Axe Kicks? What the Heck are they good for?

[PaiLumUmar]

I gotta Say I use that sucker all the time. You have to be both fast as strong so it is very hard to defend even if you see it.

It amazes me how often it works. Unless the person enters your attack just right.
Then you pretty much have an appointment with the ground.

[MichiganTKD]

Axe kick

As far as defense, I've seen a lot of WTF fighter use the axe kick as a simultaneous counter either to an opponent's technique (roundhouse, sliding-in kick etc.), or as a counter to an opponent's offensive move forward. This is before they have actually executed a technique, but far enough along where they cannot go back-in effect walking into it.
As far as defense, I would recommend two counters:
1. Side step and counter
2. Simultaneous back side kick (one of my favorites). This is particularly effective if the attacker is taller and you don't want to give him room to fully execute it.
This is not to say that these always work. They have to be set up and executed just right. Even a half-assed axe kick can still hurt, especially if the guy is taller than you.

[chosonnom]

Axe Kick Usage.

You can use it to kick the head, shoulders, arms, and the thighs.

In (sport) Taekwondo, people use it mainly for the head.
In ITF they use it to attack the shoulders as well.

In Hapkido they use it to kick the thighs when a kicker is kicking, or after an arm lock you can use it to fully commit the arm lock by kick the locked arm.

Many usages for this kick.

[MatthewAlphonso]

I saw another good use of the Axe Kick where the kicker first did a telegraphed side kick to make the person start moving backwards, he then axe kicked the guy straight in the chest to bring him down. the main reason this worked is because the natural reaction when one moves backward is to move your upper body over your legs as they move and to drop your hands for balance, thus the chest was exposed and he got spanked.