Also called High kick, High roundhouse kick
The head kick is a roundhouse kick aimed at the neck or jaw, usually with the rear leg. It needs hip flexibility and a setup, because it travels far and leaves you on one leg. Landed clean, the shin or instep to the jaw is one of the most decisive finishes in kickboxing and MMA.
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How to do it
- 1Draw the guard down first; a punch or kick to the body is the classic setup.
- 2Step out at an angle and rise onto the ball of the standing foot.
- 3Pivot the standing heel toward the target and turn the hips over completely.
- 4Lean the upper body away for balance while one hand still guards your chin.
- 5Aim the shin or instep at the neck or jaw, then bring the leg back to stance.
- Throwing it without a setup, so the opponent sees it and blocks or counters.
- Kicking beyond your flexibility, which slows the kick and costs balance.
- Dropping the guard while leaning away.
Safety: Warm up the hips first, keep head-kick contact to pads, and throw it in sparring only with shin guards, headgear and your coach's approval.
Drills
Your partner holds a Thai pad high beside their head; throw body kick, body kick, head kick so the high kick comes after the guard has been drawn low.
Legends known for it
2002–2016
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