Karate instructor shows a raised front kick, toes drawn up, against a pad.

3 November 2026

The karate front kick (mae geri): from a single kick to a feint and knee

Karate

Mae geri is the karate front kick. See how a class moves from a single front kick to a partner drill that changes the follow-up while keeping the opening familiar.

Start with the single kick

Watch the first exchange at class pace. In karate, this front kick is called mae geri. One partner stands in front of the other, ready for it. He counts that opening: ichi for the right leg, then ni for the left leg. This short opening gives you a reference for the longer drill: remember what the first movement looks like before the follow-up changes.

Two karate practitioners face each other for a front-kick demonstration. English captions are in the player. The picture already has on-screen text, so the player captions stay off until you turn them on.

Look at the foot position

The instructor pauses with his foot raised so the class can see the toes drawn up. That is the striking surface for mae geri, the bony part of the foot rather than the toes. Watch the foot in the still position first, then compare it with the movement in the partner drill.

A karate instructor explains foot position to a partner on the dojo mat. English captions are in the player. The picture already has on-screen text, so the player captions stay off until you turn them on.

Keep the count, change the follow-up

The first repetition establishes the kick. In the next version the partner stays in place on that same count, ichi then ni, and the instructor steps, lifts the knee, and knees with the other leg. Watch what stays familiar at the start of the movement and where the two versions separate. Practise the timing with a coach and a partner who knows the assignment.

A karate instructor and partner work through the kick and knee drill. English captions are in the player. The picture already has on-screen text, so the player captions stay off until you turn them on.

Explore Seiyu Karate at Modern Warrior in New Westminster.