Chudan and Jodan Mae Geri Practice
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Mae Geri Kekomi·Kick Start Self Defense·Added by Admin
Mae Geri Kekomi
Genus前蹴込み(Mae-geri Kekomi)
TraditionalTranslation: front thrust kick
Overview
Mae Geri Kekomi is the Japanese karate term for the thrusting front kick, in which the leg is chambered and then driven forward in a straight penetrating line, striking with the heel or ball of the foot and pushing through the target with full hip extension. [1] The 'kekomi' designation (meaning 'thrusting' or 'pushing in') indicates a forceful, penetrating kick that prioritises power and displacement over speed and retraction. [1],[2] Mae Geri Kekomi functions similarly to the Muay Thai teep but is typically aimed higher, targeting the solar plexus or chest. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Mae Geri Kekomi was classified alongside Mae Geri Keage in the Shotokan karate system as the thrusting counterpart to the snapping front kick. [1] The distinction between keage and kekomi was an important pedagogical innovation in Japanese karate, teaching students to differentiate between speed-oriented and power-oriented applications of the same basic kick. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
Lineage
Competition Record
Mae geri kekomi (front thrust kick) is a standard karate kick used in kumite and kata competition. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Ballistic leg extension or rotation — the shin or foot impacts the target at high velocity
Joints Involved — Hip (flexion/rotation), knee (extension for front kicks, flexion-extension for roundhouse), ankle (stabilised)
Force Vector — Linear (front kick/teep — hip flexion and knee extension) or rotational (roundhouse — hip rotation with shin contact)
Kinetic Chain — Pivot foot rotation → hip turn → femur whip → shin contact — the leg acts as a heavy bat with the hip as the pivot
Position & Entry
From fighting stance (lead leg) — Chamber the knee, extend the foot forward pushing with the ball of the foot or heel, snap back
As push kick (teep) — Drive the foot into the opponent's body to maintain distance and disrupt their advance
From rear leg (power) — Step through with the rear leg, driving the hip forward for maximum pushing force
Variants
Push kick (teep) — pushing the opponent away with the ball of the foot
Snap front kick — snapping the foot to the target and quickly retracting
Side teep — angled teep pushing the opponent laterally
Body teep — driving into the solar plexus or chest for maximum push-back
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
5
High5/10
Teep/push kick; primarily distance management, liver shot potential
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Beginner
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Illegal
WBC/Boxing — All kicks prohibited in boxing {src— WBC Rules of Boxing}
Legal
— Unified MMA — Legal striking technique
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDFKyokushin — Legal at full power to body and head {src— IKO Kyokushin Tournament Rules}
— WT — Legal, body kick 2 points, head kick 3 points, spinn...
WT Competition Rules 2024PDF— WAKO — Legal in Full Contact and Low Kick formats
WAKO Competition RulesPDFK-1/GLORY — Legal {src— K-1/GLORY Kickboxing Rules}
— IFMA — Legal — kicks are a core Muay Thai technique
IFMA Muay Thai RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓Mae geri kekomi is the thrusting front kick in karate — the foot drives forward through the target in a linear path
✓Chamber the knee high, then thrust the foot straight forward by extending the hip and knee simultaneously
✓Contact with the heel or ball of the foot — the thrust drives through the opponent rather than snapping back
✓Kekomi has more stopping power than keage and is used to push opponents back or damage the midsection
✓Nakayama describes kekomi as driving the hips forward behind the kick to project maximum force through the target
✓The torso leans back only slightly — the power comes from hip extension, not from leaning
✓This kick is the karate equivalent of the Muay Thai teep, though the hip mechanics and contact surface differ
Common Mistakes
!Not driving the hip forward on impact — the hip thrust is what separates kekomi from a simple leg extension
!Confusing kekomi (thrusting) with keage (snapping) — kekomi drives through, keage snaps back
!Leaning the upper body back too far, which disconnects the core from the kick
!Thrusting with a bent knee at impact — the leg should be nearly fully extended at the moment of contact
!Not retracting after the thrust, leaving the extended leg vulnerable to catches
!Targeting too high (face level) where the thrust has less stability and power — body level is optimal for kekomi
!Pushing with flat foot instead of driving with the heel or ball of foot
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Assume Fighting Stance — begin from a balanced position with guard up
2Generate Power — use hip rotation and weight transfer for maximum force
3Execute Strike — deliver the technique to the target with correct form
4Recover to Guard — return immediately to defensive position
Sources & References
Primary Source
Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Yod Ruerngsa, Khun Kao Charuad & James Cartmell, 2002)
1BookMuay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus, 2002)
Alias sources — [1] Dynamic Karate (Nakayama, 1966) [2] Karate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935) [3] Best Karate Vol. 4 (Nakayama, 1979)
2BookKarate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Karate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935)
Official karate technique names (和語/漢語)
4OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)
Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)
5CitationMuay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus, 2002)
Alias sources — [1] Dynamic Karate (Nakayama, 1966) [2] Karate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935) [3] Best Karate Vol. 4 (Nakayama, 1979)
6CitationKarate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Karate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935)
Community
Athletics
Requires
hip flexion power, knee extension speed, balance
Favours
long legs for range, hip flexibility
Key muscles
hip flexors, quadriceps, tibialis anterior, core
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between chudan and jodan mae geri?
Chudan mae geri targets the opponent's mid-section (chest/torso level), while jodan mae geri targets the face level. Both follow the same fundamental principles but differ in their target height.
How should I position my body when practicing mae geri kekomi?
Start in your natural walking stance, then move into a Duchy stance with your back leg straight and front leg bent. Keep your back straight and use both hands in a double lower block position for balance.
What's the key chamber position for mae geri kekomi?
Bring your knee above your Duchy (hip level) as you chamber the kick, then extend from the ball of your foot. This ensures proper height and power generation for the technique.
How does the Mae Geri Kekomi work?
Mae Geri Kekomi is the Japanese karate term for the thrusting front kick, in which the leg is chambered and then driven forward in a straight penetrating line, striking with the heel or ball of the foot and pushing through the target with full hip extension. The 'kekomi' designation (meaning 'thrusting' or 'pushing in') indicates a forceful, penetrating kick that prioritises power and displacement over speed and retraction.
Where does the Mae Geri Kekomi come from?
Mae Geri Kekomi was classified alongside Mae Geri Keage in the Shotokan karate system as the thrusting counterpart to the snapping front kick. The distinction between keage and kekomi was an important pedagogical innovation in Japanese karate, teaching students to differentiate between speed-oriented and power-oriented applications of the same basic kick.
Is the Mae Geri Kekomi legal in competition?
Unified MMA: legal — Legal striking technique; WBC/Boxing: banned — All kicks prohibited in boxing; WKF: legal — Legal, chudan (body) kick scores 2 points, jodan (head) kick scores 3 points; Kyokushin: legal — Legal at full power to body and head; WT: legal — Legal, body kick 2 points, head kick 3 points, spinning body 4 points, spinni…; WAKO: legal — Legal in Full Contact and Low Kick formats; K: legal — 1/GLORY — Legal; IFMA: legal — Legal — kicks are a core Muay Thai technique
How dangerous is the Mae Geri Kekomi?
Danger rating 5/10. High — teep/push kick; primarily distance management, liver shot potential
How do I set up the Mae Geri Kekomi?
The standard setup chain: Assume Fighting Stance → Generate Power → Execute Strike → Recover to Guard.
How do I defend against the Mae Geri Kekomi?
Standard counters include: Check (Shin Block) — raise the shin to intercept the kick before it lands / Catch and Sweep — catch the kicking leg and sweep the standing leg / Step Inside — close distance inside the kick's effective range to smother it.
What are the variants of the Mae Geri Kekomi?
Common variants: Push kick (teep) (pushing the opponent away with the ball of the foot); Snap front kick (snapping the foot to the target and quickly retracting); Side teep (angled teep pushing the opponent laterally); Body teep (driving into the solar plexus or chest for maximum push-back).
How effective is the Mae Geri Kekomi in competition?
Mae geri kekomi (front thrust kick) is a standard karate kick used in kumite and kata competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Mae Geri Kekomi?
Top errors to watch for: Not driving the hip forward on impact — the hip thrust is what separates kekomi from a simple leg extension / Confusing kekomi (thrusting) with keage (snapping) — kekomi drives through, keage snaps back / Leaning the upper body back too far, which disconnects the core from the kick / Thrusting with a bent knee at impact — the leg should be nearly fully extended at the moment of contact.
What are other names for the Mae Geri Kekomi?
The Mae Geri Kekomi is also known as Mae-geri Kekomi, Thrust Front Kick, Front Thrust Kick, Pushing Mae Geri.