Front Kick: The Forgotten Weapon
For some reason, less experienced students tend to forget about front kick during sparring matches. They often rely on side kick and round kick, even when the angle is wrong and a front kick would have been simpler, faster, and easier.
Maybe the problem is that from a beginner’s point of view, front kick is not so simple. It does require some skill to produce a proper front kick weapon, and many students struggle with pulling their toes back far enough. This article offers some ways to build those muscles and perfect that front kick. But remember, the black belts have such beautiful weapons of the foot because they’ve spent years developing them. A powerful kick doesn’t happen overnight.
The Weapon
First, a proper front kick weapon points the ball of the foot (that round fairly hard area just below the big toe and second toe) at the target. The top of the foot is a flat line all the way up the leg, and the toes are pulled back at a ninety degree angle. It isn’t luck that produces a strong weapon, it’s proper conditioning.
Start simply: while sitting and relaxing, practice pulling the toes back repeatedly. Also try pointing the foot to produce that flat angle mentioned above (and seen in the photo). Work on pulling the toes back from this position too.
Another exercise involves working the toes in particular: remember those old horror movies where the dismembered hand crawled across the floor using the fingers? This is similar, with the toes pulling the foot forward. This builds strong toes.
A third method is to push the ball of the foot against a hard surface, preferably a vertical surface. A piece of surgical tubing, available at some hardware stores or medical supply stores, can also be used to provide a flexible surface to push against.
Dancers have powerful feet, which comes from exercising them. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and raise yourself up on the balls of your feet. Lower yourself slowly. Repeat. Try this exercise with feet also turned out at a forty-five degree angle, and with feet in a wide horse stance, except that feet should be turned out slightly to avoid straining the ankle. Do these slowly and carefully. Once you’re warmed up, jump a few times, using only the feet to spring into the air.
Finally, practice kicking a target. For those who are low on funds, an empty two liter pop bottle can be suspended with string. Practice precision by aiming at turning a light switch on and off. Practice power by striking a sturdy target—but if you choose something immovable like a tree, go gently at first. And use common sense: the front kick is capable of producing the same impact as a car crash, so don’t use it against objects that could sustain expensive damage.
The Technique
Front kick is executed by standing sideways, raising the knee high, and thrusting the ball of the foot straight at the target. You can also bring the back leg up for a reverse front kick. A common mistake is to kick from the floor, forgetting that the power of the kick comes from the piston-like motion of the leg.
I tell my students that the front kick is the leg’s straight punch. It has to thrust straight out. A second common mistake is to let the kick flip up. To kick up is fine, if your target is above you (a chin, for example), but if your target is the face, the throat, the stomach, the groin, etc., you need that straight-in thrusting motion for full power.
It’s also important to remember to chamber the kick, or draw it back before lowering the leg. With every kick, it’s vital to chamber: after you’ve thrown the kick, pull it back, raising the knee again. This does two things: it helps with balance, it helps with power, and it makes it possible to throw a second kick if needed. If you simply drop the leg, you will lose your balance and leave yourself open to attack.
With the right preparation and practice, you can develop a powerful front kick. It’s fast, it’s devastating, and it’s direct. If you’ve been hit with one, it’s unforgettable.
Maybe the problem is that from a beginner’s point of view, front kick is not so simple. It does require some skill to produce a proper front kick weapon, and many students struggle with pulling their toes back far enough. This article offers some ways to build those muscles and perfect that front kick. But remember, the black belts have such beautiful weapons of the foot because they’ve spent years developing them. A powerful kick doesn’t happen overnight.
The Weapon
First, a proper front kick weapon points the ball of the foot (that round fairly hard area just below the big toe and second toe) at the target. The top of the foot is a flat line all the way up the leg, and the toes are pulled back at a ninety degree angle. It isn’t luck that produces a strong weapon, it’s proper conditioning.
Start simply: while sitting and relaxing, practice pulling the toes back repeatedly. Also try pointing the foot to produce that flat angle mentioned above (and seen in the photo). Work on pulling the toes back from this position too.
Another exercise involves working the toes in particular: remember those old horror movies where the dismembered hand crawled across the floor using the fingers? This is similar, with the toes pulling the foot forward. This builds strong toes.
A third method is to push the ball of the foot against a hard surface, preferably a vertical surface. A piece of surgical tubing, available at some hardware stores or medical supply stores, can also be used to provide a flexible surface to push against.
Dancers have powerful feet, which comes from exercising them. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and raise yourself up on the balls of your feet. Lower yourself slowly. Repeat. Try this exercise with feet also turned out at a forty-five degree angle, and with feet in a wide horse stance, except that feet should be turned out slightly to avoid straining the ankle. Do these slowly and carefully. Once you’re warmed up, jump a few times, using only the feet to spring into the air.
Finally, practice kicking a target. For those who are low on funds, an empty two liter pop bottle can be suspended with string. Practice precision by aiming at turning a light switch on and off. Practice power by striking a sturdy target—but if you choose something immovable like a tree, go gently at first. And use common sense: the front kick is capable of producing the same impact as a car crash, so don’t use it against objects that could sustain expensive damage.
The Technique
Front kick is executed by standing sideways, raising the knee high, and thrusting the ball of the foot straight at the target. You can also bring the back leg up for a reverse front kick. A common mistake is to kick from the floor, forgetting that the power of the kick comes from the piston-like motion of the leg.
I tell my students that the front kick is the leg’s straight punch. It has to thrust straight out. A second common mistake is to let the kick flip up. To kick up is fine, if your target is above you (a chin, for example), but if your target is the face, the throat, the stomach, the groin, etc., you need that straight-in thrusting motion for full power.
It’s also important to remember to chamber the kick, or draw it back before lowering the leg. With every kick, it’s vital to chamber: after you’ve thrown the kick, pull it back, raising the knee again. This does two things: it helps with balance, it helps with power, and it makes it possible to throw a second kick if needed. If you simply drop the leg, you will lose your balance and leave yourself open to attack.
With the right preparation and practice, you can develop a powerful front kick. It’s fast, it’s devastating, and it’s direct. If you’ve been hit with one, it’s unforgettable.
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