The Axe Kick is a kick that not many people can pull off. Not only does it require a great deal of flexibility, but timing and spot on accuracy all play there role in the deliverance of the kick.
To execute it from a fighting stance you simply swing your back or front leg up keeping it straight and drop it down on your opponent. As your foot makes a decent from its highest position you lean slightly backwards from your upper body so as to keep stabilised, well balanced and for further reach. On contact try to avoid having the striking leg completely straight but bent slightly so as to not damage the knee. Your striking weapon is the heel of the foot. As with all kicks its best to have your standing leg slightly bent also for extra balance. Targets for striking include the top part of the head, collar bone, shoulder, your opponents back (if they are bent forward) and your opponent’s front thigh (if the leg is bent enough). This is a technique that can work well in most kickboxing and MMA fights. These fighters are used to attacks from the front (straight techniques), from underneath (uppercuts) and from the side (hooks and roundhouse kicks). Rarely do they get attacked with techniques from above coming down which is precisely the route the axe kick takes. As with all techniques, use it in conjunction with others. Don’t relay solely on it but don’t omit it from your repertoire. Practise it, use it, and have confidence in it and it shall work for you. I leave you with a compilation of the late great Andy Hug and some of his finest moments. Watch out for the axe kick and all his other spectacular techniques which are rarely seen. Enjoy.
If anyone is familiar with the great Kyokushin Karate Fighter Andy Hug (RIP) you will know of the axe kick. Sometimes called the drop heel kick or Otoshi Geri it is one of them rarely thrown kicks that if landed can do a great deal of damage.
Marks
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Wednesday, 18 June 2008
The Axe Kick
at 10:41 AM Labels: andy hug, axe kick, kyokushin karate
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3 comments:
At our school we don't practice the axe kick hardly at all. I'm pretty sure my teacher doesn't have the flexibility anymore to pull it off so it went by the way side. Fantastic videos - it looked like he could convert a crescent kick beautifully.
A lot of schools dont practise it. My experience shows that kickboxers and karate fighters sometimes practise it where Thai fighters rarley practise it. I think this is why it may give an element of surprise when executed.
Andy Hug was surley a great kicker. It seemed natural to him
We use axe kicks both in kata and sometimes in sparring. I use in sometimes in sparring: I've found it effective to get the other guy to back off since it's unusual and most guys back out not being sure how to handle it.
I don't think I'd use it twice in the same match.
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