Become Fighter
How to throw a rear body kick
The same round kick, lifted to the ribs and the stomach.
A body kick is the round kick aimed at the ribs. It is the same movement as the low kick, thrown one level higher. A hard body kick drains your opponent's breath and drops their guard.
Because the leg travels higher, your hips need to be more open and your balance matters more. Keep it controlled and think about timing before power.
Key points
- Warm up your hips and hamstrings. A body kick needs more flexibility than a low kick.
- The same pivot and hip turn as the low kick, with the leg rising to rib height.
- Lean the upper body slightly away from the kick to balance.
- Land with the shin on the ribs, not the foot.
- Cover your head with the lead hand as the kick comes through.
- Control the recovery. Do not let the leg drag you around.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Skipping the warm-up. Spend a few minutes on hip circles, leg swings and light kicks first. Do not go for height until you are loose.
- Leaning too far back and losing balance. A slight lean is enough. If you fall back, lower the kick.
- Hitting with the foot. Check contact on the bag. A foot mark means you are too close. Step off a little.
- Dropping the guard. Keep the lead hand glued to your temple. The kick leaves you open on that side.
Combinations that use it
- mt-1-body: Jab, Body kick
- kb-1-2-body: Jab, Cross, Body kick
- kb-low-body: Low kick, Body kick
- kb-hook-body-kick: Lead hook, Body kick
- mt-check-body: Check, Body kick
- kb-body-1-2: Body kick, Jab, Cross
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 Round kicks module of Kickboxing foundations.
Coming soon to the App Store and Google Play.
More from Round kicks
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.