Axe Kick
- Striking
- Kicks
- advanced
- Orthodox stance
- 4 steps
A kick that swings the leg high and drops the heel straight down onto the head or collarbone. Also known as the Hammer kick or the Downward kick. Here is the exact breakdown from the DARCE app: 4 steps, the details that make it work, and the mistakes to avoid.
Step by step
- 01
Set your stance
Square enough to lift the leg straight up.
- 02
Swing the leg up high
Lift the kicking leg up high in front of the target, as straight as your flexibility allows.
- 03
Drop the heel down
Drop the heel straight down onto the target, using gravity and a hip snap to drive it through.
- 04
Retract and reset
Bring the leg back to your stance under control.
Key details
- Raise the leg high before chopping so the heel falls onto the target.
- Strike with the heel, not the sole.
- Stay tall over the base leg to keep balance.
Common mistakes
- Not raising the leg high enough to drop down.
- Falling backward as the leg comes up.
- Telegraphing the high lift without a setup.
Related techniques
- Rear Roundhouse KickStrikingA whipping rear-leg kick that drives the shin through the target via full hip rotation.
- Switch KickStrikingA lead-leg roundhouse set up by a quick stance switch to generate rear-leg power.
- Low KickStrikingA rear roundhouse aimed at the thigh or calf to chop the base out from under the opponent.
- Calf KickStrikingA low roundhouse that chops the shin into the outside of the calf, attacking the peroneal nerve to buckle the leg.
- Inside Low KickStrikingA fast lead-leg kick that snaps up into the inner thigh to buckle the opponent’s base.
- Teep (Push Kick)StrikingA straight push-kick with the lead leg that controls distance and stops forward pressure.
See it animated in DARCE
Film a round and the app finds which techniques showed up in your game, where the Axe Kick fits, and what to drill next. Private beta, 50 founding seats.
Join the waitlist