Karate Kicks


Kicks in Karate are thought upon as a vital part of your bodies weaponry. In karate there are many different types of kick and ways of kicking, most of these use the ball of the foot as the weapon as it provides a decent amount of power and can take a reasonable amount of impact upon application. Kicking with the heal, blade, instep and top of the foot are also ways of kicking, the kicking action is normally fast paced with either a snapping or stomping type of technique. The most common type of karate kicks are the front kick, side kick, back kick and round house kick, all demonstrated here by the Blind Shodan Sensei of Mill Hill Dojo, Mark Brown.

Mae Geri | Front Kick

Mae Geri front kick in karate

The basic front karate kick of Mae Geri should be one the first kicks you learn to master in karate's Martial Art. The kick is usually practised in 3 or 4 stages from bringing up the knee, shaping the foot by bending back the toes and extending the leg into a kick, retracting the kick back to the knee and then finally retracting back to a standing position. Find out more and watch the demonstration of the karate kick of Mae Geri.

Hiza Geri | Knee Strike

Hiza Geri, the knee strike used in Martial Arts

Hiza Geri in Karate is the strike using the knee. The knee is brought directly up and used to strike close range at an opponent. The Hiza Geri is also the first part of the properly applied Mae Geri Front Kick, which when used as a 3 or 4 stage kick uses the Hiza Geri action by the raising of the knee before extending out into a kick. The Knee strike is quite a powerful blow and can be an effective close range weapon. Find out more and watch the demonstration video of the Hiza Geri.

Ushiro Geri | Back Kick

Karates back kick of Ushiro Geri.

The back kick of Ushiro Geri is a powerful kick to the rear. Used in many karate styles, the kick is executed by first bringing up the knee to the front, bending forward slightly and then extending the leg fully out to the rear to perform the back kick. Care should be taken not overly lean forward and allow the body to be caught off balance, try to kick with either the ball of the foot or the heel. Learn more about this karate block and watch the demonstration of Ushiro Geri.


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