Groin kick (kin geri) The groin kick is a fast and effective snap kick used to strike at the groin. The striking surface is the top of the foot or instep (Haisoku). Speed and surprise are both important for a good groin kick. As the groin is a soft target, speed more than power is required […]

Back kick (ushiro geri) The back kick (Ushiro Geri) is used to strike when being attacked from the rear. A variation of this is to spin around to attack an opponent in front of you with what is known as a spinning back kick. How to perform a back kick (ushiro geri) Begin by standing in a parallel […]

Knee kick (hiza geri) The knee kick (Hiza Geri) is a very powerful close quarter technique mainly used to attack the groin, stomach or head. It can also be done from the side to attack the ribs. Grabbing your opponent and pulling him into your knee kick makes the knee strike even more powerful. How to perform […]

Roundhouse kick (mawashi geri) The roundhouse kick (Mawashi Geri) is one of the most popular of the karate kicks. It can be used to attack at any level from the knee to the head. When performed correctly, the roundhouse kick can be devastatingly fast and effective in strikes to the ribs and head. In sparring tournaments, […]

High roundhouse kick (jodan mawashi geri) The roundhouse kick (Mawashi Geri) is one of the most popular of the karate kicks. It can be used to attack at any level from the knee to the head. When performed correctly, the roundhouse kick can be devastatingly fast and effective in strikes to the ribs and head. In […]

Side kick (yoko geri) The side kick (Yoko Geri) is one of the most powerful of all the karate kicks, especially when aimed at the ribs or solar plexus. You can strike by using either the side or the heel of the foot. I would recommend using the side of the foot when striking at the […]

Front kick (mae geri) The front kick is the most used of all Karate kicks, because it can be performed very fast with little wind-up, and it is difficult block. There are slight variations in how to perform a front kick, from a quick snap kick to a very powerful thrusting front kick. How to perform a […]

Palm heel strike to the head (jodan shotei uchi) Palm heel strikes have the advantage of being safer in terms of injury risk to the hand, especially with strikes to the head. Some will argue that palm heel strikes are more effective than fist strikes because there no compressible joints and cartilage between the multitude of […]

Palm heel strike (shotei uchi) Palm heel strikes can be every bit as effective as closed fist strikes, along with the added advantage of less risk of injury to the hand. Palm heel strikes are used to attack areas such as the solar plexus, nose, groin and head. How to perform a palm heel strike (shotei uchi) Begin […]

Middle elbow strike (chudan hiji ate) Chudan Hiji Ate is an elbow strike to the solar plexus but can also be aimed at under the chin. Elbow strikes can be very effective, especially at close range. There is little danger of injury because elbows are usually strong bones that require no special toughening to be used […]