Axe kicks - What's your take?

**Khun Kao** · Posted On: 11/18/2006 7:30pm

One of my fighters just competed recently against a guy who used the Axe Kick repeatedly in the fight. In 5 rounds, I think he threw about 2 each round. Only one landed, at it did not appear to have done much damage to my fighter. On the contrary, the guy was caught with one leg propped on my fighters shoulder for a few crucial seconds. Luckily for that guy, his height advantage made the reach such that my fighter was unable to really put together an effective counter before the guy was able to get his leg of my guys shoulder.

I personally think that it *could* be used effectively, but it's far from a go-to type of kick.

**Roidie McDouchebag** · Posted On: 11/18/2006 8:06pm

Useful for closing a hatchback. That is all.

True, you can also use it for breaking stuff that needs breaking.

**ojgsxr6** · Posted On: 11/18/2006 9:13pm

Wasn't the axe kick actually invented to flush the urinals in men's bathrooms?

**Schattenfaust** · Posted On: 11/19/2006 12:12am

Completely useless. It leaves the fighter way off balance and leaves an opening bigger than Texas. The only time it's even conceiveable is if the opponent's on the ground, and even then a somehow-hitting axe kick would do little to no damage. All it takes is a leg grab and the guy who axe kicked has officially lost the fight.

**wackamole** · Posted On: 11/19/2006 12:58am

I guess Andy Hug was a completely useless fighter. Who knew...

**Schattenfaust** · Posted On: 11/19/2006 1:17am

I was referencing the technique, not hypothetical persons using the technique, though yes, in my opinion an axe kick would be, for lack of a better term, a "boner move" on the fighter's part, though this does not necessarily mean they are useless.

**alex** · Posted On: 11/19/2006 1:53am

no the kick itself obviously isnt useless otherwise people like glaube and hug etc wouldnt be able to win fights with it. its just that the number of people who can use it effectively is incredibly small.

**PPlate** · Posted On: 11/19/2006 8:51am

i think if someone used the traditional straight legged axe kick in a fights that permitted leg kicks, it would leave him open to a thigh kick...unless he was Andy Hug of course

**Epicurus** · Posted On: 11/19/2006 1:48pm

I think it can be useful but the natural ability and training time investment required to make it a viable technique is very, very high. So high that only a few people bother with it. It's super duper sitational, as well (and most kicks are pretty situational to begin with) - i.e. you can only safely try it in an extremely narrow set of circumstances, such as when someone is ducking forward just right (as Andy Hug often does) and you really want to catch them by surprise.

You can train axe kicks, but if you're competing MMA rules, unless you really want to show off a bit and have a lot of natural ability with the kick, don't bother with it IMO except to increase you leg flexibitily and flush urinals (and smash old tables - try it!).