How To Side Kick in Kempo Karate

Video Transcript

"We just discussed the front kick. The second kick that I'll demonstrate is my personal favorite kick. This is the side kick or Yoko Geri. The reason I like this kick is that for a little guy like me, it allows you to generate probably the most power without a spin. It is one of the strongest basic kicks. It is also one of the hardest to teach and to learn. I am going to go over the different points that you really want to be aware of in order for you to have a better side kick. My target is to my left. Notice that I am not standing to the front but I am standing to the side. I'm standing here minding my business and the opponent is there to my left. It is the same thing with each kick, the four parts: chamber, kick, re-chamber and recover. First, you want to bring your knee up, it is almost like you are going to be doing a front kick, but I am not, I am actually going to kick to the side. What I teach my students is that before you kick, turn the heel of the supporting foot, which is my right foot, towards the target. You'll want to turn it outward so that your buttocks and your hip is pointing straight where you are going to kick. Now, I am going to kick low so that you may see what I am doing. The left foot goes straight out to the side. You are actually hitting with the heel. You flex your toes back and you hit with the heel or the blade edge of the foot. The Japanese call this the Sokuto, or the blade edge of the foot. Notice how my upper body is almost away from the kick. However, you do not want to lean too far away from the kick because you won't have any momentum. You want to find the middle point where you're leaning enough to get the kick up but not too far out to where you'll lose balance. After you kick, you will re-chamber. Bring your leg in tight. Remember, you'll want to keep your balance and then, recover. Once again, leg up, turn the heel, kick, bring it back and recover. Repeat."