Chapter 26: New Techniques

Development of these kicks meant that new sparring strategies had to be devised. Blocking these kicks is ineffective and retreating serves no purpose except allow the attacker another opportunity to attack. The only effective defense was to evade in a way that permits an immediate counterattack. This led to the development of lateral movements with a kicking component. In response to the axe kick, an extremely close-in kicking technique, using a punch as a counterattack as traditional Taekwondo used was not effective and even dangerous. Because of the axe kick, longer kicking distances started being used. Fancy footwork, which positioned the defender for executing a counter kick, became a hallmark of Taekwondo sparring. The development of a whole class of "receiving" kicks ensued.

The development of the more powerful roundhouse kick and axe kick caused an explosion of new movement strategies. Punching and blocking almost disappeared from the repertoire of effective techniques in continuous Olympic style sparring. Fast, dynamic footwork and body movement, as foundations for powerful kicking, replaced traditional techniques. Using an attacker's movements to generate powerful counters, rather than intercepting the attack directly, as tradition Taekwondo does, places sport Taekwondo perhaps more philosophically with Judo and Aikido in terms of utilizing body movement, than it does with traditional Taekwondo. Perhaps the most revolutionary development of sport Taekwondo is the development of stances and footwork.