The Mae-geri (Front kick) is a very common technique used in Shōtōkan Karate and amongst other martial art styles. There are 3 basic kicks that all novice Karatekas must learn first:
- Mawashi-geri (Roundhouse kick)
- Yoko-geri (Side kick)
- Mae-geri (Front kick)
When sparring in Karate the Mae-geri is one of my favourite kicking techniques. I believe less energy is used as it takes very little momentum and effort to execute. As you get older it becomes more difficult to use other two kicking techniques. Keep it simple during sparring guys!
This kick can be engaged from the front or rear leg. When using the front leg the technique is a quick snap approach to stop the attacker. The rear leg will naturally generate more power and therefore must be executed with more of a thrust to push the attacker back.
Here are some pointers to keep in mind when practicing front kicks:
| Section | Description |
|---|---|
| Hip | For more power push your hips into your strike |
| Hands | Hold your hands up high. Keep your guards up throughout the kick. Do not allow your arms to drop |
| Head | Try to keep your head tilted down so the your chin is tucked-in and face the attacker |
| Balance | Try not to lean to far forward or backward. Stand tall with your back straight. It's very common to see Karatekas hunch their back. Slightly bend your planted leg and push forward as you prepare to hit your opponent |
| Load | lift the knee high, then pushing forward aiming to hit your target with the ball of your foot. Remember – higher the kick means less power the front kick can generate. Try to strike at the mid (Chūdan) section area |
| Unload | Bring your kicking leg back to the ground as quickly as possible to prevent it being grabbed |
[embedyt]https://youtu.be/Y0KTeKp2E_g[/embedyt]
Technique performed by Aragaki Misako
