Doing a side kick the "right" way

[bushido_man96]

Well, it doesn't have so much to do with how fast the kick comes back; every kick should come back as fast as it goes out. It has more to do with the impact that the striking surface allows, and how deeply the kick penetrates. Hope that helps.

[Wa-No-Michi]

To be clear, when performing a side kick with the ball of the foot I am referring to a kick done with the knee cap upermost, not turned to the side.

WNM

[JusticeZero]

a kick done with the knee cap upermost, not turned to the side.

Wouldn't that be, um, a front kick?

[Wa-No-Michi]

a kick done with the knee cap upermost, not turned to the side.

Wouldn't that be, um, a front kick?

I guess it would if you were doing it frontward, but my understanding of a side kick, is a kick is performed in a sideward direction... Isn't it?

WNM

[joesteph]

Michi, if you go to:

http://redirectingat.com/?id=378X600&url=http%3A//www.tangsoodoworld.com/reference/reference_techniques_side_kick.htm

This is what we're referring to. What you're describing is still a "front kick," even if performed at an angle that isn't straight forward.

[Wa-No-Michi]

Michi, if you go to:

http://redirectingat.com/?id=378X600&url=http%3A//www.tangsoodoworld.com/reference/reference_techniques_side_kick.htm

This is what we're referring to. What you're describing is still a "front kick," even if performed at an angle that isn't straight forward.

But that’s the point Joe isn't it?

What is the best way to perform side kick?

OK I am being a wee bit prickly here I grant you, but point is there is no "correct way" to perform side kick. The kick your dojo labels as "Side kick" can only be taught one way...

Answers on a postcard please...

WNM

[JusticeZero]

A side kick is a kick that radiates from the side of your body. Whatever direction your target is is typically considered to be your front.

[joesteph]

The idea behind doing a side kick the "right" way regarded doing it in a manner that referred to raising the leg into firing position, as the OP describes. One way turns out to be a thrusting side kick; another way turns out to be a side snap kick. I've found it more natural to do it in the thrust kick manner, but my art only accepts the snap version.

[bushido_man96]

I'm with Joe on the side kick/front kick difference. Side kick would be with the foot turned sideways, and the body doing pretty much the same. If the knee chambers like a front kick, with the leg either to the front or the side of the body, I'd still say its a front kick.

To be clear, when performing a side kick with the ball of the foot I am referring to a kick done with the knee cap upermost, not turned to the side.

At this point, then, you would call any punch directed at the front of the body a front punch, whether it be a jab, cross, hook, or uppercut. I don't think that helps in technique classification in many ways.

[Wa-No-Michi]

Generally speaking, in karate, side kicks or kicks that emanate from the side of your body are classified as “Yoko” geri from the Japanese meaning “side” or “beside”. This is to do with the relationship of you hips with the target – and there is no pre-ordained part of the foot you should or should not be striking with as far as I understand it. The foot position can in be in a vertical or horizontal plane.

Also both Maegeri (frontward kick) and Yoko geri can be performed as a jab “Keage” or thrust “Kekomi”

Confusion often arises when people use terms like “Sokuto” (which is the edge of the foot) as a “side kick” or reference to the type of kick and its intended directionality.

Techniques in karate often get their name from the directionality of the technique in relation to the performer, not his oponent. So if you kick someone who is beside you with a meageri style kick (in terms of foot position) it is a Yoko geri, unless you turn your hips to face your oponent prior to releasing the kick. This is then a maegeri.

WNM