Front Snap Kick: [Mae-geri]

This kick has four basic parts and is the foundation of every style of karate taught today and in the past. The basic kick is of the rear leg. It comes forward moving the rear knee toward the opponent. Pull the heel back against the thigh. When the knee has moved forward and past the lead supporting, leg snap the foot forward striking with the ball of the foot. As quickly as the foot went out it must be pulled back. The leg then returns to its original placement within the stance. Check your stance to insure proper form. Up, Out, Back, and Down these are the four basic parts of the front kick.

This kick can also be done with the lead leg. Follow the same four basic parts. This lead leg snap or jab kick is used to jam an opponent’s attack to keep him/her off balance. Striking to the same point on the thigh, with the lead leg snap kick, over and over can also cause enough trauma to an attacker’s leg that their ability to move degenerates giving you an advantage.

If the student is taught to step and fight on angles this kick can be used in a variety of applications. Chotoku Kyan was a small man, and a great advocate of angular attacks. Stepping on an angle, the kick can be delivered to the back of opponent’s thigh, of the lead leg, breaking the opponent’s balance forward. Stepping on an angle, when attacked with a front kick, the karateka can target the attacker’s hip socket. Striking the hip joint with enough power can shut the attacker’s leg down.  Stepping on an angle the side of the attacker’s thighs can be targeted. With angular movement, this simple front kick takes on new dimensions.

Pay special attention to pulling the toes back and striking with the ball of the foot. Beginning students will have a tendency to point the foot upwards. Striking with the ball of the foot extends the reach of the kick. Practice this kick on the makiwara or heavy bag.

Note: This is the foundational kick. This kick should begin with the knee moving forward and all kicks will use this movement to disguise other techniques. Power is generated by the speed of the delivery. There is also some hip rotation that increases power as-well-as weight some transfer to the kick. The ball of the foot is used for the striking area so greater power can impact a smaller area for greater penetration.

Note: This kick must be returned as fast as it went forwards to prevent it from being trapped. An opponent can use the trapped limb to throw you to the ground.

Note: This kick can be thrown past the attacker’s leg and reaped backwards to break the opponent’s balance so they can be swept to the ground. (Osoto-gari)