While it is fair to say that Korean taekwondo is renowned for it’s powerful and spectacular taekwondo kicks, it must not be forgotten that the martial art involves many other equally important taekwondo techniques. These various taekwondo techniques have been developed to utilize various parts of the body for both attacking and defensive purposes.

Common Taekwondo Techniques

• Taekwondo Kicks – Taekwondo is particularly known for it’s kicking as opposed to many other martial arts. The basic premise is that the leg involves the longest and more powerful muscles in the body. In short, the reach of a leg is superior to an arm, and the impact power that can be produced by a taekwondo kick can be astonishing. Some of these taekwondo kicks include side kick, front kick, back kick, push kick, jumping back kick, spinning kick, hook kick, turning or roundhouse kick, and axe kick amongst others.
• Taekwondo Punches and Striking Techniques – Taekwondo has also developed an impressive arsenal of close combat striking techniques including punching, knife hand, ridge hand, back-fist, elbow strike, palm heel strike, and spear-hand strike.
• Taekwondo Stances – All taekwondo techniques whether kicking, striking, blocking, or moving and evading have at their base a correct and proper foundation called a stance. Some taekwondo stances are for strengthening and practice purposes such as horse riding stance, some for providing a foundation and structure for taekwondo patterns, while other stances have been developed to launch offensive or countering attacks from, or for evasion and blocking techniques.
• Taekwondo Blocking Techniques – Blocking techniques have been developed to utilize the power of the hips, the positioning of the body, and the hard parts of the arm to ward off or defend yourself against attacking techniques. While in practice, the movements of the blocking techniques are carried out deliberately and precisely, in the more “real” and dynamic situation of fighting these blocking techniques can be adapted to be performed quickly and instinctively. Some common blocking techniques include low section block, high section block, middle section block, palm heel block, and double knife hand block.

Traditional taekwondo techniques have been developed over the decades, even centuries, to provide the foundation to our modern-day taekwondo training. It is also true that many of these taekwondo techniques have evolved and been adapted to encompass the more modern phenomenon of competition taekwondo.

Every form of martial arts has certain techniques (or perhaps a certain style of techniques, to be more accurate) that set it apart from the other branches of the martial arts. For example most of us will readily recognize the fluid animal movements associated with Kung Fu. In the case of Taekwondo, it is the dynamic kicking that sets it apart. Taekwondo kicks are widely renowned for their power, the dynamic execution of the kicking technique, and the sheer spectacular quality of the more advanced taekwondo kicks and kicking combinations.

Taekwondo places particular emphasis on kicking technique, and when you think about it there is a very solid logic behind this. The leg is obviously not only the strongest, but also the longest offensive weapon that a martial artist has at his or her disposal. The potential for power and reach is greatest when using our legs to kick with, and also affords some level of safe distance from an opponent when they retaliate. It is also thought that in terms of the historical development of Taekwondo, the Koreans thought their hands were too valuable to be used in a combat situation.

As Taekwondo developed and evolved, the importance of taekwondo kicks remained fundamental to the art, right through to the modern age of Taekwondo. Now, not only do the basic kicks play a vital role in taekwondo training, but they have further evolved in their speed, power, and reach to be able to strategically increase a competitors chance of scoring points in a sport taekwondo environment, as is seen in Olympic and WTF competition.

Taekwondo kicks have at their core a fundamental technique that has been practiced by Taekwondo practitioners as long as the art has existed. A beginner will learn these fundamentals and as they advance with their training they will learn more advanced techniques and taekwondo kicks. Practicing and perfecting the basic kicking techniques will be the foundation to their future taekwondo training and endeavors.

The Striking Weapon of the Foot When Performing Taekwondo Kicks

There are various parts of the foot that will be used to make contact with the opponent or target.

These areas can be considered the weapon at the point of contact and will depend on the type of taekwondo kick or kicking combination being performed. These “weapon” areas of the foot include the heel, the instep, the ball of the foot, the edge or blade of the foot, and the sole.

Basic Taekwondo Kicks

• Taekwondo Side Kick
• Roundhouse or Turning Kick
• Back Kick
• Axe Kick
• Instep Kick
• Front Kick
• Spinning Kick or Spinning Heel Kick
• Push Kick

Advanced Taekwondo Kicks and Jumping Kicks

• Hook Kick
• Reverse Turning Kick
• Reverse Instep
• Spinning Hook Kick
• Jump Reverse Turning Kick
• Jumping Back Kick
• Step Up Back Kick
• Tornado Kick
• Jumping Spinning Kick
• Jumping Front Kick
• Flying Side Kick

In a dynamic taekwondo sparring or competition environment, taekwondo kicks will be performed in a variety of combinations, and might include false kicks, feinting, half kicks, kicks off the front leg, sliding kicks, a flurry of kicks, and offensive and counter attacks. In such a dynamic environment, taekwondo kicks can be used to confuse, overwhelm, knockout, weaken, point score, or to strategically “set up” your opponent.

Becoming Better at Taekwondo Kicking

• Learn and perfect the basics of taewondo kicking.
• Understand that the power of a taekwondo kick is generated through the hips and the speed of the rotation of the hips, and the reach through the extension of the hips.
• Remember that the fundamental technique will be the cornerstone to more advanced taekwondo kicks and combination kicking.

There are many taekwondo associations, and international, national and local taekwondo federation bodies throughout the world. Among other things these associations can mandate such things as taekwondo competition rules, grading requirements, taekwondo training syllabus and technical requirements, and issue official taekwondo black belt certification.

Some of these national and local taekwondo association can be huge in terms of membership, participation and influence, but most of these associations operate under the umbrella and membership of a few major international taekwondo federations and governing bodies.

The Main Taekwondo Federation Organizations

• World Taekwondo Federation (WTF)
• International Taekwondo Federation (ITF)
• Kukkiwon

If you are participating in taekwondo training through a recognized taekwondo school or academy, then you more than likely will have some affiliation with at least one of these taekwondo associations. If you are competing in taekwondo competition than you will be competing in either World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) sanctioned events, or International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) sanctioned events. Each taekwondo federation has a different set of competition rules, with perhaps WTF taekwondo being better known considering the Olympics Taekwondo Program operates under these rules. Or if you have graded to your black belt, then your official certification would be sanctioned and recorded at the Kukkiwon headquarters.

Of course there are many other major as well as smaller taekwondo governing bodies throughout the world of taekwondo. While it’s true that most with have an association with the main international taekwondo bodies, some smaller schools may be completely independent and hold no official status with the above taekwondo federation organizations.

Other Major Taekwondo Organizations

• American Taekwondo Association (ATA)
• American Taekwondo Federation (ATF)
• Taekwondo Association of Great Britain (TAGB)
• Rhee Taekwondo
• International TaeKwon-Do Association (ITA)

The taekwondo competition side of tkd training opened up a whole new world to me. If you are at all attracted to this side of taekwondo training I urge you to give it a go.

Like many modern day martial arts, traditional taekwondo has a long history, in fact as an organized and developed training form, it dates back some 2000 years. It also has a more modern incarnation which has evolved during the last century right up until today, where the sport of taekwondo has developed to the point of being an Olympic sanctioned sport with a major international following and participation.

Aspects of traditional taekwondo

All taekwondo training will have aspects of traditional taekwondo in it, whether it be in the purely traditional taekwondo class where the student will be taught traditional patterns, various taekwondo striking and blocking techniques, sparring skills, self-defense techniques, Korean taekwondo terminology, right through to the spirit and attitude that one strives for when participating in taekwondo training. These same traditions, skills, and etiquette can even be seen in the highly developed and evolved modern sport taekwondo.

When learning traditional taekwondo it is important to discuss, acknowledge, learn, and participate in all these traditional aspects of taekwondo. It’s what makes up the fundamental “meat and bones” of what taekwondo is.

For the taekwondo exponent who chooses to enter the realm of competition taekwondo, these same traditional taekwondo skills and philosophies will serve as an important foundation. In a sport environment these traditional taekwondo skills have evolved in a way which is very specific to the rules of competition taekwondo. Techniques have been adapted and refined to more effectively point score on specific body targets.

For many taekwondo students their goals and ambitions relate to learning traditional taekwondo, advancing through the ranks, and fulfilling their potential as a taekwondo exponent. For others their ambitions lie in reaching their potential as a competition taekwondo player. Learning and developing all aspects of traditional taekwondo is vital in both instances.

When you visit a taekwondo dojo or participate in a taekwondo class for the first time you will notice that the students will be wearing a variety of different colored taekwondo belts. The color of these taekwondo belts signify each students level of training and proficiency. For example a white belt student would be at the beginning level of learning the art and technique of taekwodo, while a black belt student would be at an advanced level of training and proficiency.

As a student passes their grading level, they will be awarded the next taekwondo belt level. This signifies that the student has reached the standards required for their current taekwondo belt color, and that they have learned and proven the abilities required for that belt level. They then begin the next stage of their training to learn, achieve, and demonstrate the requirements of the next taekwondo belt level.

The taekwondo belts system requires that each student is required to demonstrate the standards and requirements of their current taekwondo belt before they are allowed to progress to the next belt level. So it goes that they progress from one belt level, to the next, and so on until they reach the level of black belt.

The Color Sequence of Taekwondo Belts

Different Taekwondo associations and schools will often have a different system of colors for their taekwondo belts. However the principle of achieving the requirements of a belt level before progressing to the next level remains consistent throughout all taekwondo organizations. Also consistent is that there are 10 gup (or kup) ranks to the taekwondo belt system, so whatever belt color system a taekwondo school adopts, these 10 ranks can be directly referenced across all schools and associations.

The progression of taekwondo belts would typically follow this color sequence:

• White belt (10th gup)
• White belt with a yellow tag or tip (9th gup)
• Yellow belt (8th gup)
• Yellow belt with a green tag (7th gup)
• Green belt (6th gup)
• Green belt with a blue tag (5th gup)
• Blue belt (4th gup)
• Blue belt with a red tag (3rd gup)
• Red belt (2nd gup)
• Red belt with a black tag (1st gup)
• Black belt (1st dan)

When considering the various levels of taekwondo belts it is useful to have an understanding of the philosophy that each gup represents.

White belt or 10th gup represents a beginning. It signifies innocence or purity, and indicates a lack of knowledge for the mind to have true control over the body.

Yellow belt (7th and 8th gup) represents a seed taking root in the earth and beginning to react to the sun. This can be seen as the laying of the foundation of taekwondo.

Green belt (6th and 5th gup) represents the beginning growth of the seed as taekwondo knowledge and skills begin to develop.

Blue belt (4th and 3rd gup) represents the growth and maturing of the young plant and how it continues its skyward growth toward the heavens. This correlates to the student starting to solidifying skills and knowledge as taekwondo training progresses.

Red belt (2nd and 1st gup) represents danger. This element of danger is illustrated by the student’s proficient taekwondo knowledge and technical skills, but where there is still a lack of control and discipline to properly harness the knowledge and skills.

Black belt (1st dan) represents the opposite of white. It is the level of training where all of the previous taekwondo belt colors or gup levels merge into one color. A black belt signifies proficiency and maturity in taekwondo knowledge and skill.

The levels of black belt beyond first dan are measured by dan or degree. These range from 1st dan and continue through to exalted status of 9th dan. We will continue the discussion about black belt ranks elsewhere.

The key point when discussing taekwondo belts is that while the belt colors might vary throughout the various schools, associations, and organizations, the 10 gup levels will remain consistent and offer a reference point throughout the industry.

For those beginning their journey of taekwondo training, it’s always good to have some kind of knowledge about what to expect, and also to get an idea about the scope of what your taekwondo training will encompass. Basically, if you’re in it for the long haul, there’s a WHOLE LOTTA stuff to learn, practice and master throughout your taekwondo career. In fact with the right attitude you will never stop learning. Truly perfecting a technique, or a pattern, or even improving your mind-set, can be a life-long pursuit, no matter what level of experience you have, or what rank you are.

Taekwondo training will teach you:

• Effective taekwondo kicking and punching technique.
• Blocking and the various taekwondo stances.
• Taekwondo patterns set for the various belt levels.
• Taekwondo sparring and it’s variations such as 3-step, 1-step, non-contact, semi-contact etc.
• Self-defense skills.
• Proper and effective stretching technique.
• Korean taekwondo terminology and the philosophy behind taekwondo.

Taekwondo training will also develop:

• A spirit of community, respect for others and yourself.
• A heightened level of confidence and competitive spirit.
• Fitness, strength, flexibility and improved cardiovascular health.
• Dedication, self-discipline and self-belief.
• A stronger social network and sense of belonging.

The nature of training in any martial arts is that often it will be repetitive and many students find this aspect to be challenging. Repetition is an important and effective way to learn taekwondo technique, patterns, and movement. Embrace it with this in mind.

Remember also, taekwondo training will develop and advance your skills, at a level and pace that is suitable to your age, your level of natural ability, and the time you have available for training and practice. Your progression should be at a level that is comfortably challenging, but short of being overwhelming.

• it gives you the opportunity to practice your taekwondo techniques against an opponent in a dynamic, free-flowing environment.
• for the more experienced exponent, taekwondo sparring also allows you to hone and refine your fighting strategy.

There are many variations of taekwondo sparring such as non-contact, semi-contact, and full-contact sparring. These different degrees of contact allow for different experience levels, and importantly also allows for the training taekwondo exponent to choose the level of contact that they are comfortable with. In all, the principles are the same and will in some way relate to most belt levels – That is, practicing general punching and kicking techniques, practicing competition specific fighting techniques, and working on basic and advanced taekwondo sparring strategy.

More specifically, this taekwondo sparring strategy might include:

• distancing and footwork
• movement and “ring craft”
• counter attacking movement and technique
• combination techniques, both forward moving and backward moving
• controlling the fighting space and your opponent
• learning to “read” or anticipate an opponents movement, defense, and attack

Other benefits to taekwondo sparring

• improves your reaction and reflexes.
• gives you a degree of confidence when “facing off” against an opponent – in fact many people inexperienced in a martial arts environment report a breakdown of fear patterns.
• quickly identifies strengths and weakness you may have in relation to your taekwondo sparring – for example does being taller/shorter/heavier/lighter/faster/older/stronger/more flexible/younger/slower…have any advantage/disadvantage to your sparring strategy, and how you use, or allow for these things.
• improves your fitness and cardiovascular ability.

Styles of Taekwondo Sparring

All taekwondo sparring is performed with safety and level of experience and training in mind, either by restricting the level of contact (non-contact or controlled, light contact), by adhering to very specific competition rules, and by using related taekwondo safety equipment.

Some taekwondo sparring is performed in a general taekwondo class environment, with all belt levels participating, as a part of their basic taekwondo training. Other taekwondo sparring might be performed in a sport specific class, where the participants are training in sport taekwondo or Olympic taekwondo sparring. Usually these classes are for the more advanced taekwondo exponents.

Taekwondo sparring can be a fun, exciting, and challenging way to put into practice what you have learned. If you are apprehensive about this part of your taekwondo training, trust your taekwondo instructor to not put you in a situation that you are not ready for…relax, learn, and use the sparring opportunity to become a better martial artist. The benefits are truly great.