Kneeling Side Kick Series
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Kneeling-Up Side Kick·Taryn Polovin
Kneeling-Up Side Kick
SubFamilyニーリング・アップ・サイド・キック(Nīringu Appu Saido Kikku)
Translation: Kneeling-up side kick
Overview
The Kneeling-Up Side Kick is a side kick delivered while rising from a kneeling or ground position, often as a surprise counter-attack. [1] As the practitioner rises, they use the upward momentum to power the side kick, turning a vulnerable ground position into an offensive opportunity. [1] This technique is particularly valuable in situations where the practitioner has been knocked down or has gone to ground deliberately. [1]
Rising Side KickGround-to-Standing Side Kick
History & Origin
Effectiveness
The Kneeling-Up Side Kick offers tactical advantages in specific situations where a standard side kick would be less effective. [1]
Lineage
Cross-style martial arts kicking tradition. [1]
Competition Record
An acrobatic kick variation primarily seen in demonstrations and point-fighting tournaments. Not practical in full-contact competition due to the ground recovery time required. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Side kick mechanics with specific modification for kneeling-up side kick variant
Joints Involved — Hip (abduction + flexion), knee (extension), ankle (lateral alignment)
Force Vector — Lateral thrust modified by the specific variant mechanics
Leverage Principle — Hip rotation and leg extension create a lateral piston-like force
Position & Entry
From fighting stance — Chamber and execute the kneeling-up side kick
From close range — Adapted shorter version for tight distances
Variants
High kneeling-up side kick — targeting head level
Mid kneeling-up side kick — targeting body
Low kneeling-up side kick — targeting legs
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
6
High6/10
Side kick variants deliver significant lateral force to the target
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Advanced
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Illegal
WBC/Boxing — All knee strikes prohibited {src— WBC Rules of Boxing}
— WKF — Prohibited in sport karate
WKF Competition Rules 2024PDF— WT — Prohibited
WT Competition Rules 2024PDF— ITF — Prohibited
ITF Competition RulesPDF— WAKO — Prohibited in most formats
WAKO Competition RulesPDFRestricted
— Unified MMA — Knees to standing opponent legal, knees to ...
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDFK-1/GLORY — One clinch knee allowed before referee break {src— K-1/GLORY Kickboxing Rules}
Legal
Kyokushin — Legal to body {src— IKO Kyokushin Tournament Rules}
— IFMA — Legal — knees are a core Muay Thai weapon, clinch ...
IFMA Muay Thai RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓Master the standard side kick before attempting the kneeling-up side kick (De Bremaeker & Faige, 2010)
✓Practise balance drills specific to this variant
✓Use pad work to develop power and accuracy
Common Mistakes
!Attempting the kneeling-up side kick without sufficient side kick foundation
!Poor balance during execution
!Insufficient hip rotation
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Feint or jab → Chamber → Kneeling-Up Side Kick to target → Follow-up technique
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: 89 Kicks from Karate, Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Jeet Kune Do, and Others. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4629-0558-4.
2Citation[1] De Bremaeker, M. and Faige, R. (2010). Essential Book of Martial Arts Kicks: 89 Kicks from Karate, Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Jeet Kune Do, and Others. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4629-0558-4.
[1] De Bremaeker & Faige, Essential Book of Martial Arts Kicks (2010)
Community
Athletics
Requires good lateral hip flexibility
Strong core for balance
Key muscles
gluteus medius, hip abductors, quadriceps
Notes
Documented in De Bremaeker & Faige, Section 2.11. A side kick launched from a kneeling position — useful for ground recovery situations. The kicker rises from the ground directly into the kick. (De Bremaeker & Faige, Essential Book of Martial Arts Kicks, 2010)
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I position my pelvis when doing a kneeling-up side kick?
Push your pelvis slightly forward to open up the front of your hip and avoid sitting into the hip flexor crease. Taryn Polovin emphasizes this positioning helps you take the top leg back a fraction more effectively.
What's the correct arm position for a kneeling-up side kick?
Place your hand on your hip (the same side as the kicking leg) to help stabilize your position and maintain proper alignment throughout the movement.
How should I move my leg during a kneeling-up side kick?
Lengthen the leg away while reaching slightly behind you, moving it up and away, then swing it toward you while maintaining your posture and alignment before pointing and taking it back.
How does the Kneeling-Up Side Kick work?
The Kneeling-Up Side Kick is a side kick delivered while rising from a kneeling or ground position, often as a surprise counter-attack. As the practitioner rises, they use the upward momentum to power the side kick, turning a vulnerable ground position into an offensive opportunity.
Where does the Kneeling-Up Side Kick come from?
The Kneeling-Up Side Kick is a specialised variant of the side kick documented in cross-style kicking methodology. Side kick variations have been developed across karate, taekwondo, and kung fu traditions.
Is the Kneeling-Up Side Kick legal in competition?
Unified MMA: restricted — Knees to standing opponent legal, knees to head of grounded opponent banned; WBC/Boxing: banned — All knee strikes prohibited; WKF: banned — Prohibited in sport karate; Kyokushin: legal — Legal to body; WT: banned — Prohibited; ITF: banned — Prohibited; WAKO: banned — Prohibited in most formats; K: restricted — 1/GLORY — One clinch knee allowed before referee break; IFMA: legal — Legal — knees are a core Muay Thai weapon, clinch knees highly scored
How dangerous is the Kneeling-Up Side Kick?
Danger rating 6/10. Side kick variants deliver significant lateral force to the target
How do I set up the Kneeling-Up Side Kick?
The standard setup chain: Feint or jab → Chamber → Kneeling-Up Side Kick to target → Follow-up technique.
How do I defend against the Kneeling-Up Side Kick?
Standard counters include: Step inside the kick range / Catch and sweep / Counter with low roundhouse.
What are the variants of the Kneeling-Up Side Kick?
Common variants: High kneeling-up side kick (targeting head level); Mid kneeling-up side kick (targeting body); Low kneeling-up side kick (targeting legs).
How effective is the Kneeling-Up Side Kick in competition?
An acrobatic kick variation primarily seen in demonstrations and point-fighting tournaments. Not practical in full-contact competition due to the ground recovery time required.
What are common mistakes when doing the Kneeling-Up Side Kick?
Top errors to watch for: Attempting the kneeling-up side kick without sufficient side kick foundation / Poor balance during execution / Insufficient hip rotation.
What are other names for the Kneeling-Up Side Kick?
The Kneeling-Up Side Kick is also known as Nīringu Appu Saido Kikku, Rising Side Kick, Ground-to-Standing Side Kick.