Cro Cop used the spinning hook kick variation in PRIDE FC bouts. ^[1] In taekwondo Olympic competition, the spinning hook kick is one of the highest-scoring techniques, awarding additional points for its technical difficulty under World Taekwondo rules. ^[2]

Images

No images yet for this technique.

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

Videos

Van Roon Martial Arts

How to / Tutorial: Reverse Turning Kick AKA Spinning Hook Kick. 반대돌려차기. 後ろ回し蹴り.

Spinning Hook Kick·Van Roon Martial Arts·Added by Admin

How to / Tutorial: Reverse Turning Kick AKA Spinning Hook Kick (반대돌려차기. 後ろ回し蹴り) In this video Carl van Roon looks at key…

1 video

Learn This Technique

No instructional courses yet for this technique.

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 — All kicks prohibited in boxing {src— WBC Rules of Boxing}

Legal

— Unified MMA — Legal striking technique

Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF

— body

WKF Competition Rules 2024PDF

Kyokushin — 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 RulesPDF

K-1/GLORY — Legal {src— K-1/GLORY Kickboxing Rules}

— IFMA — Legal — kicks are a core Muay Thai technique

IFMA Muay Thai RulesPDF

Training Notes

✓Pivot on the lead foot and spin 180 degrees, then hook the heel around to strike the opponent's head from the blind side

✓The kick's trajectory is circular: the leg extends during the spin and then hooks inward, contacting with the heel or sole on the jaw or temple

✓Spot the target over the shoulder as you spin, then whip the leg around

✓The spinning hook kick is one of the most dramatic knockout techniques in combat sports

✓Keep the kicking leg slightly bent during the spin and straighten it as it hooks around for maximum whip effect

✓This kick works best against opponents moving into range or those who duck straight punches — their head moves into the kick's path

✓In Taekwondo competition, the spinning hook kick (dwi huryeo chagi) scores maximum points and is a highlight-reel finisher

Common Mistakes

!Not hooking the kick at the end and instead throwing a straight spinning back kick to the head — these are different techniques

!Spinning too slowly and letting the opponent see the kick coming, giving them time to duck or lean back

!Over-extending the kicking leg during the spin so the heel passes behind the target — range must be precise

!Not spotting the target during the spin, resulting in a wild, inaccurate swing

!Throwing the spinning hook kick from too far away — the hook at the end shortens the effective range

!Dropping the hands completely during the spin — even if the kick lands, you may eat a counter simultaneously

!Landing off-balance after the kick and being unable to follow up or defend — drill the recovery as part of the technique

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

1Setup with Straight Punch — use a jab or cross to occupy the opponent's guard

2Pivot the Lead Foot — rotate on the ball of the foot to generate hip torque

3Arc the Arm — swing the fist in a horizontal arc at the target angle

4Follow Through — drive through the target and return to guard position

Sources & References

Primary Source

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

1BookBoxing (Dempsey, 1950)

Alias sources — [1] Kukkiwon Taekwondo Textbook (Kukkiwon, 2006) [2] Dynamic Karate (Nakayama, 1966) [3] Taekwondo: The State of the Art (Park, 1989)

2BookChampionship Fighting (Dempsey, 1950)

Effectiveness sources — [1] Taekwondo: The State of the Art (Jun, 1989)

3SyllabusJapan Karate Association (JKA) — Official Technical Terminology

Official karate technique names (和語/漢語)

4OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)

Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)

5CitationBoxing (Dempsey, 1950)

Alias sources — [1] Kukkiwon Taekwondo Textbook (Kukkiwon, 2006) [2] Dynamic Karate (Nakayama, 1966) [3] Taekwondo: The State of the Art (Park, 1989)

6CitationChampionship Fighting (Dempsey, 1950)

Effectiveness sources — [1] Taekwondo: The State of the Art (Jun, 1989)

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 do I prevent my spinning hook kick from being telegraphed?

Stand side-on rather than frontal to avoid telegraphing the technique, and keep the kick tight and quick by practicing through what Van Roon calls the 'inverted chamber' or 'universal chamber' instead of swinging your leg wide.

What's the best way to generate power in a spinning hook kick?

The key is using your kinetic chain—engaging your entire body to generate power rather than relying only on your leg. You can strike with your heel for more damage or the ball of your foot for more reach.

When should I use the spinning hook kick in a real fight?

According to Van Roon, the spinning hook kick is most effective as a counter fighting technique, particularly as a simultaneous counter when your opponent is kicking at your head.

Should I lift my heel or spin on a flat foot when executing this kick?

Lift your heel and aim it toward the target rather than spinning on a flat foot, which creates excess friction and slows down the technique.

How does the Spinning Hook Kick work?

The Spinning Hook Kick is a rotational kick where the fighter spins 180 degrees or more and delivers a hooking kick to the opponent's head, striking with the heel as the leg retracts through a curved arc. The spinning hook kick combines the deceptive hooking trajectory with the power of a full-body spin, creating a technique that is extremely difficult to defend because the angle and timing of impact are nearly impossible to predict.

Where does the Spinning Hook Kick come from?

The spinning hook kick (dwi huryeo chagi) is one of taekwondo's most celebrated techniques and has been a competition weapon since the sport's early competitive era. In MMA, the spinning hook kick (also called the spinning heel kick) produced one of the sport's most famous knockouts when Edson Barboza knocked out Terry Etim at UFC 142 in 2012.

Is the Spinning 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 Spinning Hook 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 Spinning Hook Kick?

The standard setup chain: Setup with Straight Punch → Pivot the Lead Foot → Arc the Arm → Follow Through.

How do I defend against the Spinning Hook 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 Spinning Hook 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 Spinning Hook Kick in competition?

Mirko Cro Cop used the spinning hook kick variation in PRIDE FC bouts. In taekwondo Olympic competition, the spinning hook kick is one of the highest-scoring techniques, awarding additional points for its technical difficulty under World Taekwondo rules.

What are common mistakes when doing the Spinning Hook Kick?

Top errors to watch for: Not hooking the kick at the end and instead throwing a straight spinning back kick to the head — these are different … / Spinning too slowly and letting the opponent see the kick coming, giving them time to duck or lean back / Over-extending the kicking leg during the spin so the heel passes behind the target — range must be precise / Not spotting the target during the spin, resulting in a wild, inaccurate swing.

What are other names for the Spinning Hook Kick?

The Spinning Hook Kick is also known as Ura Mawashi-geri, Dwi Huryeo Chagi, Ushiro Ura Mawashi Geri, Wheel Kick.

spinning hook kick ura mawashi geri strike kick roundhouse kick spinning turning kick taekwondo mma kickboxing karate dwi huryeo chagi ushiro ura mawashi geri wheel kick