Become Fighter
How to throw a switch kick
Swap your feet, then kick with the leg that was in front. Quicker and often stronger.
A switch kick is a round kick with the lead leg, thrown after a quick hop that swaps your feet. Your old rear leg becomes the lead, and your old lead leg comes through as the kick.
It is quicker than a rear kick because the leg is already closer to the target, and the hop adds momentum. The cost is balance: you land on a different foot, so practise it slowly before you speed it up.
Key points
- Warm up the hips and take the hop small and low.
- Swap feet in one smooth movement, not two separate steps.
- The old lead leg swings through as a round kick to the legs or body.
- Pivot on the new standing foot, just as in a rear kick.
- Hit with the shin and keep your hands up.
- Land in your normal stance, ready to move.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- A big, slow hop. Keep the switch low and small. A big jump gives your opponent time to move or counter.
- Stopping between the switch and the kick. Think of it as one move. The kick should leave as the new foot lands.
- Dropping the hands. Keep the hands up during the hop. Your guard matters most while your feet leave the floor.
- Landing off balance. Practise the switch alone until you land centred, then add the kick.
Combinations that use it
- kb-1-switch: Jab, Switch kick
- mt-teep-switch: Teep, Switch kick
- mt-switch-2: Switch kick, Cross
- kb-1-2-switch: Jab, Cross, Switch 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 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.