Which kick generates the most power?

[Lisa]

Which kick do you think generates the most power for you and why? I believe that different MAist because of their size and strength and body structure would generate different results. I knew a woman in my class once that could round house kick like you wouldn't believe. She used to leave bruises on my forearms when I would used a forearm pad and almost knock me on my butt. :)

So what say you? Roundhouse, snap kick, back kick, side kick? Which one do you believe is the most power generating for you?

[jdinca]

I'm gonna throw the roundhouse in the mix. Not the fastest kick but a great deal of power.

[Grenadier]

Different strokes for different folks. Some can generate rotational power quite nicely (round kick, hook kick, crescent kicks), but may have weaker linear (front kick, side kick) power, due to any number of factors. The opposite can certainly be true as well, where someone has great linear power, but may be lacking in rotational power. Others may be able equally capable with both linear and rotational kicks.

For me, it's the side kick that generates the most, followed by the spinning hook kick.

[OnlyAnEgg]

I've been told my roundhouse is very strong; so, I'd say it's my best, in terms of effectiveness. My front snap is quick; but, not as powerful.

[Drac]

My front snap is quick; but, not as powerful.

Same here..Sometimes that "not too powerful" little snap makes ALL the difference..

[Laborn]

Back kick. My round house is strong, my front kick/side kick is strong, but i can do the most damage with a back kick.

[OnlyAnEgg]

Same here..Sometimes that "not too powerful" little snap makes ALL the difference..

Agreed! It's efficient in terms of placing my opponant off-balance or blocking the kick and giving me an opening.

[tradrockrat]

My most effective kick is my roundhouse to the leg - no question. But my strongest kick is my crossover sidekick - I just find that it isn't as easy to use in sparring, so it is less effective for me.

[karatekid1975]

I'd say my back and side kicks are my most powerful. But I have been told that my mid roundhouse is strong also.

[jdinca]

My most effective kick is my roundhouse to the leg - no question. But my strongest kick is my crossover sidekick - I just find that it isn't as easy to use in sparring, so it is less effective for me.

I'd say that the crossover thrust is the kick that has made me fly the farthest but yeah, it's tough to get the distance required in a sparring situation.

[Cirdan]

For me it would be the back kick and the side kick second. Good for stopping a charge.

[bdparsons]

Good old-fashioned back (mule) kick.

Bill Parsons
Triangle Kenpo Institute

[Brother John]

a Downward, hard-driving STOMP!!
I think that's the kick that generates the most power, because it has the greatest abount of back-up Mass behind it and it drives in with the hardest part of the foot.

I know you may think my post is trying to be funny, but it's not.

The stomp gets my vote.

Your Brother
John

[AceHBK]

Good 'ol roundhouse.
Opening of the hips and follow thru.

[hemi]

From working with my wave master bag I would have to vote for the spinning back kick. It’s not super fast or flashy but it seems to send my bag into the blinds and gets me yelled at by the wife. LOL

[TheBattousai]

For me it varies, I think that the hook kick, side kick, front thrust kick, wheel kick, back thrust kick, mountain stomp, and (very much) the roundoff kick are some good ones in terms of power and devastation if you connect with them at full force. Those are just some of my choices though.

[Jagermeister]

a Downward, hard-driving STOMP!!
I think that's the kick that generates the most power, because it has the greatest abount of back-up Mass behind it and it drives in with the hardest part of the foot.

"Enter the Dragon," anyone? The finishing move to end all finishing moves.

[Jagermeister]

For me, it's the Thai round kick to the leg.

[MJS]

For me I'll have to go with the round kick.

Mike

[beauty_in_the_sai]

I was always told the back kick. However, my side kick seems more powerful than my back kick.

[rutherford]

I believe that in pad tests the spinning back kick was the strongest. I'll never throw one.

Hook kicks work best for me. But I don't throw them for power except against a bag.

[AceHBK]

Jagermeister......that quote of Randy Moss has me laughing

[TigerWoman]

For a measure of the power of a round kick with the instep, for example hitting three boards worth of power, might compare to hitting someone big in the chest with no pad. While I love hitting hard with a round kick on the bag or on a chest guard, it definitely is not the same as three boards. Not too many do that for the pain factor. And it does take a snap to generate the power unless you do those wheel kicks which telegraph. I've only done two boards with a round kick as the bones in a female foot are smaller. A guy I knew did three at a tournament and broke his foot, but that kick he loved and he had broken it before doing round, same break. We also have another bb who's mass is big and can do round kick to concrete, no problem.

The back kick, or as we call it, the spin sidekick, definitely has the spin to add more power, a jump back is even more powerful, but a flying sidekick tops that. Anything with a jump adds more power, run and a jump more power. A flying side kick with two boards held with two fingers requiring a speed break-very fast snap-is more powerful. How about a jumpback kick through two then an immediate jump spin heel at head level on the other leg to a board held with just two fingers? That requires a great deal of power to generate that second jump and snap for the second speed break. So, was tested on all of these, but for which kick has more power, it depends on the kicker, mass, technique, and whether a jump is involved. TW

[FearlessFreep]

Fo r standing kicks I would say for me it's either a spinning back kick or a step-behind sidekick, but would agree with with TW that anything you do and modify with 'jump' or 'flying' is going to be even more powerful

[terryl965]

For a fight stituation Back leg Round house for a power kick only the step behind sidekick for me.
Terry

[Gary Crawford]

Burning foot side kick. Definatly

[Miles]

Back kick gets my vote for most power. Step-behind side kick a not so distant second.

For fighting, back leg roundhouse kick.

Miles

[bignick]

My most devastating kick is my switch kick, basically like a jump roundhouse, but insead of jumping and kicking, you switch and kick at the same time. The gain in rotational power is astounding and very few people have stayed standing after a full power one from me, chest protector or not.

In fact, I had the pleasure of working with Coach Han Won Lee, the the 2000 US Olympic Tae Kwon Do coach, and he made my partner hold a kick shield when we worked this into combos, even though they already had a hogu (chest protector) on.

For sheer power, it would probably be a spinning back kick.

[MartialIntent]

...Seems there are as many opinions as there are kicks!

Agree with terryl965 - the step-behind sidekick takes some beating for the sheer impulse power of the foot. Roundhouse kicks are great when you can snap them out quickly - and there's plenty are caught out by them - but for me they're just too showy...

Back kicks generate good rotational power by virtue of the counterbalancing effect of the upper body but I'd still stick with step-behind sidekick putting your whole body behind it with a bit of venom - it really feels like you can move a mountain! :)

[masterfinger]

Burning foot side kick. Definatly

Same here. I've sent people flying with it.

Franco

[qizmoduis]

For me, I'd say my crossover or spinning rear kicks generate the most power.

[Lisa]

Burning foot side kick. Definatly

What is a Burning foot side kick? How is it different from a "regular" side kick? Anyone have a pic to show me?

[Jonathan Randall]

a Downward, hard-driving STOMP!!
I think that's the kick that generates the most power, because it has the greatest abount of back-up Mass behind it and it drives in with the hardest part of the foot.

I know you may think my post is trying to be funny, but it's not.

The stomp gets my vote.

Your Brother
John

Not at all - you made a good point. W.E. Fairbairn of WW2 Combatives fame certainly thought highly enough of it.

[masterfinger]

Originally Posted by Brother John
a Downward, hard-driving STOMP!!
I think that's the kick that generates the most power, because it has the greatest abount of back-up Mass behind it and it drives in with the hardest part of the foot.


Not at all - you made a good point. W.E. Fairbairn of WW2 Combatives fame certainly thought highly enough of it.

Yes! When it comes to one of the most simple and effective finishing moves on a downed opponent, the stomp to the nugget is a well known and universally accepted "kick".

Franco

[KenpoBruce2006]

Spinning Rear Kick and the Spinning Hook (combine the most power with linear and rotational). Non-Spinning, the rear (they break ribs easily) and the side (also break ribs) then the round. My choices.

[Henderson]

Being a Goju Ryu practitioner, our kicks are "low-line", meaning typically we do not kick above the waist.

So.....

I'm gonna say Mae Geri (thrusting front kick done with ball of foot) placed into the meat of the thigh.

[Gemini]

Sliding* back kick. hands down.

*Driving your entire body and your support foot forward through the kick.

[Hand Sword]

Mine was a cross over, side thrust kick.

[Brandon Fisher]

Thrust Side kick and spinning back kick. But my spinning back kick is exceptionally more powerful. But it is very accurate and fast to.

[bobster_ice]

For me the best kick has to be the front thrust kick, it is one of my favourates when sparring.

[Odin]

Thai roundhouse to either the leg ,the ribs, the neck or the head...Mines fast strong and I roll my shin on impact just to do that little bit more damage.....muay thai bread and butter.

[jgrimm01]

For me the best kick has to be the front thrust kick, it is one of my favourates when sparring.

I'd have to join that club too...easy to take the wind out of an opponents sails with a hard well-placed front thrust kick...

J

[Ross]

Some interesting points here. However, if you are talking about which is technically the most powerful kick it is either the front thrust kick or rear/back kick. This is due to the alignment of your hips ensuring that, if executed correctly, the whole of your body weight will strike with the kick.

While the Roundhouse or spinning hook kicks etc are potentially more destructive they rely on speed of the spin, speed of the leg/foot and weight of the leg. However, because they are traditionally used against a target higher up the body which are more vulnerable (ie the head) they can be more devastating in their application.

[Brandon Fisher]

spinning back kicks rely on the thrust also just like the front, side, and back thrust kicks. The Spinning hook kick does rely on a lot of speed and snap on the hook.

[Tony]

I know I coudl do a low side kick really well but my roundhouse kicks are pretty good! I think though everyone has a favourite kick.