A training session involving Unitree’s G1 humanoid robot has gone viral for all the wrong—and funny—reasons. The clip, first uploaded to China’s Bilibili on December 25, shows a human trainer controlling the G1 using a motion-capture suit. The setup allows the robot to mirror the trainer’s movements in real time, a common method used to teach humanoid robots complex actions.
Things are going smoothly at first. The trainer throws a few punches and kicks, and the G1 follows along without issue. But during one sequence, the robot appears to misjudge a rotation and delivers a kick straight into the trainer’s groin.
The reaction is immediate. The trainer doubles over, clutching himself before dropping to his knees. Seconds later, the robot copies the same posture, bending forward as if reacting to the pain itself—a moment that has turned the clip into a meme across social platforms.
The video quickly spread beyond Bilibili, appearing on X (formerly Twitter) the next day. It was shared widely, including by Tesla Cybertruck chief engineer Wes Morrill, and has since picked up traction on Reddit and other forums.
The humanoid robot has previously been shown playing table tennis, shooting basketballs, and performing martial arts routines. This incident, however, highlights one of the risks of close-range teleoperation, where small timing errors or misread movements can lead to unexpected results.
Despite the mishap, teleoperation remains an important tool for training humanoid robots, especially for tasks that are too complex to pre-program. Still, the clip serves as a reminder that even advanced robots are far from flawless.
For now, the G1’s accidental kick—and its perfectly timed imitation of human suffering—has given the internet a good laugh.
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