中段前蹴り蹴上げ (CHŪDAN MAE-GERI KEAGE). Pronunciation: ちゅうだんまえげリけあげ
This article will briefly give fundamental overviews of the two main forms of stationary 'mae-geri keage' practice in traditional style Shōtōkan Karate-Dō. My hope is that it guides readers to better practice in line with what we practice here in Japan. Much of the notes here come from my trainings under Osaka Yoshiharu Sensei over the decades. Needless to say, and according to my late teacher Asai Tetsuhiko Sensei, "Of all the instructors, Osaka has the most perfected technical form ".
STATIONARY MAE-GERI #1
Assume 下段掻き分け構え (gedan kakiwake gamae) whilst simultaneously drawing the right foot to the left forming 閉足立ち (heisoku dachi).
Alternately execute 右 (migi) and 左 (hidari) 中段前蹴り蹴上げ (chūdan mae-geri keage.
Key points:
Make sure the heisoku dachi is precisely formed with the inside edges of the feet touching with the toes and heels laterally aligned. Furthermore, the posture of the pelvis, back and head/neck must be perpendicular with the knees of both legs indiscernibly bent.
Before, during and after the kick maintain the gedan kakiwake gamae keeping is as motionless as possible. The head and arms form a motionless triangle. While keeping exactly formed seiken with both hands, set the eyes and unchanged facial expression. Also pay special attention to keeping the hips and head at the same height and in the same position.
Strongly form jōsokutei, then pushing down the heel of the sasae ashi, raise the kicking legs knee both tightly and high; furthermore, slide the inside of the kicking foot’s heel up the sasae ashi. The bottom of the kicking foot, remaining in the dorsiflexion position, should be at groin height.
Without losing any momentum fluidly snap the lower leg out and back, then immediately return to heisoku dachi. The kicking speed ratio is 3:7. In this process extend jōsokutei forward by flexing the ankle just before full extension targeting the suigetsu. Take special care that even though the second half of the kick is faster, that the the kick returns to the Hiki ashi position and heisoku dachi following the same path it came from.
Focus on being relaxed as possible in the kicking action, focusing on the shime of the joints, as opposed to muscular force. This is imperative for speed and snap. Moreover, as already stated, keep the supporting heel, hips, hands, head and expression set: as to not telegraph your kick.
In order to do this, develop mental control in practice. Practicing in this strict and disciplined way will result far superior fundamentals in much less time and mitigate bad technical habits.
STATIONARY MAE-GERI #2
Assume 下段掻き分け構え (gedan kakiwake gamae) whilst simultaneously stepping forward with the left foot into 左前後立ち (hidari zenkutsu dachi) with the hips in 正面 (shōmen).
Make 右中段前蹴り蹴上げ (migi chūdan mae-geri keage) then return to hidari zenkutsu-dachi. Repeat the prescribed number of kicks on the right side, then return to shizentai, followed by mirroring the practice on the opposite side.
Please refer to the technical notes for ‘Stationary mae-geri keage #1’; furthermore, these additional points.
Maintaining an exact shōmen position of the hips/pelvis before, during and after kicking is much harder in zenkutsu-dachi; furthermore, the kakiwake position and head should be as stationary as possible.
In application this is not a 攻撃技 (kōgeki waza) but, rather, a 反撃技 (hangeki waza) or ‘counter-kick’. It is therefore a 出会い技 (deai waza) to hit the opponent as they close the distance with an offensive technique.
The kick in this case can come from behind, before raising the knee right, to provide more momentum. Still maintain the aforementioned fundamentals practiced from heisoku dachi.
If the hips pelvis remains set, besides protecting your face/head, and not losing your mass by leaning back, you can utilize 重力 (jūryoku) or gravity to assist in rapid recovery back to your stance. Again, the kicking speed ratio of 3:7 must be applied.
It is important to note that this practice is particularly hard on the sasae ashi. As while the kicking action is whipped out and back, as relaxed as possible, the strict setting of the 姿勢 (shisei) and load on the sasae ashi is muscularly demanding. That being said, this makes this training very important fundamental training for baseline strength and explosiveness.
Common variation: quite often, here in Japan, this kihon is practiced with two kicks. 中段刻み前蹴り (chūdan kizami mae-geri) followed by 上段前 蹴り蹴上げ (jōdan mae-geri keage).
(i) For the mae-geri with the lead leg, don’t lean rearward. Keep the body set.
(ii) In the case of jōdan mae-geri, maintain the same points as the chūdan kick but, in kihon-geikō target the 人中 (jinchū).
(iii) In my own training, I find the ‘single kick’ training more technically beneficial and primarily recommend this for the optimal development of those who I teach. In sum, the simpler the better the kihon practice as one care really master the core motor skills and make them both reactive, adaptable and utterly reliable.
To conclude, the practice of the stationary 中段前蹴り蹴上げ (CHŪDAN MAE-GERI KEAGE) is a core a CORE FUNDAMENTAL PRACTICE in traditional Shōtōkan Karate, irrespective of grade and years of experience. In saying that, optimal form and correct practice is critical.
押忍！
アンドン バーテル
©️ André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2026).
