Become Fighter
The lead round kick: Kickboxing guide
A fast kick from the front leg to the thigh and ribs that needs no wind-up.
The lead round kick comes off the front leg. It is shorter and quicker than the rear kick because the leg is already close to the target, and it does not need a big rotation. It is an excellent interrupting kick and a setup for the rear side.
The price is power. It lands lighter than a rear kick, but it arrives sooner, and in a long fight those small hits add up. The lead low kick is also very effective against someone who stands with the lead leg heavy.
Key points
- Shift your weight onto the rear foot, then lift the lead knee and open the hip toward the target.
- Pivot on the rear foot so the hip turns over. Without the pivot it is a slap.
- Land with the shin on the inside of the lead thigh or the ribs.
- Keep the rear hand glued to your chin. The lead leg leaves you square on to the opponent.
- Put the leg down in stance, not across the line.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Slapping with the foot. Open the hip so the shin, not the foot, arrives first.
- Telegraphing with the weight shift. Practise the shift as a small bounce so it is part of your movement, not a signal.
- Leaving the rear hand low. Rear hand on the chin. A square body is easy to hit with a cross.
Combinations that use it
- kb-jab-lead-body: Jab, Lead body kick
- kb-lead-body-cross: Lead body kick, Cross
- kb-lead-low-cross: Lead low kick, Cross
- kb-1-lead-low-cross: Jab, Lead low kick, Cross
- kb-1-2-lead-body: Jab, Cross, Lead body kick
Related techniques
The rest is in the app
The step-by-step breakdown, the timed drill with the coach calling the shots and the quiz are part of Become Fighter Pro, where this lesson sits in the Advanced kicks module of Kickboxing foundations.
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More from Advanced kicks
- The spinning back kick: Kickboxing guide
- The question-mark kick: Kickboxing guide
- Hook, axe and flying kicks: what to leave out: Kickboxing guide
Combat sports training is hard on the body. Warm up, stay within your limits and check with a doctor first if you have a health condition. Practise in a clear space and stop if you feel pain or dizziness. Learn partner work only under a qualified coach.