Roundhouse Kick Step By Step Guide | Beginner Kickboxing

Different MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) disciplines have certain moves or strikes that are considered staples in their respective sport. When it comes to kickboxing, that strike is the roundhouse kick. The roundhouse kick takes balance, coordination, timing, and both strength and flexibility to properly execute.

Today, FightCamp Trainer Aaron Swenson is going over the basics of how to perform a roundhouse kick to the body. Once mastered, the roundhouse kick will become your next go-to kickboxing strike. From there, you can learn more advanced versions of the kick and keep your opponents guessing as to what’s coming next.

The Roundhouse Kick Breakdown

Here is a simple breakdown of the roundhouse kick. Practice and nail these steps before checking out the advanced versions below.

The Stance

• Assume your kickboxing stance

• Make sure you are a little further than arm's length away from your target

• When striking, make sure to always step across your target to maximize power

Rear Roundhouse Kick

• Start by stepping at a 45-degree angle across your target with your lead leg

  • This allows your hips to fully open to generate the most power

• Chamber (knee rises to hip height) your rear leg towards the center of your target

  • Be sure to rise up on the ball of your lead foot as you chamber to allow pivoting while kicking

    • This further allows hips to finish
      

• Release the kick (strike)

  • Contact is made with the target using the in-step and shin

  • Make sure your toe is plantar flexed when making contact

Rear Roundhouse Kick Tips:

• While kicking, swing your rear arm from across your face back past your butt

• This acts as a counterbalance for stability

• Upon making contact

  • Lead foot heel should be facing your target

  • Rear foot should be plantar flexed to minimize injury

Lead Roundhouse Kick

• Start by stepping at a 45-degree angle across your target with your rear leg

  • This allows your hips to fully open to generate the most power

• Chamber (knee rises to hip height) your lead leg towards the center of your target

  • Be sure to rise up on the ball of your rear foot as you chamber to allow pivoting while kicking

    • This further allows hips to finish

• Release the kick (strike)

  • Contact is made with the target using the in-step and shin

  • Make sure your toe is plantar flexed when making contact

Lead Roundhouse Kick Tips:

• While kicking, swing your lead arm from across your face back past your butt

• This acts as a counterbalance for stability

• Upon making contact

  • Rear foot heel should be facing your target

  • Lead foot should be plantar flexed to minimize injury

Advanced Roundhouse Kicks

Now that you’ve mastered the basic lead and rear roundhouse kicks, check out these roundhouse variations to take your striking game to the next level.

Hop Kick

The hop kick is a great alternative to the basic roundhouse that adds momentum, making it easier to execute. The precise rhythm will take some time to perfect, but keep at it!

• Assume a kickboxing stance, slightly further than arm’s length away from your target

• Start by lifting your rear foot off of the ground

  • This acts as a slight fake

• Quickly place your foot back down onto the ground

• Push-off your rear foot to gain momentum

  • Immediately begin to execute your rear roundhouse kick sequence

Switch Kick

Another rhythm-timing kick, the switch kick is similar to a ball change in dancing, using momentum to generate a more powerful kick.

• Begin by lifting your lead foot off of the ground

• Hop switch off of your rear foot at a 45-degree angle across your target

  • Rear foot should now be in front

• Ball change, and push off the former lead foot to generate power for your kick

  • Immediately begin to execute your lead roundhouse kick sequence

Muscle Conditioning

Body kicks take a lot of energy to perform so you will want to make sure that you practice them to fully condition your muscles. Aaron recommends performing 25 kicks with both your rear and lead legs, making sure to strike your target just above the beltline.

Train Like a Fighter

If you like this step-by-step instruction download the free FightCamp App and do the Level 1 Kickboxing Path, where Trainer Aaron Swenson walks you through technique, tutorial, and workouts to start your kickboxing journey with proper form and foundational skills.

Take your workouts to the next level and train like a fighter with the at-home connected fitness solution used by world champion boxers Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather. FightCamp has everything you need to work out on your schedule, with premium boxing equipment and hundreds of on-demand strength, conditioning, kickboxing, boxing, core, and recovery classes led by real fighters. As Mike Tyson said - “FightCamp is the next level of training!”