Frontsnap

Frontsnap/ Frontraise/ Frontthrust? How about a frontkick?
There is a difference between a front snap/raise and a front thrust, though all are front kicks. The front thrust is a kick where you push your foot into your opponent. While a front snap will be used to either kick an opponent in his throat/ chin or to demonstrate form and flexibility in a poomse [Taekwondo Forms].

A frontkick is often thought about to easily. I do think it is the most easy kick in Taekwondo, but you will have to pay attention to it and go for perfection. Else your kick will look sloppy, you will acquire bad technique and end up hurting yourself.

Keep a sharp eye to your technique
Technique is the most important aspect in Taekwondo. With good technique you show your skill, the kicks look very natural and powerful. And with good technique your kicks will be more powerful, thus you'll be able to score more points and have a better chance of knocking your opponent out of conscious.
Go for perfection and don't be content with a sloppy kick. Watch your kick in a mirror, ask for advice by your instructor or capture the kick on video and playback.

On to the frontsnap
The front snap will consist out of a few steps, which have to flow over in each other, getting your kick smooth and natural. Al the way from the start to the end.

1. Go for a good stance, your right foot is gonna be a bit more to the rear. This is the foot we are gonna kick with. Later on you can practice kicking from a parallel stance, but for now make yourself comfortable.

The foot of your support leg has to be on the ground at all times. Don't stand on your toes while kicking, this often happens when you have a lack of flexibility. Later on I'll explain why. For now just take my word and do your best keeping that foot on the ground.

2. On the kicking leg, raise your knee. It must be at least as high as your waist. The higher your kick the higher the knee goes. Point your knee to your target. This is called 'chambering' of the kicking leg. And is most important in a roundhouse kick, so you might as well pay attention to it already.

3. The snap. Kick that leg out. Your whole body will be facing forward. Your hips will face forward, your support leg will face forward. Make sure they are. We don't go for sloppy technique. In my opinion one doesn't even deserve a yellow belt when not having proper front snap technique.

Keep a sharp eye and remember, its no problem if the kick isn't 100% already, you are learning. But you have to practice and make it a 100% kick. Like I said, you kick might be pretty high already but even if so, don't be content with a sloppy 40% kick. You should go for perfection, every training, every time.

Addition Info
The acquire a good front snap form and technique you can practice the front raise. It is a very important exercise to a frontsnap and a good prerequisite to a axe kick [naero chagi].
Be sure to check the next article about common mistakes on the front snap.

Conclusion
The frontsnap should be one of the first kicks learned in Taekwondo, and it must be learned with caution. It will be a basic for all other kicks.