How To End A Fight With A Back Kick With Chip Townsend
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Oblique Back Side Kick·Budo Brothers
If you want to learn to do something right, it is best to learn from the best in the business. When it comes to kicking,…
Oblique Back Side Kick
SubFamilyオブリーク・バック・サイド・キック(Oburīku Bakku Saido Kikku)
Translation: Oblique back side kick
Overview
The Oblique Back Side Kick is delivered diagonally backward at approximately 45 degrees, combining the mechanics of a back kick with the thrusting trajectory of a side kick. [1] This angle is optimal for reaching opponents who have moved to the practitioner's rear quarter, a position too far back for a standard side kick but not directly behind for a back kick. [1] The oblique angle provides both reach and power while maintaining reasonable balance. [1]
Angled Back Side Kick
History & Origin
Effectiveness
The Oblique Back 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
Primarily a training, demonstration, and point-fighting technique. Rarely seen in full-contact MMA or kickboxing due to acrobatic risk and telegraphing. Appears occasionally in TKD and point-fighting karate tournaments. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Side kick mechanics with specific modification for oblique back 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 oblique back side kick
From close range — Adapted shorter version for tight distances
Variants
High oblique back side kick — targeting head level
Mid oblique back side kick — targeting body
Low oblique back side kick — targeting legs
Videos
How To JKD Side Kick | Core JKD Sidekick Training
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Oblique Back Side Kick·corejkd
Ming delivers the details on a successful, powerful JKD sidekick - and the Core JKD short range side kick. Highlighting …
2 videos
What Instructors Say
The oblique back side kick combines linear pathway efficiency with deceptive setup mechanics. Core JKD emphasizes maintaining a straight line to target by crossing the centerline and stepping behind with the rear foot, then chambering the kick from a high position rather than dragging it from the ground—this minimizes interception opportunity and reduces gravitational resistance. The instructor stresses penetration through the target, not merely striking it, with body angle critical: leaning back slightly maintains balance while allowing rebound without over-tilting, whereas excessive forward lean or upright posture reduces power transfer. Budo Brothers' Chip Townsend frames the back kick as a deceptive striking tool disguised within neutral stance geometry; the "pivot, look, kick" progression obscures intent by avoiding postural telegraphs like hip extension or squared shoulders that announce spin direction. Townsend notes the kick's functional lethality for joint targeting (knees, ribs, arms) when properly set up, and advocates a linear rather than wide swing trajectory for speed and readability reduction. Both instructors agree on the importance of linear efficiency and training against proper shield work (Core JKD specifies firm, body-integrated pad contact; Budo Brothers emphasizes reading mechanics without telegraphing). Core JKD addresses range variation (long vs. short range applications), while Budo Brothers prioritizes disguise within fighting stance as the primary strategic advantage.
Synthesized from 2 instructors
- Core JKD — How To JKD Side Kick | Core JKD Sidekick Training: Detailed mechanics of centerline geometry, chambering from a high position to eliminate ground-to-target drag, body angle management for balance and rebound absorption, penetration principle, and proper shield-holding feedback for training.
- Budo Brothers — How To End A Fight With A Back Kick With Chip Townsend: Emphasis on deceptive setup within neutral stance ('pivot, look, kick'), avoiding postural telegraphs, linear trajectory for speed and reduced readability, and functional applications (joint targeting, fight-ending potential).
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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 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 before attempting the oblique back 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 oblique back side kick without sufficient side kick foundation
!Poor balance during execution
!Insufficient hip rotation
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Feint or jab → Chamber → Oblique Back 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 2.8. A backward side kick at a diagonal angle — between a straight back side kick and a spinning back kick. (De Bremaeker & Faige, Essential Book of Martial Arts Kicks, 2010)
Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I aim the oblique back side kick for maximum effect?
Core JKD emphasizes that targeting the high line will cause your opponent to stumble more and lose their base, forcing them to move significantly to recapture balance. This gives you better control over how they travel and respond to the strike.
How should I position my body after throwing the oblique back side kick?
Core JKD recommends maintaining a medium body position—get rebound from the kick but avoid tilting too far in either direction, as this will throw off your balance. You want gravity to do the work rather than muscling the foot down with excessive tension.
What's the key difference between a back kick and a reverse side kick?
According to Chip Townsend, the back kick requires a pivot, look, and kick as one fluid motion without spinning excessively. A true reverse side kick is different—the back kick is about forward momentum and positioning rather than a full spin.
How close should I be to my opponent before throwing the oblique back side kick?
Core JKD warns against backing up too far and then running at your opponent with the kick, as this significantly reduces its effectiveness. The technique works best from a good fighting distance where you can generate momentum naturally.
How does the Oblique Back Side Kick work?
The Oblique Back Side Kick is delivered diagonally backward at approximately 45 degrees, combining the mechanics of a back kick with the thrusting trajectory of a side kick. This angle is optimal for reaching opponents who have moved to the practitioner's rear quarter, a position too far back for a standard side kick but not directly behind for a back kick.
Where does the Oblique Back Side Kick come from?
The Oblique Back 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 Oblique Back 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 Oblique Back Side Kick?
Danger rating 6/10. Side kick variants deliver significant lateral force to the target
How do I set up the Oblique Back Side Kick?
The standard setup chain: Feint or jab → Chamber → Oblique Back Side Kick to target → Follow-up technique.
How do I defend against the Oblique Back Side Kick?
Standard counters include: Step inside the kick range / Catch and sweep / Counter with low roundhouse.
What are the variants of the Oblique Back Side Kick?
Common variants: High oblique back side kick (targeting head level); Mid oblique back side kick (targeting body); Low oblique back side kick (targeting legs).
How effective is the Oblique Back Side Kick in competition?
Primarily a training, demonstration, and point-fighting technique. Rarely seen in full-contact MMA or kickboxing due to acrobatic risk and telegraphing.
What are common mistakes when doing the Oblique Back Side Kick?
Top errors to watch for: Attempting the oblique back side kick without sufficient side kick foundation / Poor balance during execution / Insufficient hip rotation.
What are other names for the Oblique Back Side Kick?
The Oblique Back Side Kick is also known as Oburīku Bakku Saido Kikku, Angled Back Side Kick.