Yoko-Geri is the side kick of Karate. It gathers is power from the swing os the leg in its Keage form, while gathering it froma back push in its Kekomi form instead. It’s a great kick both in its Kekomi and Keage form and its accepted universally in every Kumite ruleset. While kicks should be avoided in a street fight, in self-defense it could surprise your opponent and if landed correctly it could send him to the ground.
Traditional execution:
- Get in Heiko Dachi
- Rotate your body by 90° using one foot
- Charge the kick by forming a 90° angle with your leg
- Extend and rotate your other foot (not your body) by another 90°
- Hit with the ball of the foot
- Kiai! at maximum extention (optional)
- While retracting perform another move (e.g: another Yoko-Geri)
Variations:
- There’s a variation where you initially rotate your body by 180° instead of 90° (Ushiro-Yoko-Geri), essentially transforming it in a rotating kick. This is great in Kumite because it might add more power to your kick and it even might give you more points. However, any kind of rotating kick should not be performed in self-defense because you are not on smooth terrain and you are most definetely going to the ground.
- There’s a variaiation that involves jumping by switching your legs and executing the kick in the air (Tobi-Yoko-Geri). It shouldn’t be used in the street because of its elevated risk of falling.
Kumite execution:
- Get in Kumite no Kamae and bounce a little
- Rotate your body by 90° using one foot
- Charge the kick by bending and raising your leg as high as you need
- Extend and rotate your other foot (not your body) by another 90°
- Hit with the heel of the foot
- Kiai! if you are competing in point sparring
Kekomi adjustements:
- Don’t snap your leg back
- Bend your back a litte to the outside and then push inside when extending
Where to use (✅ - Use; ❌ - Don’t use; 🟨 - Last resource):
- Sport Kumite: âś…
- Full-Contact Kumite: âś…
- Self-Defense: âś… (as first move, and not the Ushiro variant)
Video examples: