Lesson 4: White Belt

Side Snap Kick. The side snap kick is a Karate style kick but it has its advantages and disadvantages. It is quicker than the side thrust kick, but it is not nearly as powerful and it is easy to jam.

• Partner holds a hand target downward with a target surface perpendicular to the floor.
• Stand in a front stance with arms held in the basic guard, facing and centered on the target.
• Chamber trailing leg by lifting knee high in front of body and close against body. Shin is held vertical, outer edge of foot is angled downward with sole facing toward the body. A problem with this type of chamber is that, if the opponent rushes in, the kick will be jammed and you unable to execute the kick.
• As you chamber the kicking foot, the foot on the floor pivots 90 degrees forward on the ball until the heel points toward the side.
• Snap the outer knife edge of the foot at the target using the knee.
• Quickly pull the kicking foot back to its chambered position and back to the floor,
• Perform the entire kicking motion from the floor, to the chamber, to the target, back to the chamber, and back to the floor again in one smooth, continuous motion.

Front Kick/Side Kick Combination. The front kick/side kick combination is used in the number 5 white belt one-step sparring sequence.

• Chamber and execute a front thrust kick, re-chamber into the side thrust kick chamber position, execute a side thrust kick, re-chamber to the side thrust kick chamber position, and step forward into a back stance.

Perform the all the motions of both kicks in one smooth, continuous motion.