• Side Thrust Kick. The side thrust kick is the "trademark" kick of Taekwondo. If you are a Taekwondo stylist, you must be able to perform a perform a beautiful, powerful side thrust kick if you ever want to become a black belt.

  • Partner holds a hand target downward with a target surface perpendicular to floor.
  • Stand in a front stance with arms held in the basic guard, facing and centered on the target.
  • Chamber trailing leg by lifting knee high and across in front of body and backward toward the other side of the body. Think of it as pulling the knee toward the opposite shoulder, although this is not the goal. For most students, the knee will only reach a little over waist high. When chambered, the knee will be pulled back and the knee, shin, and foot of the leg will be parallel to the floor with the foot pointed at the target. When the knee is pulled back tightly, it prevents the kick from being jammed by an opponent who rushes in.
  • The kicking foot rotates inward and angles backward so the outer corner of its heel is pointing at the target.
  • As you chamber the kicking foot, the foot on the floor pivots forward on the ball until the heel points toward the target.
  • Thrust the outer corner of the kicking heel straight at the target using the thigh muscles. Just as the heel makes contact with the target, the hip of the kicking leg "snap-rolls" over the leg. This rolling action snaps the mass of the body behind the kick as the thigh is thrusting the kick into the target.
  • Quickly pull the kicking knee back to its chambered position. This allows you maintain your balance, step down anywhere you choose, and kick again if necessary.
  • In a side thrust kick, think chamber high and tight, thrust knee at target, and pull knee back into the chamber again. Do not pull the foot back, pull the knee back, the foot will follow. If you try to pull the foot back, the foot will be pulled backward toward the butt, which will allow the opponent to jab any subsequent attempt to kick again.

• Side Snap Kick. The side snap kick is a Karate style kick but it has its advantages and disadvantages. It is quicker than the side thrust kick, but it is not nearly as powerful and it is easy to jam.

  • Partner holds a hand target downward with a target surface perpendicular to the floor.
  • Stand in a front stance with arms held in the basic guard, facing and centered on the target.
  • Chamber trailing leg by lifting knee high in front of body and close against body. Shin is held vertical, outer edge of foot is angled downward with sole facing toward the body. A problem with this type of chamber is that, if the opponent rushes in, the kick will be jammed and you unable to execute the kick.
  • As you chamber the kicking foot, the foot on the floor pivots 90 degrees forward on the ball until the heel points toward the side.
  • Snap the outer knife edge of the foot at the target using the knee.
  • Quickly pull the kicking foot back to its chambered position and back to the floor,
  • Perform the entire kicking motion from the floor, to the chamber, to the target, back to the chamber, and back to the floor again in one smooth, continuous motion.
  • Quickly pull the kicking foot back to its chambered position. This allows you maintain your balance, step down anywhere you choose, and kick again if necessary.
  • Perform the entire kicking motion from the floor, to the chamber, to the target, back to the chamber, and back to the floor again in one smooth, continuous motion.

• Front Kick/Side Kick Combination. The front kick/side kick combination is used in the number 5 white belt one-step sparring sequence.

  • Chamber and execute a front thrust kick, re-chamber into the side thrust kick chamber position, execute a side thrust kick, re-chamber to the side thrust kick chamber position, and step forward into a back stance.
  • Perform the all the motions of both kicks in one smooth, continuous motion.

• Belt Stripes

  As a gauge of their progress, white belts must earn 4 individual black stripes on their belt to become eligible for testing for the next rank. The stripes are as follows:

  • Stripe 1: White belts must perform 5 stances.
  • Stripe 2: White belts must perform 3 kicks.
  • Stripe 3: White belts must perform the Ki-bon pattern.
  • Stripe 4: White belts must perform 5 one-step sparring combinations.