What Are The Basic Kicks In Taekwondo?

Taekwondo is probably one of the most popular sports among young boys and girls in Australia and even worldwide. One of the reasons it is so popular is that it can be practised and enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels. 

Enrolling your kids in a Taekwondo program is one of the best and fun ways to develop their stamina, strength, and discipline. It helps in the well-rounded development of a child. It is not only for nurturing self-defence skills, but it helps develop the character of a person. It promotes devoting one’s life to universal equality and justice.

Taekwondo is best known for its kicks that make the sport incredibly unique and cool. Kicks are known as “chagi” in South Korea, where the sport originated. Kicks can be executed at different heights and directions. Different kicks are meant for various purposes and applications. Some are designed for self-defence, while some are meant for demonstrations and competitions.

The Fundamental Taekwondo Kicks for Beginners

The following chagi are the most basic Taekwondo kicks that beginners should learn.

The Front Kick (Ap Chagi)

The first kick that a Taekwondo student or jeja will learn is the front kick or the ap-chagi. Also known as the front snap kick or the flash kick, this is the easiest Taekwondo kick. The kick is performed by first raising the kicking leg’s knee to waist level, and then the foot snaps forward. 

In performing the ap-chagi, the Taekwondo student must ensure that he lands the ball of his foot on his target for more damage. His toes must bend backwards to protect them from any injury. The hips must also stay parallel to ensure that the kick will have maximum power. The practitioner can also choose to hit the target with the instep of his foot.

This move can be used to hit the abdomen of the opponent. Of course, the practitioner can choose to hit higher, such as the opponent’s chin, by raising his knee higher. 

The front kick is an essential part of Taekwondo training. Instructors use the front kick as an exercise to teach the correct way of lifting the knee before making the kick.

The front kick has several variations, which include:

• Front Foot Front Kick
• Pushing Front Kick
• Jumping Front Kick
• Repeating Front Kick
• Skipping Front Kick
• Jump Two-Foot Front Kick

The Side Kick (Yeop Chagi)

The side kick or yeop chagi is another kick that Taekwondo students have to learn early. To do the side kick, the student must raise his knee, then rotate his body by 90 degrees. He or she must then extend his leg while exerting force at the same time.

Side kicks are difficult to defend and are meant to hit the opponent in the torso. However, it can also be used to hit the opponent’s lower body parts, such as the knees. When done properly, the side kick is quite a powerful kick. It is also versatile, as it can be used as an offensive or defensive move.

The part of the foot that hits the opponent is called the impact point. There are two possible impact points in a side kick: the foot blade or the foot’s outside edge (balnal) and the bottom of the heel (dwichuk).

The foot blade is usually used for demonstrations because of its complexity. The bottom heel is used to hit hard targets and during sparring. The student must pull his toes slightly backwards when making a side kick. This is to avoid hitting the target with the sole.

There are several variations to the side kick. These include:

• Jumping Side Kick 
• Front Foot Side Kick
• Skipping Side Kick
• Repeating Side Kick
• Pushing Side Kick
• Holding Side Kick

The Roundhouse Kick (Dollyeo Chagi)

This is probably the most popular Taekwondo kick because of its predominance in action and martial arts movies. Fans definitely loved it when Chuck Norris or Bruce Lee delivered this powerhouse move. 

Practitioners deliver a roundhouse kick by raising the knee of the kicking leg, then pivoting on the other leg by turning the hips. The kicking leg is then extended during the turn, hitting the target.

The roundhouse kick usually targets the abdomen or chest of the opponent. The impact point can be the ball or instep of the foot. The practitioner should be careful when hitting with the ball of his foot. Like with the front kick, he must pull his toes back to avoid injury. 

Some of the variations of the roundhouse kick are:

• Jumping Turn Kick
• Skipping Roundhouse Kick
• Repeating Turn Kick
• Front Foot Roundhouse Kick

The Axe Kick (Naeryeo Chagi)

The axe kick is popular in competitive Taekwondo. The name got itself from its form, which resembles that of a man swinging an axe. The axe kick is performed by first raising the leg up towards the target. Once the leg is up high, the practitioner brings it down while exerting force. While doing so, he should keep the heel pointing downwards.

The axe kick, also known as the hammer kick or stretch kick, can target the opponent’s head, collarbone, and shoulders. In addition, it can be used as a knockout blow in competitions. 

The axe kick is usually used in sparring, self-defence, breaking, promotion test, stretching, and demonstrations. It is a kick that a Taekwondo practitioner should master. It improves one’s flexibility, range of motion, and muscle control.

The axe kick has two variations:

• Front Foot Axe Kick
• Skipping Axe Kick

Taekwondo Kicks for Intermediate Level

These are the kicks that are introduced in higher belt colours.

The Back Kick (Dwi Chagi)

The back kick, also known as donkey kick or turning back kick, is an intermediate level kick, learned by practitioners who have sufficient kicking skills and experience. The kick is set up away from the target by first turning the body away. The practitioner then thrusts his back leg straight toward the opponent while watching over his shoulder. The heel of the foot should hit the target.

If not done properly, the practitioner can lose his balance and may even fall over.

The Hook Kick (Huryeo Chagi)

While not popular as a traditional kick, the hook kick gained prominence in modern Taekwondo competitions. This is another kick that every Taekwondo practitioner should master. It has a similar form as the roundhouse kick and the side kick.

The kick is done by fully extending the kicking leg, bending the knee, and snapping the kicking leg’s foot sideways. Then, the heel of the kicking foot should hit the target. The target of the hook kick is usually the opponent’s jaw or temple if aiming for a knockout.

The Reverse Side Kick (Bandae Yeop Chagi)

The reverse side kick is a version of the back kick. It has more momentum and more power but requires more practice and a really good balance.

In doing this kick, the practitioner turns his body away from his opponent. The foot blade hits the target, with the foot pointing sideways. As with the back kick, the practitioner should look over his shoulder when performing the kick. This will allow him to maintain his balance and hit his target. 

Enrol Your Child at Team Carlo!

As the Taekwondo practitioner’s belt colour moves up, they will learn more complicated and advanced chagi. At Team Carlo, we start training eager children as young as four years old. But of course, adults are welcome to learn too! Call us today at 1800-832-622 for enquiries.