How to Do a Karate Roundhouse Kick

Karate's roundhouse kick is one of the most basic, powerful and versatile kicks in all of martial arts. The kick is used by fighters with backgrounds as diverse as Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai and Jeet Kun Do. Do karate's roundhouse kick and deliver a powerful strike against your opponent.

Instructions

    • 1

      Get into a back stance with your kick leg slightly behind your hips and your forward leg posted with a slightly bent knee and shoulder width distance from your back leg. Bring both hands up to your head in a natural guard position.

    • 2

      Lift your back leg off the ground as you turn your front foot away from your body so that you can pivot without putting strain on the knee. Raise the knee of your back leg to waist level and then swing your hips around so your knee faces your opponent. Switch your forward hand so that the hand on the side of your kicking leg comes forward to block and your other hand falls back with your shoulder.

    • 3

      Kick by extending your knee to strike your opponent with the top part of your foot. Make sure your hand stays in front of your face to block potential attacks.

    • 4

      Retract the kick by pulling your lower leg back so that you return to the raised knee position. Swivel your hips back so that the kicking leg returns to its hind position and then place your foot back on the floor so you end up in your original stance.