Energy Conservation
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To conserve energy while kicking
- Taekwondo is a kicking art, but kicking uses more energy than striking because the legs are heavier than the arms. So, to conserve energy while kicking, you must use proper technique and body mechanics.
- Instead of kicking where the opponent is and then trying to move the kick to track the opponent as he or she evades the attack, kick where you predict the opponent will move to when he or she detects the kick and tries to avoid it.
- Let opponents come to your kick, rather than trying to get your kick to the opponent. A spin side kick into a charging opponent is more efficient than a spin side kick that must reach out to an opponent.
- Less power is required in a kick if the opponent is moving into the kick, so use counter kicks.
- A lead side kick uses less energy when your opponent is slightly toward that side since the opponent will be more in line with your hips.
- Spin kicks require less energy when the opponent is moving toward the kick since less spin is required than trying to track an opponent moving away from the kick.
- Front and round kicks are efficient kicks when opponent is in front.
- To conserve energy, drop a missed crescent kick or axe kick onto your opponent’s guard to bring the arms down and upper body forward, and then follow-up with strikes.
- Chamber kicks high and tight before kicking and keep kicks lined up with your centerline. For example, for a side kick, lifting the knee upward into a tight chamber and kicking straight in requires less energy than trying to kick from the floor since there is less inertia in the leg the closer the weight is to the balance point, the support foot.
- Keep arms and legs in tight during spinning techniques. As the limbs extend, the spin slows, power is reduced, and more energy is needed since you must overcome more rotational inertia.
- When kicking, gravity is not your friend. High kicks require more energy than middle kicks. Low kicks to the legs require even less energy.