Question 044: Different kicks

xWhat is a Reverse Turning Kick? What is a Reverse Roundhouse kick? What is Reverse Round kick? What is a Wheel kick? What is the difference between a Hook Kick and a Heel Kick?x

Reply

Some organizations, schools, or instructors use Korean terminology, some use their home language, and some use a mixture of both. As explained in TKDTutor, using Korean terminology is a way to let Taekwondo practitioners of any language easily communicate amongst themselves. However, this is also sometimes confusing because there is not complete uniformity in the meaning of the Korean terminology used.

Just as there is not uniformity in the Korean terminology used, there is also not uniformity in the home language terminology. For example, in English, a round kick, a roundhouse kick, and a turning kick are all the same kick.

In a reverse round kick, the torso turns backward as the rear leg chambers high as if setting up for a spin side or spin hook kick and then, after a 180 degree rotation, the leg (which is now the front leg) fires a roundhouse kick. However, a reverse turning kick is not always considered a reverse roundhouse kick; to some, a reverse turning kick is what my organization calls a spin hook kick.

 

The wheel kick is what my organization calls a heel kick.

In a heel kick, the kicking knee is straight as the leg pulls the heel through the target, and the knee stays straight until ready to place the foot back on the floor. The heel and knee do not stop horizontal movement until ready to drop the foot to the floor.

In a hook kick, the kicking knee and lower leg snap the heel through the target. The knee stops its horizontal movement as it pass the line between your hip and the target and bends backward so the heel arcs around and appears to be kicking you in the butt.

The heel kick is slower, easier to block, and more difficult to control once it is in motion, but it hits harder since the knee is straight, which transfer all force to the heel. The hook kick is quicker, more difficult to block, and easier to control once it is in motion, but it hits with less force since the bent knee prevents the transfer of all force to the heel.