Rear Roundhouse Kick

  • Striking
  • Kicks
  • fundamental
  • Orthodox stance
  • 4 steps

A whipping rear-leg kick that drives the shin through the target via full hip rotation. Also known as the Round kick, the Te chiang or the Rear leg 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

  1. 01

    Set your stance

    Balanced, hands up, rear leg loaded.

    Rear Roundhouse Kick step 1 of 4: Set your stance
  2. 02

    Step and pivot

    Step out with the lead foot and pivot on the ball of it so the hips can open toward the target.

    Rear Roundhouse Kick step 2 of 4: Step and pivot
  3. 03

    Whip the shin through

    Turn the base foot fully over, swing the rear leg up in an arc and drive the shin through the target as the rear arm swings down for torque.

    Rear Roundhouse Kick step 3 of 4: Whip the shin through
  4. 04

    Retract and reset

    Snap the leg back and return to your stance so it cannot be caught.

    Rear Roundhouse Kick step 4 of 4: Retract and reset

Key details

  • Pivot the base foot ~90° or the hips cannot turn over.
  • Strike with the shin and swing through the target, not at it.
  • Swing the same-side arm down to add rotation.

Common mistakes

  • Not pivoting the lead foot, killing the power.
  • Kicking with the instep on a hard target.
  • Dropping the hands while kicking.

Related techniques

See it animated in DARCE

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