Rear Axe Kick. Kickboxing

Description

How to Do Rear Axe Kick. Kickboxing

1. 1
   Setup

   Begin in an athletic ready stance with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and hands up in a guard position for balance.

2. 2
   Setup

   Shift your weight onto your lead leg, then lift your rear knee high towards your chest, bringing your heel close to your glute.

3. 3

   Extend your lifted leg straight up towards the ceiling, aiming to bring your heel as high as possible while keeping your foot dorsiflexed (toes pulled towards your shin).

4. 4

   With a powerful, controlled motion, chop your heel directly downwards in a straight line, as if striking an imaginary target on the ground in front of you. Exhale sharply as you execute the downward strike.

5. 5

   Immediately retract your leg by bending your knee and bringing it back towards your chest, then swiftly return your foot to the starting position or a ready stance. Inhale as you recover.

Tips

• Maintain a strong, braced core throughout the entire kick to protect your spine and generate maximum power from your hips.
• Focus on the 'chopping' motion with your heel, driving it straight down rather than swinging your leg forward, to maximize the axe kick's impact and effectiveness.
• Keep your eyes fixed on an imaginary target throughout the entire movement to help maintain balance and improve the accuracy of your strike.
• Practice the full range of motion slowly and deliberately first to master the balance and coordination before adding speed and power to your kicks.

Common Mistakes

• ×Many people lose balance by not engaging their core or not fixating their gaze, so actively brace your abdominal muscles and pick a spot to focus on throughout the kick.
• ×A common mistake is swinging the leg forward instead of driving the heel down, so ensure you initiate the downward chop with your heel, engaging your glutes and hamstrings for power.
• ×Kicking with the toes instead of the heel reduces impact and can lead to injury, so actively dorsiflex your foot to present the heel as your primary striking surface.