Mawashi-Hiza-Geri is the round knee of Karate. It gets its power from the rotation of the hip and foot and from the hardness of the knee. Knee strikes are banned in sport Kumite and often in full-contact Kumite (exception made for Kyokushinkai). However, it’s a great strike and it’s useful in close-distance self defense situations.

Traditional execution:

• Get in Heiko Dachi
• Raise your knee sideways
• Rotate your hip and opposite foot while extending
• Kiai! at maximum extention (optional)
• While retracting perform another move (e.g: another Mawashi-Hiza-Geri)

Kumite execution:

• Get in Kumite no Kamae and bounce a little
• Raise your knee sideways
• Rotate your hip and opposite foot while extending
• Kiai! if you are competing in point sparring

Where to use (✅ - Use; ❌ - Don’t use; 🟨 - Last resource):

• Sport Kumite: ❌
• Full-Contact Kumite: ✅ (if allowed)
• Self-Defense: ✅

Video examples:

• VIDEONAMEHERE