Geri
蹴り / 蹴り技
Japanese for “kick”. In karate it is the second part of every kick name: mae-geri, yoko-geri, mawashi-geri, ushiro-geri. On its own it is read keri.
Quick Facts
Word breakdown
Definition
Geri (蹴り) is a noun from the verb keru, to kick. On its own it is read keri. In compounds the initial k changes to g, so technique names contain geri: mae-geri, front kick, yoko-geri, side kick, mawashi-geri, roundhouse kick, and ushiro-geri, back kick. The whole group of kicks is called geri-waza. A karate kick name usually states the direction or path of the kick, followed by the word geri. Further specification comes after it: keage means a snapping kick upward, kekomi a thrusting kick. Yoko-geri keage is therefore a snapping side kick and yoko-geri kekomi a thrusting side kick.
In practice
In practice, the instructor calls a kick by its full name plus a height: jodan for the head, chudan for the trunk, gedan for the lower level. Chudan mae-geri is thus a front kick to middle height. In kihon, kicks are practiced from a stance and in motion, and after each kick the leg returns so the student stands stably again.
Relations to other terms
Equivalent in another art
See also
The upper height level a technique is aimed at: head, face and neck. In kendo, it is also the name of the stance with the sword raised above the head.
Haisoku背足Instep, literally “back of the foot”. The striking surface of the arcing kick mawashi-geri, especially in sport karate and taekwondo.
Sokuto足刀The outer edge of the foot, literally “foot sword”. The striking surface of the side kick yoko-geri, especially the thrusting yoko-geri kekomi.