Fundamental or superficial difference?

[bushido_man96]

On 5/26/2026 at 5:12 PM, Spartacus Maximus said:

In which category would we place the more commonly taught ball-of-foot mae geri and the sokusen or tsumasaki geri? Are they in the same one?

A ´snapping’ type kicks

B ´thrusting’ type kicks 

In TKD, it has been my experience that it is commonly taught as a "snapping" kick.  In our forms, it's always been shown as a snapping kick.  However, I do teach the thrusting variation, and I switch my basics up at times to practice the thrusting version.  I think both versions should be addressed often in applications and basics.

[Spartacus Maximus]

From my understanding and discussions with different karate instructors, except for a few of the most traditional Okinawan schools; the front kick either snaps or thrust.

The difference is from the ankle down. The ´weapon’ is either ball-of-foot, toes or the top part of the foot. 

Perhaps someone can shed some light on this, but Okinawan styles appear to have less obvious, more subtle hip action in their kicking than Shotokan or even TKD(heavily influenced by Shotokan), for instance.

[sensei8]

In a forward manner, ball of foot, heel, or top of foot. All can be snapped or thrusted.

Ball of foot for the front snap kick, lead or back foot. Heel, for the most, is used in a thrusted manner at its target. Top of foot, for the most, to the groin.

This is true for most MA, and I'd not be surprised if it's for all MA; one can never be absolute because no one has seen every MA style.