Mawashi-geri

(roundhouse kick). The swing of the hips through something like ninety degrees in co-ordination with the snap of the knee make this a powerful technique.

Bend the knee of the kicking leg and raise it to the side. The knee points diagonally sideward and the foot is near the buttock with the toes and ankle bent well back. Then swing the hips and snap the knee forward, striking the target with the ball of the foot directly in front of the body. Snap the leg back to the preparatory position before resuming the original stance or moving into a new stance.