OSU,
The way we teach it, Mai Geri and Kakato Geri are two separate and distinctive kicks.
Mai Geri is executed by lifting the leg/knee and then snapping the lower part of the leg/foot forward while thrusting the leg forward from your hips and striking with the ball of the foot (Chosuku). There are several targeted areas and terminology depending on if you strike with the front leg or the back and if its to the body or head:
Chudan (Midsection) Mai (front) Geri (kick) = forward or thrust kick to the midsection using the ball of the foot with the rear leg
Jodan (upper) Mai (front) Geri (kick) = same as Chudan but to the face
Chudan (upper) Mai (front) Mai (front) Geri (kick) = Same as above to the body but executed using the front leg instead of the rear
Jodan Mai Mai geri = Same as above with front leg to the face
Kakato (heel) Geri (kick) is essentially what is know as an axe kick and is for us a different kick. In this case you do not bend the leg like in Mai Geri but instead bring the leg up above your target without bending the knee at all and drop your heel down to strike using the weight of your leg, body and hips. There is no thrust or snap in this kick like there is in Mai Geri.
Does everyone else use this terminology and execution as well?
