Yoko Geri (Side Kick)
Yoko geri keage and yoko geri kekomi are two essential kicks in karate. Keage is first introduced in kata Heian Nidan, while kekomi is not integrated before later katas. To begin explaining them, it is perhaps most useful to start with their names with their actual translations. So both are “yoko geri” kicks. “Yoko” means “side”, while “geri” means “kick”. This is of course consistent with their application as both are kicked sideways in a 90 degree angle away from the direction on is facing. In contrast, the perhaps two most fundamental kicks in karate, mae geri and mawashi geri (“mae” meaning “front”, and “mawashi” translating to “round”), are not yoko geris as their direction is forward in line with the direction of one`s body. Yoko geri kicks are in other words “side kicks”, i.e. the kick goes to the side and not forward in line with your hips. Next, the names “keage” and “kekomi”. “Keage” translates to “upward”, while “kekomi” becomes “into/straight”, thus, upward...
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