(How to) Side Kick Tutorial - Taekwondo
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Snapping Side Kick·wootaekwon
(How to) Side Kick Tutorial - Taekwondo Please Subscribe! Side kick (WTF) Taekwondo is one of Taekwondo's representati…
Snapping Side Kick
SubFamily横蹴上げ(Yoko-geri Keage)
TraditionalTranslation: snapping side kick
Overview
The Snapping Side Kick subfamily covers side kicks executed with a fast, snapping motion that prioritises speed and retraction over penetrating force. [1] The snapping side kick chambers by lifting the knee, extends the foot laterally to strike the target, and immediately retracts the leg back to the chambered position, minimising exposure time. [1],[2] This variation is useful for scoring in point-based competition, testing distance, and setting up follow-up techniques without committing fully to the kick. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
The snapping side kick uses a quick snapping motion for speed. [1]
Lineage
From TKD and karate. [1]
Competition Record
Used in competition. [1]
Images
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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 — Chamber the knee high, rotate hips sideways, drive the heel or blade of the foot laterally into the target
As checking side kick (to knee) — Low side kick targeting the opponent's lead knee to prevent their advance
From rear leg (power) — Cross-step and chamber, drive through with full hip rotation for maximum penetration
Videos
How to do a Side Kick Analysis #8
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Snapping Side Kick·Elasticsteel
How to do a Side Kick Analysis #8? I'm going to first bring my knees up, pivot, and snap out with the bottom of my foot …
2 videos
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
6
High6/10
Linear thrust kick; generates highest force among basic kicks
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
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
✓Chamber the knee across the body and snap the foot out laterally, striking with the blade of the foot and retracting immediately
✓The snapping version is faster than the thrusting version but carries less pushing force
✓Use the snapping side kick as a quick scoring strike or to check the opponent's advance
✓The retraction is key: the foot must snap back to the chambered position as fast as it extended
✓Target the ribs or solar plexus for maximum effect with the smaller impact surface
✓In point karate, the snapping side kick is a primary scoring tool due to its speed and deceptive range
✓Keep the guard up — the sideways position of the body makes the lead hand less effective as a guard
Common Mistakes
!Pushing through the target instead of snapping — this converts it into a thrusting side kick
!Not retracting quickly enough, leaving the foot out to be caught
!Chamber too low, which reduces the snap angle and makes the kick telegraphed
!Turning the body too far past sideways, exposing the back
!Using the flat of the foot instead of the blade edge or heel
!Leaning away from the target too much, which weakens the snap
!Throwing the snapping side kick without speed — if it is slow, the thrusting version would be more effective
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Stance and Range — verify correct distance for the kick to land at full extension
2Chamber the Leg — lift the knee to prepare the kicking trajectory
3Execute the Kick — extend the leg through the target with the appropriate striking surface
4Recover — retract the leg and return to fighting stance
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] Karate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935) [2] Kukkiwon Taekwondo Textbook (Kukkiwon, 2006) [3] Dynamic Karate (Nakayama, 1966)
2BookKarate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Comprehensive Asian Fighting Arts (Draeger & Smith, 1969)
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] Karate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935) [2] Kukkiwon Taekwondo Textbook (Kukkiwon, 2006) [3] Dynamic Karate (Nakayama, 1966)
6CitationKarate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Comprehensive Asian Fighting Arts (Draeger & Smith, 1969)
Community
Athletics
Requires
hip abduction power, lateral hip flexibility, single-leg balance
Favours
flexible hips for high side kicks
Key muscles
gluteus medius, hip abductors, quadriceps, core
Sub-techniques
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I position my knee to generate maximum power in a side kick?
Keep your knee within your hips rather than moving it away from your body, as this generates significantly more power. According to wootaekwon's tutorial, moving your knee away from your hips will reduce force production.
Why is hip engagement so important in the side kick?
You must push your hips into the kick rather than shooting straight up, otherwise your leg won't be able to support your body weight and you risk injury. The instructor experienced hip pain that prevented walking for a week or two from neglecting this fundamental.
How do I adjust my knee angle for different kick heights?
For middle-level kicks, keep your knee more parallel to the floor and kick straight out. For higher kicks, angle your knee up before extending the kick.
Should I turn my supporting leg and kick at the same time or separately?
Turn your supporting leg and kick out simultaneously to generate the most force. Breaking these into two separate movements will significantly reduce the power of your kick.
What's a common mistake with body position during a side kick?
Don't bend or curve your body during the side kick—keep your upper body upright. Additionally, time your body descent with your kick rather than bending down after the kick is already extended.
How does the Snapping Side Kick work?
The Snapping Side Kick subfamily covers side kicks executed with a fast, snapping motion that prioritises speed and retraction over penetrating force. The snapping side kick chambers by lifting the knee, extends the foot laterally to strike the target, and immediately retracts the leg back to the chambered position, minimising exposure time.
Where does the Snapping Side Kick come from?
The snapping side kick (yoko geri keage) was classified within karate's kicking taxonomy as the speed-oriented counterpart to the thrusting side kick. The technique is taught in Shotokan and other karate styles as a fundamental kick, and it appears in taekwondo curricula as well.
Is the Snapping Side Kick 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 Snapping Side Kick?
Danger rating 6/10. High — linear thrust kick; generates highest force among basic kicks
How do I set up the Snapping Side Kick?
The standard setup chain: Stance and Range → Chamber the Leg → Execute the Kick → Recover.
How do I defend against the Snapping Side Kick?
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 Snapping Side Kick?
Common variants: Standard side kick (driving the heel or blade of the foot laterally with hip …); Checking side kick (low side kick targeting the knee to stop the opponent's a…); Spinning side kick (adding a spin for extra rotational power); Step-through side kick (stepping through for deeper penetration).
How effective is the Snapping Side Kick in competition?
Used in competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Snapping Side Kick?
Top errors to watch for: Pushing through the target instead of snapping — this converts it into a thrusting side kick / Not retracting quickly enough, leaving the foot out to be caught / Chamber too low, which reduces the snap angle and makes the kick telegraphed / Turning the body too far past sideways, exposing the back.
What are other names for the Snapping Side Kick?
The Snapping Side Kick is also known as Yoko-geri Keage, Yoko Geri Keage, Snapping Yop Chagi, Side Snap Kick.