The oblique kick to the knee is one of the most effective, simplest and potentially damaging kicks you can learn to throw.

I first learned about this kick when I was around 9 or 10 years old, when I picked up a Bruce Lee book. In many of his sequences, Bruce Lee showcased the oblique kick to the leg and I've been drilling it ever since. While the oblique kick origin probably predates Bruce Lee, he was the one who introduced it to me.

In MMA, the kick remains underutilized, though fighters like Jon Jones have excelled using it. Not to mention Khalil Rountree's finish of Modestas Bukauskas with violent oblique kick. Despite its effectiveness, it's still not thrown enough in MMA.

On the street, however, the oblique kick is always available - a simple-to-learn, easy-to-master technique that's highly damaging and requires minimal energy, flexibility, or dexterity.

In this post, I'll break down how to throw it, how to drill it and how to use it effectively.

Video Breakdown

Primary Uses of the Oblique Kick

The oblique kick serves two main purposes, making it a versatile tool in both MMA and self-defense:

1. Maintaining Distance and Range

Your legs are your longest weapons and the oblique kick - particularly the sidekick variation - excels at maintaining distance. If someone tries to close the gap, a quick pump of the oblique kick to the knee or leg will stop them.

Each time they step forward, you land it, forcing them to hesitate. This allows you to move laterally, maintain range and prevent them from entering punching distance. Think of it as a jab with your leg: even a light flick to the knee can cause damage and disrupt their flow.

Against an aggressive opponent charging in, their own momentum amplifies the damage when they run into your kick, making it a low-effort, high-reward technique for controlling space.

2. Intentional Damage

The second use is to throw the oblique kick with the explicit goal of causing damage.

Instead of just flicking it to keep distance, you plant your feet, drive through and aim to kick into the knee, targeting tendons and joints.

This version isn't about range control - it's about destruction.

How to Throw the Oblique Kick and What to Target

To execute the side oblique kick effectively, technique is key. Here's the breakdown.

Technique:

• Chamber Your Leg: Lift your front leg as if preparing a traditional sidekick to the body.
• Drive Downward: Instead of aiming high, drive the kick downward at a 45-degree angle, targeting the knee.
• Foot Position: Strike with the instep or slightly toward the heel for maximum force.
• Follow Through: Slice diagonally through the target all the way to the ground, then rechamber and return to your stance.
• Body Mechanics: Lean back slightly to avoid counterstrikes, keep your hands up for protection and twist your hips (pivoting on your rear foot) for extra power.

Target Areas:

• Front-Facing Knee: Aim just above the kneecap where the quads meet the knee.
• Side-Angled Knee: Target the tendons directly above or beside the knee joint.
• Inside Angle: Same as the side - just above or at the knee where the tendons are vulnerable.

When throwing with power, drive through the target as if trying to collapse it. For speed and range control, flick it like a jab - still chambering and leaning back, but with less hip rotation.

Setting Up the Oblique Kick

The oblique kick can stand alone or work in combination with other strikes. Here's how to set it up.

Standalone:

A well-timed oblique kick doesn't always need a setup. If you're quick and use movement to mask your intent, opponents focused on your upper body won't see it coming.

With Punches:

• Kick to Punch: Flick the oblique kick to disrupt their stance, then follow with a jab-cross or other combinations.
• Punch to Kick: Throw a jab or hook with your lead hand, then flow into the kick from the same side for a seamless transition. A rear-hand cross or hook requires a slight repositioning, but can still be effective.

Experiment with combos - start with punches, add the kick, or reverse it. The key is timing and movement.

Variations of the Oblique Kick

Beyond the sidekick version, there are two additional variations of the oblique kick.

• Front Oblique Kick: Thrown like a front kick from the lead leg, this targets the same spot above the knee. Chamber your knee upward, open your hips, and drive downward diagonally, striking with the instep. Hands stay up, body leans back.
• Rear Front Oblique Kick: Popularized by Jon Jones, this comes from the rear leg. Chamber it as a front kick, angle your foot outward by opening your hips, and drive down into the knee. It's a longer-range option with solid power.

While effective, these lack the raw destructive force of the sidekick variation. Stick with the sidekick as your primary focus, especially if you're new to kicking.

Drilling to Master the Oblique Kick

Mastery comes from repetition and proper technique. Here's how to drill it.

Shadow Boxing:

Start with shadow boxing to refine technique, speed, and precision. Use a rep-based system (e.g., 5 sets of 10 or 20 kicks) or a round-based system (e.g., 3–5 rounds of 2–3 minutes with 1-minute breaks). Focus on:

• Chambering and driving through.
• Hands up, leaning back.
• Visualizing an opponent advancing.

Add punches or double kicks (e.g., sidekick to oblique kick) once the base technique feels natural.

Heavy Bag:

A long heavy bag provides feedback on range and power. Kick just above the bottom to simulate the knee. Use reps or rounds to drill flicking for speed and driving for damage.

If the bag's too short, prop it against a wall to practice power. Incorporate the jump lunge oblique kick to work on closing distance.

Few Additional Tips:

• Don't look down at the target - focus on their clavicle to avoid telegraphing.
• Stay deliberate: loose stance, tight technique, no wild swings.

Fight Stance Considerations

Your stance impacts the oblique kick's effectiveness.
Sidekick Stance:

The bladed, narrow karate or taekwondo stance (feet aligned, body sideways) is ideal for the sidekick-style oblique kick. It maximizes speed and power without telegraphing. However, it's less versatile for punches or takedown defense.

MMA/Boxing Stance:

A wider, more open stance suits punching and mobility but sacrifices some sidekick fluidity. To compensate, hide the kick in movement—shift into a bladed position as you throw it. For the front and rear variations, the open stance works naturally since they rely on hip rotation.

Conclusion

The oblique kick to the knee - especially the sidekick version is a game-changer.

It's simple to learn, devastating in execution, and adaptable to any situation, from MMA to street defense. Whether you're flicking it to maintain range or driving through to cripple an opponent, this technique delivers.

Start with shadow boxing, progress to the heavy bag, and integrate it into your combinations.

Master the sidekick variation first, then experiment with the front and rear versions. With practice, the oblique kick will become your go-to weapon - effective, efficient and always ready when you need it.