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Hip Snap/Winding/Sine Wave

Just as with the sine wave (examined below), winding requires some movement other than those related to the actual attack. Only an inexperienced fighter will cock a punch before throwing it. Although it may add power to the punch, it also adds time and it telegraphs intention to punch. Any motion that is not directly related to the actual attack wastes time and informs opponent of your intentions.

Sometimes, people accept some core belief and then search for justifications for the belief. In this search, they accept anything that sounds good and supports the theory, while rejecting anything that refutes the theory, even if it also sounds good. When evaluating any theory, not just Taekwondo theories, do not except unsupported rationalizations. You do not need a PhD or a 10th degree black belt, just use common sense and rational reasoning.

Hip Snap versus Sine Wave

Most martial arts, including most Korean martial arts, including most versions of Taekwondo, use hip snap. However, International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) based practitioners also use what they call sine wave. In the sine wave, the body rises as a technique is in transition and drops at impact of the technique in an action called "knee spring." Though differing in motion, the two methods have the same goal, to add power to the technique. When performing fore fist punches from a sitting stance, hip snappers use quick hip twists to add power by snapping body mass into the punch. The rotation is around the center of mass but the center of mass does not move. Sine wavers raise the center of mass and add power by dropping the body mass into the punch. Snappers vibrate, wavers bob up and down. Some Taekwondo practitioners combine the two motions. They raise and cock the hip and then drop and snap it.

General Choi theorized that the sine wave movement was an effective technique. He taught his instructors that it was an effective technique and they in turn taught their students that is was an effective technique. Over the years, all these people, in an attempt to justify the use of the technique, have rationalized its use in Taekwondo in spite of their being the only martial arts stylists to use it.