Taekwondo Techniques
Taekwondo Techniques: Kicks, Stances and Blocks
Get your taekwondo technique checked: upload a clip and mmaGPT marks each mistake with a timestamp and a drill. First review free.
Taekwondo is kicking first, and almost every kick depends on the chamber and the pivot of the support foot. Each entry below gives the Korean name, what it is, one cue and the mistake that shows up most in footage.
Use it as a checklist when you film your forms or sparring. Your instructor teaches the technique. This list tells you which frame to pause on.
Kicks
Ap chagi (front kick)
Snapping kick straight forward with the ball of the foot.
Cue: Chamber the knee high, snap and re-chamber.
Common mistake: Pushing the kick out with no snap back.
Dollyo chagi (roundhouse kick)
Turning kick with the instep or ball of the foot.
Cue: Pivot the support heel toward the target.
Common mistake: Flat support foot so the hip never turns over.
Yeop chagi (side kick)
Kick driven out sideways with the heel or blade of the foot.
Cue: Heel, hip and shoulder in one line.
Common mistake: Toes pointing up so it becomes a front kick.
Dwi chagi (back kick)
Spinning kick driven straight back with the heel.
Cue: Look over the shoulder before the kick leaves.
Common mistake: Spinning all the way round so it swings wide.
Naeryeo chagi (axe kick)
Leg raised high and dropped down with the heel.
Cue: Lift straight up close to the body.
Common mistake: Swinging it wide so it is easy to see.
Huryeo chagi (hook kick)
Kick that hooks back with the heel.
Cue: Extend past the target, then hook.
Common mistake: Hooking before the leg is extended.
Bandal chagi (crescent roundhouse)
Fast half-turning kick used in sparring.
Cue: Short chamber and quick snap.
Common mistake: Dropping the hands as you kick.
Cut kick
Lead-leg push that stops an opponent coming in.
Cue: Lift the knee early and push through the hips.
Common mistake: Throwing it late after they are already in.
Stances
Ap seogi (walking stance)
Short natural stance like a step forward.
Cue: Feet one step apart, weight even.
Common mistake: Stance too long so it turns into a front stance.
Ap kubi (front stance)
Long stance with the front knee bent.
Cue: Front knee over the ankle, back leg straight.
Common mistake: Front knee past the toes.
Dwit kubi (back stance)
Stance with most weight on the back leg.
Cue: About seventy percent of weight on the back leg.
Common mistake: Weight drifting forward to even.
Juchum seogi (horse stance)
Wide stance with both knees bent.
Cue: Knees pushed out over the toes, back straight.
Common mistake: Knees caving in.
Blocks, strikes and footwork
Arae makgi (low block)
Block sweeping down to cover the lower body.
Cue: Start from the opposite shoulder.
Common mistake: Short block that stops in front of the stomach.
Momtong makgi (middle block)
Block covering the torso.
Cue: Forearm turns as it lands.
Common mistake: Elbow too far from the body.
Eolgul makgi (high block)
Rising block above the head.
Cue: Forearm a fist above the forehead, angled.
Common mistake: Block too low so it covers nothing.
Jireugi (punch)
Straight punch from the hip.
Cue: Twist the fist as it lands and pull the other hand back.
Common mistake: Punching with the shoulder raised.
Sparring footwork
Bouncing steps, switches and slides to manage distance.
Cue: Stay light and keep the lead leg ready to lift.
Common mistake: Flat feet so every kick is slow to start.
FAQ
Taekwondo technique questions.
- A beginner should learn ap chagi, dollyo chagi and yeop chagi first. The front, round and side kick teach the chamber and the pivot every other kick is built on.
- The roundhouse kick and its fast variation, bandal chagi, are the most used kicks in taekwondo sparring. The cut kick is the most common way to stop an opponent coming in.
- mmaGPT can: film your kicks, forms or sparring and it returns timestamped notes on what went wrong plus a drill, in about 30 to 45 seconds. It supplements your instructor, it does not replace one.
Get one clip checked.
Film a 20 to 60 second clip on your phone with your whole body in frame, upload it in the browser, and in about 30 to 45 seconds mmaGPT returns timestamped notes on what went wrong plus a drill to fix it. It is a second set of eyes between classes, not a replacement for your coach. First session free, no card needed.