横蹴上げ（基本型）(Yoko-geri Keage (Kihon-gata))
TraditionalTranslation: standard snapping side kick
The Standard Snapping Side Kick is executed by chambering the knee to the chest, turning the hip over to align the foot laterally, and snapping the leg out to strike with the blade or heel of the foot before immediately retracting. [1] The snap relies on rapid knee extension and hip rotation, and the kick is returned to the chamber position quickly to maintain balance and defensive readiness. [1],[2] This technique is commonly used in karate and taekwondo point sparring as a quick scoring tool. [2],[3]
Standard snapping side kick. [1]
From TKD/karate. [1]
Used in competition. [1]
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Follow along with Taekwondo Instructor Adam Gerrald as he discusses some of the "finer points" of the Taekwondo Side Kic…
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Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
Linear thrust kick; generates highest force among basic kicks
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Muay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Yod Ruerngsa, Khun Kao Charuad & James Cartmell, 2002)
Alias sources — [1] Karate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935) [2] Dynamic Karate (Nakayama, 1966) [3] Kukkiwon Taekwondo Textbook (Kukkiwon, 2006)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Comprehensive Asian Fighting Arts (Draeger & Smith, 1969)
Official karate technique names (和語/漢語)
Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)
Alias sources — [1] Karate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi, 1935) [2] Dynamic Karate (Nakayama, 1966) [3] Kukkiwon Taekwondo Textbook (Kukkiwon, 2006)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Comprehensive Asian Fighting Arts (Draeger & Smith, 1969)
hip abduction power, lateral hip flexibility, single-leg balance
flexible hips for high side kicks
gluteus medius, hip abductors, quadriceps, core
Your heel should be on your sideline or slightly in front of it during the chambered position. This reference point helps ensure proper alignment and sets you up for maximum power generation.
Use a hip pop as you extend—this engages your glutes and adds twisting power to the kick. As you pop your hip, keep your shoulder and nose pointed directly at your target to maximize the rotational force.
Keeping your shoulder on the sideline as you pop your hip allows you to add twisting power to the kick, making it significantly stronger. This alignment ensures you're using rotational force rather than just linear extension.
The Standard Snapping Side Kick is executed by chambering the knee to the chest, turning the hip over to align the foot laterally, and snapping the leg out to strike with the blade or heel of the foot before immediately retracting. The snap relies on rapid knee extension and hip rotation, and the kick is returned to the chamber position quickly to maintain balance and defensive readiness.
The standard snapping side kick is a fundamental karate technique (yoko geri keage) that has been part of the art's standard curriculum since Shotokan's formalisation in the early 20th century. It is regularly practised in kihon, kata, and kumite across multiple karate styles.
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
Danger rating 6/10. High — linear thrust kick; generates highest force among basic kicks
The standard setup chain: Stance and Range → Chamber the Leg → Execute the Kick → Recover.
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.
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).
Used in competition.
Top errors to watch for: Not pivoting the support foot, which prevents the body from turning sideways fully / Extending the knee slowly, losing the whip-like snap that generates impact / Hitting with the sole of the foot or toes instead of the blade edge / Not chambering high enough — the snap starts from the chamber, so a low chamber means a weak kick.
The Standard Snapping Side Kick is also known as Yoko-geri Keage (Kihon-gata), Standard Yoko Geri Keage, Standard Side Snap Kick, Snapping Yop Chagi.
