Kicker redirects here. For the poker term, see kicker (poker).

In violence, martial arts and sports, a kick is an attack using the foot, knee or leg. This attack is often used in hand to hand combat. Kicks are generally slower but more powerful than strikes made with the hands.

Kicks play a great part in many martial arts, such as karate, kickboxing and taekwondo, whereas some arts do not utilize kicks at all, such as judo and boxing. Other arts use kicks, but limit their use for attacks on the legs and lower body.

A great number of kicks exist, and many have names for themselves. Often the same movement will have different names in different martial arts.

Most common kicks

Most basic kicks are front kick, side kick and roundhouse kick. Other common kicks are kicks with knees and kicks to backwards. Kicks to the lower parts of the body are faster and easier to perform than high kicks. They are also more powerful, but higher kicks allow strikes to be made against more vital targets such as the head. Note that a knee-breaking low kick will make a medium-height kick to a vital target such as the head much easier to perform.

Balance and speed are the most important factors in performing a kick. Retracting the leg after the moment of impact is also normally very important, to avoid it being caught by your opponent.

Here, the basic forms of kicks are explained. Most kicks can be varied by using a different part of leg to hit opponent or targeting a different area.

Front kick

Stand in basic fighting stance. Lift knee of your back leg. Extend your leg so that ball of

Front kick can be done with either front or back leg.

Front kick is called mae-geri in Japanese.

Side kick

Lift your knee so that you are side-on to your target. Extend your leg, so that bottom of your foot hits opponent on the knee. In karate, you strike with the outside edge of your foot. While potentially damaging to higher targets such as the hip or ribs, the most situational diffusion will be gained by using it to break an opponent's knee.

Side kick is called yoko-geri in Japanese.

Roundhouse kick

Stand in basic fighting stance. Simultaneously lift your knee sideways and twist your hips. Extend your leg, hitting the opponent with the instep or the ball of your foot. Use turning of your hips to add power to the kick. Bend your supporting leg slightly to maintain balance.

Roundhouse kick is called mawashi-geri in Japanese.

Back kick

Stand in basic fighting stance. Lift your knee just like in front kick and turn your head to the side to see your target. Lean your torso forward as you extend your foot back. Strike with the heel of your foot.

The back kick is called ushiro-geri in Japanese.

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Kick was also an album by the Australian rock group INXS. Kick was released in 1987 and is arguably their best album.

Kick's tracklist was: 1. Guns in the sky 2. New sensation 3. Devil inside 4. Need you tonight 5. Mediate 6. The loved one 7. Wild life 8. Never tear us apart 9. Mystify 10. Kick 11. Calling all nations 12. Tiny Daggers