How to Do a Tornado Kick

The tornado kick is a lightning fast kick that leaves a path of martial arts destruction in its wake. The unpredictable timing and immense power of the kick will baffle your opponent and, if the kick is successful, will have him eating through a straw for a while. To do a martial arts tornado kick, follow these steps.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Assume your martial arts stance with one leg forward and a steady base. Step across your body with your lead foot. Sweep your back foot behind you and around so you do a full 360-degree spin.
2. Jump off your second foot once you return to facing your opponent. Bring your knee up to 90 degrees as you do this in order to maximize the jump.
3. Kick with the foot you started with once you're in the air. Aim the kick as high as possible and keep it moving laterally in the direction of your opponent.
4. Land on your jumping leg slightly before your kicking leg touches the ground. Bring your kicking leg down to the ground and dissipate the energy of the movement by sweeping around with your kicking leg so you do another full turn and end up facing your opponent once again.

Tips & Warnings

• Aim for a lower height as you learn the tornado kick since this helps you perfect the mechanics of the kick without flexibility or strength issues getting in the way.
• Keep your hands up and in a defensive position throughout the kick so you don't fall victim to a counterattack by a skilled martial arts fighter.