This is the 5338th most frequent Japanese word.
kick
The Japanese word "kick" (キック) means "kick" in English, referring to a strike made with the foot.
In this sentence, '蹴った' (kicked) is used as a verb meaning to physically strike something with the foot, a common literal usage of 'kick' in Japanese.
彼はボールを蹴った。
He kicked the ball.
Here, '蹴る' (kick) is used metaphorically to signify discarding or breaking away from something, such as habits.
彼がこのプロジェクトを始めた理由は、古い習慣を蹴りたかったからです。
The reason he started this project was that he wanted to break old habits.
While the phrase '勢いよく始まった' is used to denote starting with vigor, it implies a 'kick off,' showing an energetic or impactful beginning, aligning with the English metaphorical expression.