Mae Tobi Geri
前飛び蹴り
Literally: front flying kick
Also known as: Tobi mae geri, Mae tobi geri, Jumping front kick
Front kick performed in a jump using the ball of the foot; jump kicks survive in karate in the katas Gankaku, Kanku Dai and Suparinpei.
Quick Facts
About
Mae tobi geri (前飛び蹴り), literally front flying kick, is a front kick performed in a jump; Shotokan technique lists also give it as tobi mae geri. The Japan Karatedo Federation (JKF) describes jump kicks in general as kicks performed after a jumping takeoff, which increase the speed and power of the strike, help break through an opponent's guard, and allow an attack from a greater distance. It differs from nidan tobi geri, in which the practitioner kicks twice during a single jump. Jump kicks have survived in karate in the kata Gankaku, in its Okinawan form Chinto, and also in Kanku Dai, Sanseiru, Suparinpei and Shiho Kusanku. Analyses of the kata interpret them, for example, as a counterattack after freeing a leg that the opponent has grabbed, or as a follow-up to a knee strike from a clinch. In WKF kumite, a kick to the head scores ippon, three points, even when performed in a jump.