kicks

Kicks are strikes delivered with the foot or leg, used across many contexts such as martial arts, self-defense, sport, and dance. They rely on body mechanics that transfer weight through the hip and leg to generate distance, speed, and impact. Kicks require balance, flexibility, and control, and can be trained progressively from basic techniques to more advanced, sometimes spinning, moves.

Common kick types include:

- Front kick, or mae geri, which travels straight forward and typically uses the ball of the foot or the heel to target the torso or abdomen.

- Roundhouse kick, or mawashi geri, delivered in a sweeping arc and often contacting with the shin or instep.

- Side kick, or yoko geri, aimed along a straight line to strike with the heel or edge of the foot.

- Back kick, or ushiro geri, directed behind the body and usually contacting with the heel.

- Crescent kick, which arcs in an inside-to-outside or outside-to-inside path and uses the foot’s inner or outer edge.

- Axe kick, a vertical downward strike delivered with the heel.

Training and safety emphasize proper alignment, hip rotation, and controlled power. Shin conditioning, padded targets, and supervision by a qualified instructor reduce injury risk.

In sport and performance, kicks appear in martial arts competitions, where scoring depends on technique, speed, and accuracy, and in other activities such as football (soccer) where kicking is the primary method of advancing the ball and scoring. Kicks also appear in dance and fitness contexts, where they contribute to rhythm, lines, and athletic expression.