Page 46 - Pat O'Keeffe Combat Kick Boxing

Combat Kick Boxing

Rear Roundhouse Kicks
The rear roundhouse kick is found in all variations of kick boxing because of the
tremendous power that can be attained with it. Low, middle, high and jumping
variations all occur in the ring, but here we will concern ourselves only with the
low and middle-level kicks.
Although superficially the low and middle variations are thrown in the same
way, the low-level roundhouse kick is of particular importance in terms of self-
defence and will be dealt with separately.

Middle-Level Rear
Roundhouse Kick
To throw the middle-level rear
roundhouse kick, pick up your rear leg
with the knee tucked to the side. Pivot
sharply on the support leg and drive
your hip forward. At the same time
snap your knee straight. Make contact
with either the instep or the shin.
(Figs. 44 and 45)
Fig 44
It is important to emphasise the three
factors which combine to give this kick
its power. They are:
1) The fast pivot on the support leg,
thereby making the body power the
leg. Too many people throw this
kick without concentrating on the
pivot, allowing the kicking leg to
pull the body around with it.
2) The hip preceding the kick. This
action ensures a greater
commitment of body weight into Fig 45
the kick.
3) The knee snap.

All three factors are necessary for the kick to reach its full potential. Work the kick
on the bag until it has real power, make the bag fold around the leg. Then add the
shield for mobility and finally, the ‘snap up’ pad drills for accuracy and speed.

In Kick Boxing – A Framework for Success a number of variations on the middle-
level rear roundhouse are shown. These variations produce differing effects, such
as increased speed or increased power and so have self-defence implications that
are worth researching.
Targets for the middle-level rear roundhouse kick are the groin, lower abdomen,
stomach, floating ribs and the kidneys.

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