How to do Rim Kick
Rim kick is taught as a step kick initially and then as a jump/float kick once the student gets senior and expert in ground movement and the kick.
Rim kick appears like a roundhouse kick, which is true too, as half part of it is somewhat similar to roundhouse, but the general technique is different and unique to the kick and the situations in which it can be used are different from the general roundhouse.
Most part of the rim kick might seem easy to the student initially, but part of the kick requires different set of muscles from the roundhouse kick or other kicks which one has learned till he reaches the lesson for rimkick. Rim kick is not mainly a power transferring kick as such, but more focused on transferring the jerk / thrill to the opponents mainly.
How to perform a Rim kick
Rim kick is learned as a step kick initially and then its variation of jump is taught. In fact the shift from step to jump is not related to kick as such but the movement of the student has to be changed from stepping to faster jumping / snapping movement as he gets senior to enhance the speed with which the kick is executed and to enhance the flow and jerk with the kick. So once he gets senior he learns how to do a rim kick with jump.
The simple and initial version of the rim kick is performed with following technique:
- Note that throughout the kick and movement, the body keeps facing towards one side, and don’t swing in a fashion that the torso faces the opponent, opposite side and then back. The fighter’s upper body keeps facing towards the same side through out the attack.
- From the stance, the step is taken in a way that the rear foot moves and crosses the front foot from the front in a way that the legs get crossed
- In this position the fighter keeps his body facing towards the same side where the body was when he was in the stance before starting the rim kick
- Once in this position, the kick that is on the back now is executed like the roundhouse kick, from as much out as possible and knee bent.
- During practice however, the kick stops just after it crosses the midline from target.
- The rim kick striking leg hits the target with the palm fully dorsi-flexed and hit in the same position as the roundhouse kick does.
- The arms and hands position in rim kick remains the same as in roundhouse while hitting the kick on the target, that is, the arm towards the striking leg is straight and along the body, slightly away from it to avoid touching the body, the other hand guards the face. The hand guarding the face has to be slightly away from the face itself and is in the punch form. It’s away so that any blows to the arm or hand itself don’t jerk it into the face and his own fist might injure the fighter.
- Once the rim kick hits the target, it’s not over yet. The kick has to come back to the point where it started from to end the kick.
- To bring back the foot back to the original stance position once the rim kick is complete, reverse the whole order in which the kick was made. Close the striking leg and lower it behind the supporting leg bringing it in the same position it was when the step was going forward for the kick. And then the supporting leg is moved backwards to it’s original position, in a way reverse of which was done to bring it forward in the first step of executing the rim kick.
- It’s also possible to drop the kick at the same position where it strikes, so that the fighter takes the stance in the same position without stepping back.
Exercises to improve Rim kick
Rim kick needs the practitioner to focus on two parts, one the stepping, and second the kicking part.
The stepping part improves with each next step. So as much as you practice, your stepping will get better and better and ultimately reach to snapping movement (or jump which some might say).
Before practicing rim kick the round house kick has to be perfected so that the stretching of the fighter is upto the level and the stay of the kick too, so that he can reach the kick to the face of the opponent easily and with power of-course.
The balance has to be improved along with the power of the kick, and that can only be achieved by regular practice of the kick.
Targets for Rim Kick
Rim kick has mostly the same targets as roundhouse kick. It can hit both the front and back of the opponents body.
Some of the targets which rim kick can hit effectively are:
- Head and neck from behind
- Side of head or neck
- Back
- Chest and abdomen
- Thigh
Blocks for Rim kick
The most effective block for step kicks is to step aside. Yes step aside, not step back. Step back and step front and other techniques are very useful too and the best technique to use against a rim kick attack depends upon the exact situation and the capabilities of both the attacker and the blocker.
Some of the most effective blocks for rim kick are:
- Stepping aside, either right or left stepping and avoiding the kick are helpful. However, which way to move, depends on your exact location with respect to the attacker and your, kick and attackers body’s line.
- Stepping back is always useful when you’re confident that your stepping back will take you out of the range of the attacker from rim kick (and better if away from the next kick too)
- Stepping in to the attacker. This will stop him from executing the kick and might stop him at the step level only, which is not a stable position and from here you can either throw him or attack him as per your convenience and the situation.
- Block like roundhouse kick, with either both the hand’s palms or one opposite palm and the same forearm technique.
- Gripping the kick with block.
- Rim kick can be countered with a sweep kick.
Combinations of Rim kick
Rim kick being a step kick can be used in any combinations to get closer or into the target. It’s useful after the kick in which the target moves away abit like front kick so that the attacker can get closer to the target.
Possibilities to use this kick are numerous; some of the rim kick combos can be as follows:
- Front kick, rim kick, side push kick
- Front kick, roundhouse kick, rim kick
- Roundhouse kick, back kick, rim kick
- Rim kick, back kick
Practice is the key to good fighting technique. It’s important to not just remember the techniques and combinations but also practice them over and over again to make them your reflex.
Why don’t you add pictures relevant to the posts? So the viewers may find practicing & learning more convenient?
Thanks for your feedback Miss Unknown . . .
Yes the images and video tutorials of kicks are coming soon too 🙂