Following up on Joe Rogan’s demonstration of the turning side kick, we look at his demonstration of another powerful Taekwondo technique; the wheel kick. This kick also has a similar variant in the Brazilian martial art of Capoeira.

In recent years the technique has found its way into the highest levels of MMA, as evident by the spectacular knockout victories by Junior Dos Santos against Mark Hunt, Edson Barboza against Terry Etim and Uriah Hall against Adam Cella.

A black belt in Taekwondo and former US Open champion, Joe Rogan demonstrates it on a heavy bag and a punching bob dummy.

Starting off in an orthodox stance, you pivot the lead foot clockwise, which is then followed by the twist of the rest of the body, while the rear leg is brought up, you then look over your shoulder to deliver the kick on the desired target.

As you’re spinning (you hit) across the face and you hit with the heel

The most famous version of this kick in the UFC was authored by Edson Barboza at UFC 142, who was able to land the kick flush on the face of Terry Etim in the third round. What’s particularly devastating is that Edson’s technique did not telegraph at all. This would also mark the first of wheel kick KO in UFC history.

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Shortly after another version of this was executed at UFC 160 in 2013, where Junior Dos Santos used this to devastating effect against the 2001 K-1 Champion Mark Hunt. Leading with a jab to get a reaction out of Hunt, Dos Santos then followed up with a spin, with his heel clipping the ‘Super Samoan’ on the head, dropping him to the mat leading to a third round finish for ‘Cigano’.