Front Kick

[MasterPain]

Hitting with the heel in a snapping thrust kick would be awkward. If you're hitting with your heel, it should be a different kick all together. The snap front kick is like kicking a kickball, and should hit with the ball of the foot. The push kick is like crushing a soda can with a stomp, the heel or whole sole hits.

[JusticeZero]

I know i'm just a beginner, but when doing a front snap/thrust kick, i think it feels so awkward to kick with the heel of your foot. can someone explain why some styles do that? i'm just curious as to why not to just use the ball of the foot like in a front snap kick?

Because we want the kick to actually work.

For one thing, you used the term "front snap/thrust kick". Don't do that. That's a bit like saying "that one kick, the front/side kick". They are two very different kicks.

Second, me and Chumonchek already answered the question in regards to a front thrust kick. I can't really speak to the front snap kick, as my style doesn't teach it. (I think the entire body of knowledge i've encountered on the subject is "Go play soccer with someone once, you'll know all you ever need")

[shadowspawn]

I know i'm just a beginner, but when doing a front snap/thrust kick, i think it feels so awkward to kick with the heel of your foot. can someone explain why some styles do that? i'm just curious as to why not to just use the ball of the foot like in a front snap kick?

With regards to front kicks in our style, heel kick=hitting something low. Ball of the foot=hitting something high. If you're trying to snap someone's knee back with a front kick, you'll likely find it a lot more effective to use your heel (even in the case of a snap kick) than you would trying to contort your foot to get the ball of the foot to work effectively. Unless of course, you're wearing hard-soled shoes in which case you can just kick with the toe of the shoe and cause some significant damage.

[bushido_man96]

I've found when kicking with the heel, that I don't have as much range of flexibility as I do when I kick with the ball of the foot. Therefore, it slows my kick down a bit, and limits how high I can kick. I have done both, but when it comes to preference, I prefer ball of the foot.