Spinning blind
The leg goes first and the head turns late, so the kick flies anywhere.
What Tori does instead: Head first, then shoulders, then the leg.
Kick lesson 5 of 5 Brown belt Rear leg
Spinning hook kick
The showpiece. Tori spins backwards on its front foot, lets the leg rise out to the side as it turns, sweeps the back of its heel across Uke’s head guard and keeps turning until it faces Uke again. A full circle in about a second.
For entertainment only. A robot demo that explains how the kick works. It isn’t training or advice, so don’t try it on anyone. Disclaimer
- Foot speed
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- Impact, est.
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Now demonstrating
Spinning hook kick Ushiro mawashi geri
Frame by frame
Tori stops for a moment on each step, and the step’s name shows on the 3D view. The line is the path of Tori’s kicking foot: solid where the foot has been, faint where it is about to go. Switch on Chips and sparks for the full robot show.
Keyboard, with the 3D view focused: Space pause and play, , and . step one frame back or forward, arrow keys turn the camera.
Robot demo for entertainment only. Please don't try it on people, pets or yourself.
At a glance
What the spinning hook kick is
Also called Ushiro mawashi geri Dwi huryeo chagi. Tori stands orthodox, with its left foot in front, and kicks with its rear (right) leg. A left-handed (southpaw) fighter mirrors everything on this page.
- Leg
- Rear leg here (Tori’s right), during a full spin
- Target
- The side of the head guard
- Range
- Medium to long
- Path
- A wide circle that sweeps across the target
- Chamber
- None held: the leg rises as the spin turns
- Power from
- The spin, led by the head and shoulders
- Lands with
- Back of the heel
- Stands on
- The front foot, spinning on its ball
The spin powers this kick and the leg goes along for the ride: the head turns first, then the shoulders, then the hips, and the leg is swung round last.
Step by step
What Tori does, frame by frame
These are the same steps as the buttons under the 3D view. Freeze Tori on any of them, then turn the camera to look from every side.
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Guard. Fists up. Uke starts to look worried.
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Spin. Tori turns backwards on its front foot, head and shoulders first, keeping one camera on Uke over its shoulder.
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Extend. The leg rises out to the side as the spin keeps going.
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Hook. The back of the heel sweeps across the side of Uke’s head guard.
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Follow through. The leg keeps travelling round with the spin.
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Land. The foot comes down and Tori faces Uke again, a full turn later.
Watch it like a coach
- Camera Top at ¼×: the whole circle, and where on it the heel meets the target.
- Freeze on Spin: the head has turned before the leg leaves the mat.
- Camera Behind Tori at ½×: the leg straightening as it swings in.
Where the power comes from
From the floor to the foot
A kick isn’t thrown by the leg alone. Each link passes the movement on to the next, from the standing foot to the striking one.
Head and eyes
Turn first, to find the target over the shoulder.
Shoulders
Lead the spin.
Hips
Follow and swing the leg up and round.
Heel
Sweeps across the target and keeps going.
Checkpoints
What to look for in the demo
Freeze Tori on Hook and check each of these.
- Eyes on Uke The head is already round.
- Back of the heel Not the calf and not the toes.
- Leg nearly straight It swings in long and hooks at the end.
- On the ball of the foot The standing heel is off the mat.
- Follow through The spin doesn’t stop at the target.
- Guard up The hands stay near the face during the spin.
Common mistakes
How the spinning hook kick goes wrong
Robots make these mistakes too, until someone updates their firmware.
Braking at the target
Stopping the spin at the target throws Tori off balance.
What Tori does instead: Follow through and finish the turn.
Too close
The calf or the knee arrives instead of the heel.
What Tori does instead: Start from further away.
Flat-footed spin
Turning on a flat foot is slow and grinds the joints.
What Tori does instead: Spin on the ball of the foot.
The foot
Which part of the foot lands
The spinning hook kick lands with the back of the heel. Watch it in the Close-up camera, frozen on Hook.
The back of the heel
- The back of the heel leads the sweep.
- Ankle flexed, toes pulled up.
- Leg nearly straight, hooking in at the last moment.
- Swept across and through, not driven in.
In a fight (between robots)
How it’s used, and how it’s stopped
Kicks rarely come alone. They are mixed with punches and with other kicks, so each one sets up the next.
Combinations
- 1-spin
The jab covers the start of the spin.
- Round-spin
A missed roundhouse carries the hips round; the spin goes with it.
- Back or hook
The same spin can finish as a back kick or as this hook.
- Low-high
A low kick brings the guard down, then the heel sweeps high.
How Uke could stop it
- Duck
Drop under it. Uke does this when it dodges one.
- Step back
Out of the circle.
- Jam
Step in before the leg gets going.
- Cover
The arm comes up to the side of the head.
A robot demo, not a class
This page explains how the spinning hook kick works so the animation makes sense. It isn’t a martial arts course, and it isn’t self-defense, fitness, medical or safety advice. Tori’s version is simplified and exaggerated for the camera, and robot joints bend in ways yours shouldn’t. Don’t kick anyone. If you want to learn a martial art for real, learn in person from a qualified instructor and check with a doctor first.