Taekwondo kicks: names and how to do them.

Taekwondo is known for its kicks. Most are built on the same three parts: chamber the knee, extend the leg to the target, and retract it to land balanced. The names below use common Korean romanisations, which vary a little between schools and federations.

1. Front kick (Ap chagi). Lift the knee straight up, then snap the foot forward and strike with the ball of the foot. Pull it back along the same line.
2. Roundhouse kick (Dollyo chagi). Pivot on the standing foot as the knee turns across, then snap the kick sideways into the target with the instep or ball of the foot. The most used kick in sparring.
3. Side kick (Yeop chagi). Chamber the knee across your body, turn the hip over and drive the heel out in a straight line, with the standing foot turned away from the target.
4. Back kick (Dwit chagi). Turn your back to the target, look over the shoulder, then drive the heel straight back. A strong counter when an opponent rushes in.
5. Axe kick (Naeryeo chagi). Swing the leg up high, straight or slightly bent, then bring the heel down onto the target. Flexibility and timing matter more than force.
6. Hook kick (Huryeo chagi). Extend the leg past the target as in a side kick, then bend the knee to whip the heel or sole back across it.
7. Push kick (Mireo chagi). Drive the sole of the foot into the opponent to push them away and make space, rather than to strike.
8. Inside crescent kick (An chagi). Swing a straight leg in an arc from outside to inside, striking with the inner edge of the foot.
9. Outside crescent kick (Bakkat chagi). Swing a straight leg in an arc from inside to outside, striking with the outer edge of the foot.
10. Spinning hook kick (Dwit huryeo chagi). Spin backwards, spot the target over your shoulder and hook the heel through it. A high-scoring head kick.
11. Tornado kick (Dolgae chagi). A spinning roundhouse: turn a full circle, then throw the roundhouse with the rear leg as you come back to face the target.
12. Double roundhouse kick (Dubal dangsang chagi). Two roundhouse kicks in quick succession, one from each leg, switching in the air. A fast-scoring combination in sparring.

• Slow kicks: throw each kick slowly and hold it at full extension for two seconds to build balance and control.
• Chamber drills: practise only the knee lift and retraction, ten per leg, until the chamber is the same every time.
• Pad rounds: two-minute rounds on a target pad, alternating legs, using a round timer.
• Combinations: link a cut kick into a roundhouse, or a roundhouse into a back kick, so kicks flow together.

For stances, blocks and forms, see the taekwondo technique guide and the poomsae guide.

A kick happens too fast to see yourself. Prop your phone up side-on, film a round of kicks and upload it to mmaGPT. The AI coach shows you the one fix that matters most, the moment it happens and a drill to train it, plus what you did well. See the taekwondo app →

What are the basic taekwondo kicks?

Most schools start with the front kick (ap chagi), roundhouse kick (dollyo chagi), side kick (yeop chagi), back kick (dwit chagi) and axe kick (naeryeo chagi). Hook, crescent and spinning kicks are usually added as belts progress.

What is the most used kick in taekwondo sparring?

The roundhouse kick (dollyo chagi). It is fast, can be thrown from either leg and scores to the body and head, so it appears in nearly every Olympic-style sparring exchange.

How do I make my taekwondo kicks higher?

Height comes from hip flexibility, a high knee chamber and turning the standing foot. Stretch daily, practise slow kicks held at the top for control, and lift the knee before extending the leg.

How do I make my kicks faster?

Keep the chamber tight, relax until the moment of impact and snap the kick back quickly. Many fast kicks lose speed in the retraction, so practise returning the foot as fast as it went out.

Can AI check my taekwondo kicks?

Yes. Film a round of kicks on your phone and upload it to mmaGPT. The AI coach shows the most important fix, the moment it happens and a drill to train it.