Master The Taekwondo Side Kick
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Drop Side Kick·Taekwondo Guide
Paul Van Schoyck of Taekwondo Guide shares how to do a side kick along with common mistakes to avoid. visit: www.tkdgu…
Drop Side Kick
SubFamilyドロップ・サイド・キック(Doroppu Saido Kikku)
TransliterationTranslation: Drop side kick — a side kick delivered while intentionally dropping the body to the ground, attacking from a low angle that bypasses standing defences
Overview
The Drop Side Kick is a sacrifice technique where the practitioner intentionally drops their body toward the ground while simultaneously thrusting a side kick at a low or mid-level target, creating an unexpected attack angle from below the opponent's visual field. [1] The combination of the side kick's powerful linear thrust with the dropping body's angular change produces a kick that arrives from a direction standing opponents are not conditioned to defend — most defensive frameworks are calibrated for kicks coming from an upright position, not from a body that is descending toward the floor. [1] The mechanics merge the standard side kick's hip abduction and heel thrust with the Drop Front Kick's controlled descent: as the body begins its controlled fall (typically dropping the non-kicking side toward the floor), the kicking leg chambers and thrusts laterally into the target, powered by the same hip mechanics as a standing side kick but angled upward due to the body's lowered position. [1] The technique is classified alongside other drop kicks (drop front kick, drop roundhouse kick, drop back kick) as a family of sacrifice techniques where the practitioner deliberately abandons standing balance in exchange for surprise and angular advantage. [1] De Bremaeker and Faige document the Drop Side Kick as the side kick variant within this sacrifice kick family, noting its appearance in capoeira (where ground-level kicks are a core element of the art), kung fu (particularly Southern Chinese ground-transition styles), and in the modern MMA context where ground-level kicks (up-kicks) from guard have proven effective at the highest competition levels. [1] The Drop Side Kick is the most powerful of the drop kick variants because the side kick's linear thrusting mechanism generates more penetrating force than the circular trajectory of a drop roundhouse or the upward arc of a drop front kick — the heel drives straight into the target with the full structural support of the aligned leg. [1]
Dropping Side KickSacrifice Side KickFalling Side KickGround-Level Side KickLow Drop Yoko GeriJP
History & Origin
Ground-level side kicks appear across multiple martial arts traditions that incorporate ground transitions. [1] In capoeira, the chapa de chão (ground kick) and related techniques use lateral ground-level thrusts as standard offensive tools within the art's flowing ground-to-standing movement vocabulary. [1] Southern Chinese kung fu systems, particularly those influenced by the 'low bridge' fighting philosophy of the Hakka people, include ground-level kicking transitions in their repertoires. [1] De Bremaeker and Faige catalogued the Drop Side Kick as the side kick member of the drop kick family in their 2010 cross-style compilation, alongside the drop front kick, drop roundhouse kick, and drop back kick. [1] In modern MMA, the related concept of the up-kick from guard (kicking upward from a grounded position) has proven effective at the highest competition levels, with Anderson Silva, Cheick Kongo, and others producing finishes from ground-level kicking situations. [2]
Effectiveness
The Drop Side Kick is the most powerful member of the drop kick family because the side kick's linear thrust mechanism generates more penetrating force than the circular or arcing trajectories of other drop kick variants. [1] Its effectiveness is situational: against a charging opponent (where the forward momentum adds to the kick's impact) or against a standing opponent who has not trained to defend ground-level attacks, the technique produces clean impacts on undefended targets. [1] The primary limitation is the post-kick vulnerability: the kicker is on the ground after execution. In MMA (where ground transitions are standard), this is manageable; in striking-only competition or self-defence (where being grounded is dangerous), the recovery must be immediate. [1],[2]
Lineage
Capoeira ground-level kicking + Southern Chinese ground transitions + traditional sacrifice techniques → catalogued as cross-style technique by De Bremaeker & Faige (2010). [1]
Competition Record
Drop kicks are uncommon in modern point competition due to the risk of ending up grounded. In MMA, related ground-level side kicks have been used in UFC competition. In capoeira, ground-level lateral kicks are standard and frequently scored. In Kyokushin knockdown tournaments, dropping techniques occasionally appear as surprise attacks.
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Simultaneous controlled body descent (non-kicking side drops toward the floor) with lateral hip abduction and knee extension for the side kick — the kick thrusts horizontally or slightly upward while the body descends
Joints Involved — Non-kicking side: hip, knee, ankle all flex/fold to lower the body in a controlled lateral collapse; Kicking leg: hip (abduction for the side kick trajectory), knee (extension for the thrust), ankle (dorsiflexion to present the heel); Core (lateral stabilisation to maintain the kick's linear alignment during the asymmetric descent); Arms (one or both hands contact the ground to control the landing)
Force Vector — Lateral thrust (same as a standard side kick) but originating from a lower body position — the kick may travel horizontally (if the target is at the kicker's lowered hip height) or slightly upward (if targeting the standing opponent's midsection from below)
Leverage Principle — The body's dropping mass creates a counterbalance that stabilises the side kick's thrust: as the torso drops on the non-kicking side, the kicking leg can thrust more aggressively without the concern of toppling over (the body is already falling). The side kick's structural alignment (heel-knee-hip in a straight line) is the strongest kicking structure in martial arts, and this structural advantage is maintained during the drop, making the Drop Side Kick the most powerful variant in the drop kick family.
Position & Entry
As a counter to a charging opponent — When the opponent rushes forward, drop below their attack line while firing the side kick into their lead knee, thigh, or midsection — their forward momentum carries them into the thrusting heel
From a defensive retreat — When pushed backward or off-balance, convert the backward/lateral movement into a controlled drop and side kick — turning a defensive moment into an attacking one
As a surprise after a standing exchange — After a jab-cross exchange, suddenly drop and fire the side kick from the unexpected low angle before the opponent can adjust their defence
Against a taller opponent — The drop dramatically lowers the kicker's profile, bringing the kick to a height where the taller opponent's guard is less effective
From capoeira ginga — In capoeira, ground-level kicks flow naturally from the ginga (basic movement); the drop side kick (related to the chapa de chão) is a natural ground-level extension of the standing game
Variants
Forward Drop Side Kick — dropping while moving toward the opponent, the kick impacts as the body descends forward
Backward Drop Side Kick — dropping while retreating, kicking laterally at the advancing opponent
Lateral Drop Side Kick — dropping directly to the side, the most natural direction for a side kick sacrifice
Spinning Drop Side Kick — adding a spin to the drop for rotational power (extremely advanced and high-risk)
Drop Side Kick to the knee — targeting the standing opponent's knee joint for maximum structural damage at the lowest angle
Drop Side Kick to the body — targeting the midsection from a lowered position, useful when the opponent is leaning forward
Videos
How to Side Kick - Tips for Power and Balance
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Drop Side Kick·Ando Mierzwa
►Click here for my Kicking Basics Course! http://www.senseiando.com/kicking-basics-course/ Bad side kicks... you see t…
2 videos
What Instructors Say
The drop side kick, as taught across instructional sources, emphasizes biomechanical alignment and full-body rotation as critical to both power generation and injury prevention. Ando Mierzwa and Taekwondo Guide agree fundamentally on core mechanics: the support foot must pivot approximately 180 degrees on the ball of the foot, the kicking leg should extend with the heel leading (not the blade), and the entire body must stack in alignment from heel through hip to shoulder at the moment of impact. Both instructors stress that insufficient pivot and misalignment create vulnerability to counterattack and injury. Mierzwa frames the technique through the principle of loading force along joints rather than across them, advocating a three-point alignment (heel, buttocks, torso) and offering three timing strategies for the pivot—pre-pivot, mid-kick pivot, or impact-moment pivot. Taekwondo Guide emphasizes the "stomp" analogy for chamber mechanics, the Y-shaped upper body position to protect the head, and the necessity of returning the kick on the same line in patterned forms (poomse). Both sources warn against common errors: inadequate base foot rotation, forward head position, and blade-first contact. The instructors diverge slightly in emphasis: Mierzwa prioritizes defensive structural integrity and personal body awareness, while Taekwondo Guide additionally addresses sparring-specific head protection and form-scoring requirements.
Synthesized from 2 instructors
- Ando Mierzwa — How to Side Kick - Tips for Power and Balance: Established biomechanical principles of force alignment along joints, introduced the three-point body alignment model (heel-buttocks-torso), and detailed three timing strategies for pivot execution relative to kick extension.
- Taekwondo Guide — Master The Taekwondo Side Kick: Provided detailed chambering and stomp analogy, emphasized the Y-shaped defensive upper-body position, specified toe positioning relative to hip rotation, and highlighted form-specific return mechanics for poomse performance.
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
6
High6/10
The Drop Side Kick retains much of the standard side kick's power because the structural alignment (heel-knee-hip) is maintained during the drop. When targeting the knee, it can cause ligament damage. When targeting the midsection, it can cause winding. The primary danger is to the KICKER: ending up on the ground after the kick creates vulnerability to ground-and-pound in MMA or stomps in self-defence. The side kick's linear thrust is the most powerful component of any drop kick variant.
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 side kick AND the controlled lateral fall separately before combining them. The body must descend in a controlled manner — not a collapse — with the hands prepared to break the fall on the non-kicking side (De Bremaeker & Faige, 2010). [1] The kick must fire DURING the descent, not after the body reaches the ground — if the body contacts the ground before the kick extends, the technique becomes an up-kick from the ground (different technique, different mechanics). [1] Practise on crash mats initially: drill the controlled lateral fall with one hand touching down while the other arm maintains a guard, then add the side kick thrust during the fall. [1] The side kick's heel alignment is critical even during the drop: the heel-knee-hip must form a straight structural line at the moment of impact, regardless of the body's angle. If the alignment breaks (foot angled, knee bent), the penetrating power of the side kick is lost. [1] Recovery plan: after the kick, immediately either (a) push off the ground with the support hand and return to standing (the preferred option), or (b) transition to a ground guard position (closed guard, butterfly guard) if the opponent is closing in. Practise both recovery paths. [1] Progressive drill sequence: (1) controlled lateral fall with hand support, (2) lateral fall with side kick, (3) lateral fall with side kick and immediate recovery to standing, (4) partner advancing while you execute the full sequence. [1] Target the opponent's advancing LEAD LEG: when the opponent steps forward, their lead leg is weight-bearing and structurally loaded — a side kick to the lead knee from below catches the leg at its most vulnerable moment. [1]
Common Mistakes
!Collapsing rather than controlling the fall — the descent must be CONTROLLED; an uncontrolled collapse produces an unguided kick that misses and leaves the kicker sprawled on the ground
!Losing the side kick's structural alignment — the heel-knee-hip line must be maintained even during the drop; a bent knee or misaligned heel produces a weak push rather than a powerful thrust
!Not protecting the head during the descent — at minimum one hand should be positioned to break the fall; face-first contact with the ground is a serious injury risk
!No recovery plan — attempting the drop without a plan for returning to standing or transitioning to guard leaves the kicker grounded and vulnerable
!Kicking too late (after ground contact) — the kick must fire during the fall, not from the ground; the falling body's momentum contributes to the kick's power only if the kick is in flight during the descent
!Attempting when off-balance — the Drop Side Kick should be a TACTICAL decision, not a last-resort action when already falling. Using it when genuinely off-balance compounds the problem.
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Step back — retreating as the opponent drops takes the target out of the kick's rangeDownward stomp — attacking the dropping opponent's body as they descendTop control — if the kick misses and the opponent is grounded, immediately establishing top position (mount, side control)Lateral movement — stepping to the side avoids the side kick's linear thrustDon't advance — the Drop Side Kick is most effective against advancing opponents; a patient fighter who doesn't charge neutralises the techniqueLow kick to the support arm — if the kicker's hand is on the ground supporting the drop, kicking or stomping that arm destabilises the entire position
Setup Chain
1Establish standing side kicks to condition the opponent to defend at standing height → Opponent calibrates defence for standing-level side kicks → Feint a standing attack or wait for the opponent to advance → Begin controlled lateral descent (non-kicking side drops toward the ground) → During the descent, chamber and thrust the side kick laterally/upward → The kick arrives from below the opponent's guard → Heel impacts the lead knee, thigh, or midsection → Immediately: (a) push off the ground hand and return to standing, OR (b) transition to guard position → Continue fighting from the recovered position
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 2.12 'The Drop Side Kick'. [2] UFC fight records — up-kick and ground-level kick finishes.pp. De Bremaeker pp.86-87 (Section 2.12 The Drop Side Kick)
description: [1] De Bremaeker 2010 pp.86-87
2OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
3Citation[1] De Bremaeker, M. and Faige, R. (2010). Essential Book of Martial Arts Kicks. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4629-0558-4. Section 2.12 'The Drop Side Kick'. [2] UFC fight records — up-kick and ground-level kick finishes.pp. De Bremaeker pp.86-87 (Section 2.12 The Drop Side Kick)
description: [1] De Bremaeker 2010 pp.86-87
Community
Athletics
Requires body control during the lateral fall — the descent must be controlled, not a collapse
Good core strength (obliques) to maintain the side kick's structural alignment during the asymmetric descent
Upper body strength for the support-hand landing
Quick recovery ability (explosive push-up from the ground to return to standing)
Comfort with ground transitions (wrestlers, BJJ players, capoeiristas adapt faster)
Standard side kick flexibility
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I generate more power in my side kick?
The key to a powerful side kick is making a full pivot with your support foot. Ando Mierzwa emphasizes that you must turn your support foot completely so force runs along your foot rather than across it, and ensure your body has turned fully at the moment of impact.
Should I kick with my heel or the blade of my foot?
Kick with your heel, not the blade of your foot. Ando Mierzwa explains that your heel should dig straight into the target like you're throwing a spear, with bone and muscle aligned behind it—similar to stomping on the ground.
How much should I pivot my base foot when throwing a side kick?
Your base foot should pivot approximately 180 degrees on the ball of your foot, and you cannot half-turn it. The Taekwondo Guide stresses that most people make the mistake of only partially turning the base foot, which compromises the entire technique.
What alignment should my body have when executing a side kick?
Your body should act as one unit with a straight line running from your heel to your shoulder, and your upper body should lay back to take your head out of danger while allowing your hip to roll over. The Taekwondo Guide notes that a common mistake is letting your bottom push out while your upper body breaks away from your lower body.
How does the Drop Side Kick work?
The Drop Side Kick is a sacrifice technique where the practitioner intentionally drops their body toward the ground while simultaneously thrusting a side kick at a low or mid-level target, creating an unexpected attack angle from below the opponent's visual field. The combination of the side kick's powerful linear thrust with the dropping body's angular change produces a kick that arrives from a direction standing opponents are not conditioned to defend — most defensive frameworks are calibrated for kicks coming from an upright position, not from a body that is descending toward the floor.
Where does the Drop Side Kick come from?
Ground-level side kicks appear across multiple martial arts traditions that incorporate ground transitions. In capoeira, the chapa de chão (ground kick) and related techniques use lateral ground-level thrusts as standard offensive tools within the art's flowing ground-to-standing movement vocabulary.
Is the Drop Side 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 Side Kick?
Danger rating 6/10. The Drop Side Kick retains much of the standard side kick's power because the structural alignment (heel-knee-hip) is maintained during the drop. When targeting the knee, it can cause ligament damage. When targeting the midsection, it can cause winding. The primary danger is to the KICKER: ending up on the ground after the kick creates vulnerability to ground-and-pound in MMA or stomps in self-defence. The side kick's linear thrust is the most powerful component of any drop kick variant.
How do I set up the Drop Side Kick?
The standard setup chain: Establish standing side kicks to condition the opponent to defend at standing height → Opponent calibrates defence for standing-level side kicks → Feint a standing attack or wait for the opponent to advance → Begin controlled lateral descent (non-kicking side drops toward the ground) → During the descent, chamber and thrust the side kick laterally/upward → The kick arrives from below the opponent's guard → Heel impacts the lead knee, thigh, or midsection → Immediately: (a) push off the ground hand and return to standing, OR (b) transition to guard position → Continue fighting from the recovered position.
How do I defend against the Drop Side Kick?
Standard counters include: Step back — retreating as the opponent drops takes the target out of the kick's range / Downward stomp — attacking the dropping opponent's body as they descend / Top control — if the kick misses and the opponent is grounded, immediately establishing top position (mount, side con… / Lateral movement — stepping to the side avoids the side kick's linear thrust.
What are the variants of the Drop Side Kick?
Common variants: Forward Drop Side Kick (dropping while moving toward the opponent, the kick impac…); Backward Drop Side Kick (dropping while retreating, kicking laterally at the advan…); Lateral Drop Side Kick (dropping directly to the side, the most natural direction…); Spinning Drop Side Kick (adding a spin to the drop for rotational power (extremely…); Drop Side Kick to the knee (targeting the standing opponent's knee joint for maximum …); Drop Side Kick to the body (targeting the midsection from a lowered position, useful …).
How effective is the Drop Side Kick in competition?
Drop kicks are uncommon in modern point competition due to the risk of ending up grounded. In MMA, related ground-level side kicks have been used in UFC competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Drop Side Kick?
Top errors to watch for: Collapsing rather than controlling the fall — the descent must be CONTROLLED; an uncontrolled collapse produces an un… / Losing the side kick's structural alignment — the heel-knee-hip line must be maintained even during the drop; a bent … / Not protecting the head during the descent — at minimum one hand should be positioned to break the fall; face-first c… / No recovery plan — attempting the drop without a plan for returning to standing or transitioning to guard leaves the ….
What are other names for the Drop Side Kick?
The Drop Side Kick is also known as Doroppu Saido Kikku, Dropping Side Kick, Sacrifice Side Kick, Falling Side Kick, Ground-Level Side Kick.