Editing Kick (section)

===Roundhouse===
{{Further|Roundhouse kick}}
[[File:Muay Thai High kick.jpg|thumb|Roundhouse kick|alt=|left]]
The attacker swings their leg sideways in a circular motion, kicking the opponent's side with the front of the leg, usually with the instep, ball of the foot, toe, or shin. It can also be performed is a 360-degree kick where the attacker performs a full circle with their leg, in which the striking surface is generally either the instep, shin or ball of the foot.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2012/2/6/2773302/ufc-143-stephen-thompson-judo-chop-instep-roundhouse-kick |title=UFC 143 Judo Chop: The Instep Roundhouse Kick Of Stephen Thompson |work=Bloody Elbow |date=6 February 2012 |access-date=2014-01-17 |archive-date=2014-01-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140113121024/http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2012/2/6/2773302/ufc-143-stephen-thompson-judo-chop-instep-roundhouse-kick |url-status=live }}</ref>

There are many variations of the roundhouse kick based on various chambering of the cocked leg (small, or full, or universal or no chambering) or various footwork possibilities (rear-leg, front-leg, hopping, switch, oblique, dropping, ground spin-back or full 360 spin-back). An important variation is the downward roundhouse kick, nicknamed the "Brazilian kick" from recent K-1 use: A more pronounced twist of the hips allows for a downward end of the trajectory of the kick that is very deceiving.<ref>The Essential Book of Martial Arts Kicks: 89 Kicks from Karate, Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Jeet Kune Do, and Others by Marc De Bremaeker and Roy Faige</ref>

Due to its power, the roundhouse kick may also be performed at low level against targets, such as the knees, calf, or even thigh, since attacking leg muscles will often cripple an opponent's mobility. It is the most commonly used kick in [[kickboxing]] due to its power and ease of use. In most Karate styles, the [[instep]] is used to strike, though use of the shin as an official technique for a street fight would mostly be allowed.