Evolution of Taekwondo kicks

Sport Taekwondo kicks

Change is inevitable!.The globalization of Taekwondo, modern training techniques, the prevalence of risk taking behavior, and scientific study of individual techniques and movements has lead to the development of new kicks and new kicking movements. As more women and children have entered Taekwondo, kicking techniques have evolved from an emphasis on power to an emphasis on flexibility and speed. As more weight divisions have been added to competition, which as increased the number of lighter competitors since they will be fighting opponents of equal size, smaller competitors have developed quick, snappy techniques are more appropriate to their body type.  

With these cultural changes and innovations, new kicks and new ways to use old kicks developed. Since using a spin side kick in completion exposes more more target area top the opponent, it evolved into a spinning back kick where more of the illegal back area is exposed while the front legal target area is protected. the spin heel kick is powerful and has a long reach, but is awkward since the leg must remain straight throughout the kick. It is also chambered low, which makes it easier to block and makes it more difficult to kick to the head, where more points are awarded. This led to development of the spin hook kick, which is chambered high to make it more difficult to block and o make it easier to kick to the head. The high chamber deceives the opponent since from this position the kick can be executed to low, middle, or high target with ease. However, it has slightly less range. The once popular spin crescent  kick is less used today since it presents more scoring area to the opponent and require the user to be in close range. However, it is not a useless kick. Some competitors use it very effective both as a primary attacking kick and in combination.The differences between the spin side kick, spin back kick, and back kick are the pivoting of the support foot, chambering position of the leg, rotation of the hips, and the angle of the upper body. In the spin side kick, the leg is chambered high and the hips are rotated 180°, exposing the upper body to the opponent. In the spin back kick, the leg is chambered low and tucked in under the hips with the hips rotating only about 90°. In the back kick, the leg is chambered as in the spin back kick, but the hips are rotated less than 90°, which protects the front of the body during and after execution.The back kick and spin back kick are commonly used as follow-up attacks in a combination since they expose less of  the upper body and head to the opponent than the spin side kick. With the spin back kick, your back is turned to the opponent and your upper body out of counterattack range. However, timing and accuracy are essential, since, if you kick too late or too early and miss your target, your opponent may take advantage of your awkward body position and counter.