Square hips
The hips stay facing Uke, and the kick becomes a weak push with the side of the foot.
What Tori does instead: Pivot and turn side-on first.
Kick lesson 3 of 5 Orange belt Rear leg
Side kick
A straight, pushing kick delivered sideways. Tori turns side-on to Uke, pulls the knee up across its body and drives the heel out in a straight line, leaning away to balance. It has the longest reach of the five.
For entertainment only. A robot demo that explains how the kick works. It isn’t training or advice, so don’t try it on anyone. Disclaimer
- Foot speed
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- Impact, est.
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Now demonstrating
Side kick Yoko geri
Frame by frame
Tori stops for a moment on each step, and the step’s name shows on the 3D view. The line is the path of Tori’s kicking foot: solid where the foot has been, faint where it is about to go. Switch on Chips and sparks for the full robot show.
Keyboard, with the 3D view focused: Space pause and play, , and . step one frame back or forward, arrow keys turn the camera.
Robot demo for entertainment only. Please don't try it on people, pets or yourself.
At a glance
What the side kick is
Also called Yoko geri Yeop chagi. Tori stands orthodox, with its left foot in front, and kicks with its rear (right) leg. A left-handed (southpaw) fighter mirrors everything on this page.
- Leg
- Rear leg here (Tori’s right), after a turn
- Target
- The bullseye in the middle of the chest
- Range
- Long: the longest reach of the five
- Path
- Up to the chamber, then one straight line
- Chamber
- Knee pulled up across the body, heel aimed at the target
- Power from
- The leg straightening like a piston, with the hips behind it
- Lands with
- Heel
- Stands on
- The front foot, turned so its heel points at Uke
At impact the heel, the hip and the shoulder line up with the target. That straight line is what makes the side kick push so hard.
Step by step
What Tori does, frame by frame
These are the same steps as the buttons under the 3D view. Freeze Tori on any of them, then turn the camera to look from every side.
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Guard. Fists up, facing Uke.
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Pivot. The front foot turns until its heel points at Uke, and Tori turns side-on.
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Chamber. The knee comes up across the body, folded tight, with the heel aimed at the target.
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Thrust. The leg straightens like a piston and the heel drives out in a straight line. Tori leans away from the kick to balance it, so heel, hip and shoulder line up.
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Recoil. The leg folds back to the chamber.
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Return. Tori turns back to face Uke and puts the foot down.
Watch it like a coach
- Camera Top: Tori turning side-on, and the straight line from heel to target.
- Freeze on Chamber: the knee across the body and the heel already aimed.
- Camera Side, freeze on Thrust: heel, hip and shoulder in one line.
Where the power comes from
From the floor to the foot
A kick isn’t thrown by the leg alone. Each link passes the movement on to the next, from the standing foot to the striking one.
Standing foot
Turns so its heel points at the target.
Hips
Turn side-on and stack, the kicking hip on top.
Knee
Folds tight, then straightens along a straight line.
Heel
Leads, with the toes angled slightly down.
Checkpoints
What to look for in the demo
Freeze Tori on Thrust and check each of these.
- Side-on Tori’s hips face sideways, not towards Uke.
- Heel leads The heel lands, not the toes or the middle of the sole.
- One straight line Heel, hip and shoulder line up with the target.
- Leaning away The upper body tilts away to balance the leg.
- Standing heel towards Uke The pivot is complete.
- Guard up The fists stay near the face.
Common mistakes
How the side kick goes wrong
Robots make these mistakes too, until someone updates their firmware.
Toes first
The toes lead, and the kick bends on contact.
What Tori does instead: Heel first, toes angled down.
Arcing up
The foot swings up in a curve instead of travelling straight.
What Tori does instead: A tight chamber, then a straight line.
Leaning in
The head leans towards Uke and the balance goes.
What Tori does instead: Lean away, and keep the standing leg strong.
The foot
Which part of the foot lands
The side kick lands with the heel, the hardest part of the foot. Watch it in the Close-up camera, frozen on Thrust.
The heel
- The heel leads, pushed out first.
- Foot flexed: toes pulled up and angled slightly down.
- The outer edge of the foot lines up behind the heel.
- Pushed through the target, not snapped at it.
In a fight (between robots)
How it’s used, and how it’s stopped
Kicks rarely come alone. They are mixed with punches and with other kicks, so each one sets up the next.
Combinations
How Uke could stop it
- Side step
The kick is a straight line, so stepping off it is enough.
- Parry
A hand brushes the heel aside.
- Block
The forearms cover the middle.
- Step back
It has a long reach, so it takes a big step.
A robot demo, not a class
This page explains how the side kick works so the animation makes sense. It isn’t a martial arts course, and it isn’t self-defense, fitness, medical or safety advice. Tori’s version is simplified and exaggerated for the camera, and robot joints bend in ways yours shouldn’t. Don’t kick anyone. If you want to learn a martial art for real, learn in person from a qualified instructor and check with a doctor first.