Mastering Taekwondo Kicks: Essential Taekwondo Kicking and Techniques for All Levels
Taekwondo is one of the most popular martial arts in the world. It has almost 100 million fans worldwide and is considered one of the most practiced martial arts. The sport of taekwondo is especially suitable for children as one of those arts that will protect you in dangerous situations but also teach you about regulating and controlling emotions.
When someone mentions battle sports, people instantly think of dangerous situations and injuries. Taekwondo is not one of the most dangerous martial arts, but it’s an excellent protection skill and a tool for handling difficult situations.
This is why so many parents encourage their children to start training it. If you’re also interested in it and would like to see your kids learn taekwondo, you’re at the right place. If you are considering it yourself and you want to start doing it, you’re also at the right place. In this post, we will talk more about taekwondo kicks and taekwondo techniques. Keep reading to learn more.
What is Taekwondo
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art that combines combat techniques, self-defence, sport, exercise, and in some traditions, philosophy and meditation. The word itself can be broken down into Tae – to kick or strike with the foot; Kwon – to punch or strike with the hand or fist and Do – the way or path, indicating this is a discipline or philosophy.
With it, you understand that taekwondo is more than a martial art. It focuses on self-defence, physical fitness, character development, and mental focus and peace. The art uses kicks and punches as the main weapon for fighting, so we’re now focusing mainly on the kicks.
How many kicks are there in Taekwondo?
It’s hard to define the number of taekwondo kicks as there is not one idea or rule that everyone follows. For example, World Taekwondo and the International Taekwon-do Federation have different rules about what kicks are, so the answer depends on which organization you belong to.
In general, you may say there are more than 50 different kicks when you combine everything, but six kicks are considered core. These are the ones that every student will learn through their journey learning this martial art.
What are the 6 basic kicks of Taekwondo?
So, what are the six basic kicks that every student will learn? They have their Korean names, but they are widely known with their English names, too. Here are the six basic taekwondo kick names:
- Front Kick (Ap Chagi)
- Side Kick (Yop Chagi)
- Roundhouse Kick (Dollyo Chagi)
- Back Kick (Dwi Chagi)
- Axe Kick (Naeryo Chagi)
- Hook Kick (Huryeo Chagi)
When it comes to taekwondo kicking, these are the must-know ones. Every fighter will rely on these first and then develop the variations coming from them. With these six in mind, a fighter will create more than 20 different variations, practical in combat.
Aside from the six main ones, there’s the one that is disputed among different taekwondo schools. Some schools consider seven kicks to be the basic ones, and they include this one in the list. That is the famous wheel kick. What is a wheel kick in taekwondo?
That’s a kick similar to the spinning hook kick, which some even consider the same kick. This one derives from the original hook kick, included in the basic six kicks. It is a movement in which the fighter spins their body in the air and delivers the hook with their foot onto the opponent’s body, most commonly the head.
What is the hardest Taekwondo kick?
In the list of the basic kicks, you won’t find the hardest to perform. All the basic ones require strength, practice and skills, but they are not even close to the brutal ones if performed right and delivered precisely in combat. That one is called the 540 kick, or “Obaeksasip-do Dollyo Chagi”.
This kick is not only the hardest one but also the most elegant, dangerous, and fun to watch. To do it, the fighter must make one full turn around their body and an additional 180 degrees, or ½ of a body turn, before delivering the kick in the opponent’s head.
Done right means the opponent will receive a tremendous amount of force and most commonly suffer a defeat. This kick is one of the most challenging and highly respected tkd moves – thought only to those who are ready for it.
Conclusion
Taekwondo is an amazing martial art, and kicking is an essential part of it. Some great fighters used it to deal with opponents in the ring, the octagon, or the streets. It is useful everywhere.
For example, Patrick Smith is the oldest MMA fighter who used taekwondo in the octagon. He was a third-degree black belt and used it for his first fight at the first MMA event back in 1993. That speaks to what level taekwondo is as a martial art.