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.

[Wado Heretic]

On 5/26/2026 at 11:12 PM, Spartacus Maximus said:

This is the point of the first post. Focussing only on karate front kicks, there are perhaps only two kinds of mechanics. One for a snap and another type for thrust/stabbing kicks. All types of front kicks would be one or the other as far as  body mechanics from the ankle upwards. 

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 

 

 

I would be reticent to agree wholly with the logic that we can split front kicks into Snap or Thrust purely based on encountering kicks which do not fit either concept wholly. That does come from my understanding of thrust meaning to penetrate forward through the target though, so this could be a difference in lexicon.

That said I would make the following arguments. Tsumasaki Geri, or a Stab Kick to use the current Kick-Boxing/MMA Meta, is a snap kick. In the sense that the foot is snapped out to make contact as quickly as possible to cause pain on impact. It is, traditionally, aimed up into the soft tissue of the body most easily struck from below. This is also why the snap motion is functional as it allows the scoop up and under and use at extremely close range. In my experience with the Shogen-Ryu (Matsubayashi Shorin-Ryu) version the foot is also lifted back and under, rather than chambered forward, to minimise the space needed and maximise the eventual snap. Looking at the current Kick-Boxing/MMA approach as well, it is a snap kick too being used for speed of delivery versus the Teep/Front Thrust Kick for distance control or the traditional roundhouse for knockout potential and damage.

In my experience, the use of the ball of the foot for a front kick appears to be a Shotokai-Ryu/Japanese Mainland Karate innovation. And although, on the surface, it snaps up the actual motion is to thrust through with the ball of the foot leading. Otherwise, you will hit with your toes or heel or miss entirely. Thus, on the surface the technique is snapped, some what like the Teep uses a lift of the foot to get the heel in line with the target, the snap up is to get the ball of the foot on target when connecting. As a result, it moves like a snap kick but is delivered with a thrust of the hip going forward to push through the target. Thus, I would argue it does not truly fit either descriptor entirely.

I had mixed guidance in Okinawa to be wholly honest. I was first introduced to Kobayashi-Ryu Kodokan by my instructors that had ventured to Okinawa and brought back what they learnt. I then had the chance to train with Arakaki Sensei when he visited the United Kingdom, and I also went to Okinawa and studied with him directly. During those experiences I was directed to try and land the kick with the heel, so it is a definite snap of the leg up to get the arc to hit with the heel first. Also, you lead with the hip, so the twist of the hip is used as much to get the leg into the air as it is to follow through to deliver power. The guidance was always to chamber the knee above the waist, and to aim the knee at the final target before releasing the kick. The second time I trained with Arakaki Sensei himself, he was already quite ill, and we spent most of my time there on my fundamentals and Naihanchi Kata. He himself tended to kick low (Except during a demo), but recommended practicing kicking high to develop power and flexibility. Point being, I did not spend significant time on kicking with him to be certain I have been handed down the proper guidance. Furthermore, my instructors who trained him were themselves passed their days of high kicking, or were more focused on understanding the principles and getting the kata correct than kicking. That said, watching what footage of him there is of him doing Sochin he kicks with the heel, and footage of Sempai who spent more time with him also use the heel, so that is what I have settled on. Either way, a snap front kick.

On my second journey I had the opportunity to do classes with several styles but eventually settled on a Kobayashi-Ryu Dojo for my second week when I got tired to the tour group. The dojo I settled at, run by Uema Sensei, taught to kick with the toes with a swift snap motion thus different to how I was shown or directed previously. But it was a different line down from Chosin Chibana.  One Matsubayashi-Ryu Sensei I studied with, and I am inclined to say it was a Shinzato Sensei, taught kicks I felt were relatively modern in execution. A lot of driving the hip, hitting with the ball of the foot with front kick, and the inside of the foot for round house kick. With regards to Shogen-Ryu and Goju-Ryu I also found some that advocated the heel or the toes but always a snap kick. There did not appear to be a consensus. The only consistent one was Shorinji-Ryu where each teacher advocated to connect with the heel. Not unlike Shorinji Kempo to be fair. Overall, the theme seemed to be to get force up and into the body, thus the more subtle use of the hip. Controlling distance or doing damage through thrusting seemed to be the domain of Sokuto Geri or punching. I have only visited Okinawa twice for a total of six weeks and only trained with Arakaki Sensei for a fortnight when he visited the UK. Much of my knowledge comes from training with others with more time there than myself or relying on public materials.