Last updated: May 25, 2026
Quick Definition
A wing kick is a taekwondo technique in which a fighter throws two consecutive roundhouse kicks with the same momentum, before the kicking foot returns to the floor. The technique is also called the double roundhouse kick or, in Korean, narae chagi.
What is a wing kick?
The wing kick is a taekwondo strike built around two roundhouse kicks thrown in rapid succession. The fighter launches a rear-leg roundhouse, and instead of resetting after impact, brings up the other leg for a second roundhouse before the first foot has touched down. The name comes from the Korean word narae, meaning wing. According to NBC Olympics’ taekwondo glossary, the visual of the two legs cycling up and around resembles a bird flapping its wings, which is where the English nickname stuck.
In competition, the wing kick exists to solve a specific problem: a single roundhouse is easy to read once an opponent has seen it once or twice. The first kick of the wing kick is usually thrown low or as a feint to draw the opponent’s guard out of position. The second kick, fired from the opposite leg, is the one meant to land. Kukkiwon’s official taekwondo terminology document describes the standard form as a feint with the first leg followed by a precision strike with the second.
The kick belongs to a small group of high-skill, low-volume techniques that bring obvious flair into MMA but require a base of flexibility and balance most fighters never build outside of a taekwondo or kickboxing room.
How a wing kick works
Mechanically, the wing kick is a single sequence with two strike points. The first kick comes from the rear leg, with the hip rotating fully over so the kicking shin or instep travels across the centerline. Instead of returning that foot to the canvas, the kicker plants briefly on the same side and immediately fires the second roundhouse with the other leg. The hips must turn over twice in quick sequence. If the second hip turn does not happen, the technique collapses into something closer to a double front kick, which lacks the lateral angle that makes the wing kick dangerous.
Two physical attributes matter most: balance on the supporting leg between kicks, and hip mobility to chamber the second knee high enough to reach the head or open ribs. A 2023 biomechanics study in the journal Heliyon on sub-elite taekwondo athletes found measurable kinematic differences between the dominant and non-dominant leg during a double roundhouse kick. In practical terms, this is why most fighters who use a wing kick lead with their stronger leg first and finish with the second.
Wing kick vs. roundhouse kick
Confusion between the wing kick and a standard roundhouse is common, partly because the wing kick is built from roundhouse mechanics. The difference comes down to how many strikes happen, what the first one is for, and whether the foot touches the ground in between.
| Feature | Wing kick | Roundhouse kick |
|---|---|---|
| Number of strikes | Two, in sequence | One |
| Foot contact between kicks | None. The second kick fires before the first foot lands. | The foot returns to the floor after impact. |
| Primary purpose of first contact | Feint to manipulate the guard | Damage |
| Typical target of finishing strike | Head, or the opponent’s open side | Leg, body, or head depending on setup |
| Key physical demand | Balance and hip flexibility | Raw power and accuracy |
A roundhouse is a complete technique on its own. The wing kick treats one roundhouse as setup and the next as the finish.
Wing kick in MMA
In MMA, the wing kick is rare. Most cage fighters operate from a stance that prioritizes takedown defense and short, repeatable strikes, which makes spending extra time on a single supporting leg a real cost. A fighter mid-wing-kick has both feet off the floor for a fraction of a second between strikes and stands on one leg for the rest, which is also the worst possible posture for sprawling on a level change.
It still shows up, almost exclusively from fighters with a taekwondo background. Sportskeeda’s ranking of the best MMA kickers describes taekwondo black belt Yair Rodriguez as having built his arsenal around wheel kicks and other acrobatic striking, the same family the wing kick belongs to. Anthony Pettis, a 3rd-degree black belt in taekwondo who has credited the art with shaping his MMA striking, and Anderson Silva, a former UFC middleweight champion known for his unorthodox striking, are both frequently cited examples of fighters comfortable with that family of kicking. For these fighters, a wing kick is a momentum trade: they accept the takedown risk in exchange for an angle of attack their opponent has not had to defend against in any recent fight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a wing kick legal in MMA?
Yes. There is nothing in the UFC’s unified rules that prohibits a double roundhouse kick or any of its variants. Standard restrictions apply, such as no kicks to the groin and no kicks to the head of a grounded opponent.
Where does the wing kick come from?
Taekwondo. The technique is known in Korean as narae chagi, where narae means wing. It is taught in both World Taekwondo (Kukkiwon) and ITF taekwondo curricula as an advanced kicking combination.
What’s the difference between a wing kick and a double roundhouse kick?
None. They are the same technique under three names: wing kick is the English translation of the Korean narae chagi (literally “wing kick”), and double roundhouse kick is the descriptive Western label.
Why is it called a wing kick?
The Korean word narae means wing. When the two roundhouse kicks are thrown in sequence, the legs cycling up and around resemble a bird flapping its wings, which is the imagery the original Korean name draws on.
Is the wing kick a high-percentage strike in MMA?
No. It is a low-percentage technique that depends on surprise and a specific kind of opponent positioning. Most MMA coaches view it as a situational tool rather than a primary weapon.
Sources
- Kukkiwon World Taekwondo Headquarters. “Taekwondo Technical Terminology.” Accessed May 2026.
- NBC Olympics. “Olympic Taekwondo terms: Glossary of all the terminology you need to know.” Accessed May 2026.
- Liu, L., Jia, M., Ma, Y., et al. “Biomechanics research on laterality effect between dominant and non-dominant during double roundhouse kick in the competitive taekwondo.” Heliyon, October 2023.
- Taekwondo Wiki (Fandom). “Double Roundhouse Kick.” Accessed May 2026.
- MiddleEasy. “Taekwondo Kicks: Learn Everything About The Kicks In Taekwondo.” Accessed May 2026.
- ITF Taekwon-Do Australia. “Taekwondo Kicks and Terminology.” Accessed May 2026.
- Sportskeeda. “The Best Kickers In MMA History, Ranked.” Accessed May 2026.
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