Middle Kick

Last updated: May 25, 2026

What is a middle kick?

The middle kick gets its name from the height at which it lands. Kicks in striking sports are typically grouped by target zone into three categories: low (the legs), middle (the torso), and high (the head and neck). The middle kick covers everything from above the hip to below the neck, which is why the term is often used interchangeably with “body kick” or “mid kick.”

Mechanically, the middle kick is a roundhouse. The leg travels in a semicircular arc as the kicker pivots on the standing foot, with the hips driving the rotation through the target. The striking surface depends on the style. Muay Thai and MMA fighters typically connect with the shin, since shin-on-rib contact transfers more force than the smaller bones of the foot. Karate practitioners more often strike with the instep or ball of the foot, using a snappier motion that prioritizes speed over heavy bludgeoning.

Ideal targets are the floating ribs, the liver on the right side of the body, and the arms when the opponent has a high guard. A clean body kick can finish a fight outright, particularly when it lands on the liver.

How the middle kick works

The kick begins from a standard fighting stance. The kicker pivots on the lead foot, rotates the hips into the target, and swings the kicking leg in a horizontal or slightly diagonal arc toward the opponent’s midsection. The arm on the kicking side often whips downward as a counterbalance, helping the kicker stay upright through the rotation.

Two stylistic approaches dominate. The karate version is snappy and quick. It lands with the foot and draws most of its power from the extension at the knee, with the kicker usually pivoting in place rather than stepping in. The Muay Thai version throws the leg more like a baseball bat: less knee snap, more full-body rotation, and contact made with the shin rather than the foot. Most modern MMA fighters blend the two, picking the snappier karate motion for speed and the Thai approach when they need stopping power.

Middle kick vs. low kick vs. high kick

All three kicks are roundhouses. What separates them is the target zone and the strategic role each plays in a fight.

	Target	Striking surface	Primary purpose	Risk if caught
Low kick	Thigh or calf	Shin	Damage the legs, slow movement	Low. The leg is already close to the ground
Middle kick	Ribs, liver, arms	Shin (foot in karate)	Damage the torso, sap energy, set up the head	High. Easy to catch and convert into a takedown
High kick	Head, neck, jaw	Shin or instep	Knock the opponent out	High. Leaves the kicker exposed if missed

The middle kick sits in the middle in more ways than name. It carries more power than a high kick because the body does not have to fight gravity as much, but it is riskier than a low kick because the kicking leg is at a height where an opponent can wrap it up. In Muay Thai, the trade-off is often worth it because the rules and ring restrict that risk. In MMA, where takedowns are legal and the cage limits retreat, the risk calculation changes.

Why middle kicks score high in Muay Thai but appear less in MMA

In Muay Thai, the middle kick is a scoring weapon. Kicks and knees to the body score higher than punches, and Muay Thai judges reward strikes that visibly affect the opponent’s balance or output. A clean middle kick that drives an opponent backward or causes them to wince shows clear dominance, which is why fighters in Thailand often build entire rounds around setting up and landing them.

MMA reframes the same technique as a risk-reward gamble. In Muay Thai, fighters will deliberately hammer the opponent’s arms with full-power body kicks, wearing the guard down over the course of several rounds. That same tactic does not transfer well to MMA, where a caught kick gives the opponent a free entry into a takedown attempt. Body kicks, therefore, appear less often in MMA than low kicks or head kicks, and the ones that do land are usually thrown from setups that protect against the catch.

Middle kicks still play a major role in MMA, but as a tool for setting up bigger strikes rather than as a fight-ending weapon on their own. Valentina Shevchenko’s head kick knockout of Jessica Eye at UFC 238 in June 2019 worked because Eye had already absorbed two body kicks in the same round and reacted to the third by dropping her hands, leaving her head exposed.

Common variations of the middle kick

Variation	What changes
Rear leg middle kick	Standard version, thrown with the back leg for maximum power
Lead leg middle kick	Faster but less powerful, often used to maintain distance or break rhythm
Switch middle kick	The feet switch position before the kick, converting a lead-leg kick into a rear-leg kick mid-motion
Step-up middle kick	The kicker takes a step toward the opponent before kicking, adding momentum

Stance matchup and distance usually drive the choice, along with whatever combination the kicker is trying to set up next.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a middle kick the same as a body kick?

Yes. The terms are interchangeable. “Middle kick” is more common in Muay Thai vocabulary, while “body kick” is the more common phrasing in English-language MMA commentary. Both describe a roundhouse kick aimed at the opponent’s torso.

What is the target of a middle kick?

The primary targets are the floating ribs, the liver, and the arms when the opponent’s guard is high. A clean liver shot can shut down the body and end a fight on its own, which is why some fighters specifically aim for the right side of the opponent’s torso.

Can a middle kick knock someone out?

Yes. A liver kick that lands clean can drop a fighter without any follow-up. Body kick TKOs are less spectacular than head kick knockouts but appear regularly in MMA, kickboxing, and Muay Thai.

Why do MMA fighters use middle kicks less often than Muay Thai fighters?

Because of takedowns. A caught middle kick gives the opponent a free entry into a takedown attempt, which can flip the entire fight from a striking exchange into a grappling battle. Muay Thai has no takedowns, so the risk does not exist in the same way.

What’s the difference between a middle kick and a roundhouse kick?

A middle kick is a type of roundhouse kick. “Roundhouse” describes the trajectory of the leg, while “middle” describes the height of the target. A low kick and a high kick are also roundhouses, but they aim at different parts of the body.

---

Sources

1. Muay Thailand. “Muay Thai Kicks.” Accessed May 2026.
2. Sweet Science of Fighting. “Most Effective MMA Kicks (See Them In Action).” Accessed May 2026.
3. Muay Thai Guy. “A Beginner’s Basic Strike Terminology.” Accessed May 2026.
4. ESPN. “MMA and UFC Glossary: Choke, Slam, Guard, Clinch, Hook, More.” Accessed May 2026.
5. Evolve MMA. “The 6 Muay Thai Kicks You Need To Know.” Accessed May 2026.
6. Satori Fight Club. “Muay Thai Rules & Scoring: Competitions Explained.” Accessed May 2026.
7. Sportskeeda. “Marlon Vera and 4 Other Great Head-Kick KOs in the UFC.” Accessed May 2026.
8. Wikipedia. “Roundhouse Kick.” Accessed May 2026.

Related MMA Terms