Mae Geri Training Guide

Mat Manual companion guide to "Mastering the Mae Geri." Print it, keep it in your training bag, and work through it in order. The six week plan at the back tells you which drills to use each week.

Safety First

• Solo drills in this guide are built for home practice. Partner pad work is class work. It belongs in the dojo, with an instructor present, a trained pad holder, and control agreed before the first kick.
• Kick pads and bags at training power. Kick air at training speed but not full power. A hard snap with nothing to meet it loads your own knee. Leave full power for a target that can take it.
• Keep a small bend in the kicking knee at full extension, on every drill, every time.
• Stop and report sharp knee pain, ankle pain, or hip pain. Muscle tiredness in the thigh and hip is normal training feedback. Joint pain is not.
• Clear your space before solo work. You need one stance length in front of you and nothing breakable within a leg length on any side.
• Bare feet on a clean, dry floor for home drills. Socks on smooth floors slip under the supporting foot.