The Mae Gaeri, or front kick, is one of the most basic kicks used in Go Kan Ryu Karate. It is easy to do, and can generate great force with good techn...
The Mae Gaeri, or front kick, is one of the most basic kicks used in Go Kan Ryu Karate. It is easy to do, and can generate great force with good technique. To carry out the Mae Gaeri begin in a standard fighting stance. Take your right leg and bring it at as high as possible. Curl your toes up so they point toward the ceiling. You will be hitting your target with the ball of your foot, and do not want your toes to take all the impact as that really can hurt.
Kick your leg forward as hard as you can in front of you while maintaining your balance. Be sure to hit with the ball of your foot as I said. Also, be sure not to throw your bodyweight forward with the kick, as this will reduce the power behind it and could throw you off balance, which opens you up to the possibility of a counter attack. After the kick, place your leg on the floor where it was when it started. This will return you to the fighting position, which allows you to stay on guard.
To perform more than one kick, take your leg and bring it back to the position it was in right before you kicked. Make sure to maintain your balance.
There are two ways this attack can be effective. One can deliver a quick, powerful kick or a hard, strong kick which would deal more damage. If you want to go with a quick fast kick, make sure it is fast enough so that the opponent has no time to react. If you decide to go with a hard push kick, this kick will have more momentum and the opponent can be thrown backwards, or at least be taken off balance.
The great thing about the front kick is that it is effective regardless of where you strike the person. It can be used to target the belly, chest, groin or shin, causing severe damage in any of these areas and can be coupled with other strikes to develop a deadly combination. Here are some tips to remember:
1. Form is everything. Do not try to kick without first bringing your leg up all the way, or you risk throwing a weak, straight legged kick.
2. It is important to maintain your balance throughout the movement. While this is generally not difficult, if you can not then delivering a good kick will be a problem.
3. Keep your toes curled up. Striking the with the ball of your foot provides the most damage and protects your toes.
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