Kicks

Snap and piercing kicks, jumping kicks and the parts of the foot they use.

Kicks · Chagi (차기)

Taekwon-Do is known for its kicks. ITF separates snap kicks, which whip out and back, from piercing and thrusting kicks, which drive through the target.

KickKorean한글NotesFirst in pattern
Front snap kickAp Cha Busigi앞차 부시기Ball of the foot whips up to the target; a fast, fundamental kick.Do-San 1411 patterns
Side piercing kickYop Cha Jirugi옆차 지르기The footsword drives through the target sideways — a powerful core ITF kick.Won-Hyo 819 patterns
Turning kickDollyo Chagi돌려 차기Arc kick with the ball of the foot or instep; the “roundhouse”.Hwa-Rang 188 patterns
Back piercing kickDwit Cha Jirugi뒤차 지르기Driven straight backwards with the heel; great power against a rear attacker.Choong-Moo 155 patterns
Reverse turning kickBandae Dollyo Chagi반대 돌려 차기Spinning hook kick striking with the heel.Eui-Am 93 patterns
Downward kickNaeryo Chagi내려 차기“Axe” kick brought down onto the target from above.Tong-Il 161 pattern
Twisting kickBituro Chagi비틀어 차기Travels outward in a twisting path; useful at unexpected angles.Ge-Baek 25 patterns
Crescent / hooking kickBandal / Goro Chagi반달 / 걸어 차기Half-moon path used to strike or to hook and unbalance.Yoo-Sin 552 patterns
Flying kicksTwimyo Chagi뛰며 차기Jumping versions of the kicks above, often seen in demonstrations and gradings.Choong-Moo 95 patterns
Different kicks use different parts of the leg: the ball of the foot (Ap Kumchi), the footsword (Balkal), the heel (Dwitchook), the instep (Baldung) and the knee (Mooroop).

More kicks

TechniqueKorean한글NotesFirst in pattern
Side front snap kickYobap Cha Busigi옆앞차 부시기A snap kick to the front, delivered while the body faces sideways.Joong-Gun 25 patterns
Back snap kickDwit Cha Busigi뒤차 부시기The heel snaps backward and up to a target behind.Not in the 24 patterns
Side pushing kickYop Cha Milgi옆차 밀기The footsword pushes the opponent away rather than piercing.Moon-Moo 311 pattern
Knee upward kickMoorup Ollyo Chagi무릎 올려 차기The knee drives upward, often while pulling the opponent down.Toi-Gye 212 patterns
Pressing kickNoollo Chagi눌러 차기The foot presses down on the opponent’s knee or shin.Kwang-Gae 132 patterns
Reverse hooking kickBandae Dollyo Goro Chagi반대 돌려 걸어 차기A reverse turning kick whose heel hooks back through the target.Juche 54 patterns
Stamping kickCha Bapgi차 밟기Stamps downward, for example onto an opponent’s instep.Not in the 24 patterns
Consecutive kickYonsok Chagi연속 차기Two or more kicks delivered in succession without pause.Not in the 24 patterns
Two-direction kickSangbang Chagi쌍방 차기Kicks two targets in different directions at once, usually while jumping.Juche 371 pattern
Mid-air kickTwio Dolmyo Chagi뛰어 돌며 차기A kick delivered while jumping and turning in the air.Yon-Gae 443 patterns
Flying side piercing kickTwimyo Yop Cha Jirugi뛰며 옆차 지르기A side piercing kick delivered at the top of a jump.Choong-Moo 92 patterns
Pick-shape kickGokgaeng-i Chagi곡괭이 차기The knee bends so the heel drops onto the target like a pickaxe.Not in the 24 patterns
Front rising kickAp Cha Olligi앞차 올리기A straight-leg swing up to the front, used to stretch and loosen the leg.Not in the 24 patterns
Side thrusting kickYop Cha Tulgi옆차 뚫기A thrusting side kick, as in Moon-Moo; distinct from the piercing kick.Moon-Moo 501 pattern
Side checking kickYop Cha Momchugi옆차 멈추기The side of the foot checks (stops) an opponent’s kick or advance.Moon-Moo 501 pattern
Vertical kickSewo Chagi세워 차기The foot is held upright and swings inward or outward across the target, as in Tong-Il.Tong-Il 81 pattern

Foot tools

ToolKorean한글
Back soleDwit Kumchi뒤꿈치
Reverse footswordBalkal Dung발칼등
ToesBalkut발끝
Side instepYop Baldung옆발등
Side soleYop Bal Badak옆발바닥
SoleBal Badak발바닥