Ushiro Geri
後ろ蹴り
Literally: back kick
Ushiro geri is a direct heel kick delivered backward in a straight line, without a circular motion or body rotation.
Quick Facts
⚠️ Common Mistakes
Looking back over the shoulder, the practitioner briefly loses direct visual contact with the target and easily misjudges the distance.
About
Ushiro geri (後ろ蹴り), literally back kick, is a straight thrusting heel strike delivered backward, without a circular motion. Looking back over the shoulder briefly breaks direct visual contact with the target, so the technique demands accurate distance judgment. The Kyokushin glossary lists it as back kick, among kicks (geri waza). Unlike mae geri, which aims forward, ushiro geri goes backward; unlike ushiro mawashi geri, its path is straight, without body rotation. A related variant with a circular path is ushiro ura mawashi geri, a reverse circular back kick. In kumite it is reserved mostly for advanced practitioners, valued for the power of a straight-line strike. We have not been able to document who introduced the technique.