Karate - Side Kick
Learn how to execure the perfect side kick from a qualified professional in this short instructional video. This move is also recognised as the Yoko Geri. More videos available @ www.WarriorPages.com.
Step 1: Side Kick
Hello. My name is Bart Scoville and I'm here to discuss the Yoko Geri, or side kick. I brought my good friend Bob along. Bob lets me hit him so I like him. The side kick is probably my favorite kick in the martial arts. It's a very, very good kick.
Step 2: Yoko Geri
It's a very direct kick, like the front thrust kick, both front kicks it's direct in that the weapon, in this case, the blade of the foot in chamber position is going to go straight towards the target. So, because it's so direct, it's a very, very fast kick. It's also very powerful especially if used as a Yoko Geri which is a side thrust kick because I'm going to roll my hips and kind of turn away.
Step 3: Other Techniques
Another variation of the side kick is the Yoko Geri, which is a side snap kick. This one, is really not going to get the hips involved. Chamber, stick the kick out and bring it back so you'll see my support leg does not twist out and I don't turn away.
This is a really good defense kick. If you are ever in a confrontation that you don't believe that you can get out of a quick side snap kick to the knee is pretty much going to be the end of it. Only in emergencies but if you find yourself in that emergency, a very good kick.
Step 4: Striking Surface
I have a couple of things about the striking surface. As I said, you're using the blade of your foot but you want to use the back part of the foot. If you use the front part of the blade, if you make contact with that, it puts a lot of stress on the ankle.
Step 5: Prevent Injuries
It can result in you injuring your own ankle so your opponent not being able to run away you're not going to be able to run away. So, not a good thing. Also nobody likes to get over injuries so make sure you're kicking, the toes are pulled up and the whole foot is pulled back towards you so that when you're kicking with the back half of the blade you have a solid connection between your heel up through your leg. Less likely you're going to injure your ankle.
Step 6: Strengthen Both Sides
Like I say it's just one of my absolute favorite kicks. Bob knows it is. And it's one that you probably should spend some time on. Like all kicks, if you have one leg that works a little bit better than the other one you want to try to even it out.
You should be able to fight either side forward so what I like to recommend is if you have one leg that's weaker than the other, work that leg twice as much and then you'll find that eventually that leg will be able to catch up or even sometimes surpass your good leg and then you've got twice as many weapons to bring to bear. So that's the Yoko Geri side kick
