Cut Kick

This past couple of weeks, I have been talking about all the kicks that are most often used in sparring. I will now talk about cut kick. The cut kick is very similar to a pushing kick. The cut kick is most often used to stop an opponent's forward motion, but it also can be used as a feint motion or to stop an opponent's attack. It is a good kick to use when initiating a combination kick such as cut-back kick, cut-hook kick, cut double round kick, cut tornado kick, and so on.

The basic technique is the same as for a pushing kick, only the body doesn't have a straightforward orientation. Cut kicks don't score points and generally are not used with striking force. The cut kick is not a true kick; it it could be considered as an air kick. It is mostly used in faking an action, as in raising the leg up in a cut action, or by planting or touching the foot on the opponent before executing a combination kick. The motion of a cut kick mimics other kicks and therefore can be used to fool the opponents about your intentions. It is usually targeted at the hips, trunk ribs or face.

The video above shows how to do a 360 cut-spin hook kick. I know this kick is complex to execute but its definitely beautiful to watch. Enjoy!