Okay, so today I wanted to get a better handle on different kicks in karate. I’ve been doing karate for a little while now, but I felt like my kicks were kinda… samey. Time to change that!
Getting Started
First, I warmed up. Lots of leg swings, hip rotations, and dynamic stretches. You gotta get those muscles ready, or you’re gonna pull something. Trust me, I’ve learned that the hard way.
Front Kick (Mae Geri)
This is the basic one, right? I spent a good amount of time just drilling this. Focusing on snapping my leg up, keeping my balance, and making sure I wasn’t leaning back too much.
- Practiced chambering the kick properly.
- Tried to keep my toes pointed.
- Worked on hitting with the ball of my foot.
Side Kick (Yoko Geri)
This one is trickier. I always feel a bit off-balance. I started by holding onto a wall for support. Then:
- Slowly lifted my leg to the side.
- Extended my leg out, trying to keep it straight.
- Focused on hitting with the edge of my foot.
I definitely need more practice on this one. My hip flexibility isn’t the greatest.
Roundhouse Kick (Mawashi Geri)
This one feels powerful, but it’s easy to mess up. I concentrated on:
- Pivoting my supporting foot.
- Rotating my hips.
- Snapping my leg around in a circular motion.
I tried to hit with my shin, but I kept hitting with my foot. Gotta work on that.
Back Kick (Ushiro Geri)
This one is super awkward at first. You’re literally kicking behind you! I felt like I was going to fall over. I made sure to follow these steps:
- Looked over my shoulder.
- Lifted my leg up and back.
- Thrust my heel straight back.
My accuracy was all over the place, but I could feel the power when I connected properly.
Wrapping Up
I finished with some more stretching, mostly focused on my legs and hips. It’s important to cooldown. I am glad I did it. My kicks feel a little bit better, but I’ve got a long way to go. More practice needed!
