Front Kick (Ap cha gi) 앞차기
Difficulty: Easy
Self Defence effectiveness: High
This kick is super effective whether you’re kicking the groin, or the chin. A good tip is to bend your knees enough and really snap the kick.
Axe Kick (Jikk eo cha gi) 찍어차기
Difficulty: Easy
Self Defence Effectiveness: Low
Seeing how you have to bring your leg up higher than your opponent’s head, there’s a chance of slipping if it’s wet or getting rushed by the opponent before you can execute. Best to avoid this one in the streets.
Front Push Kick (Mi reo cha gi) 밀어차기
Difficulty: Easy
Self Defence Effectiveness: Low
One of the easiest and most useful kicks. House on fire? Break down the door.. Opponent charging? Knock them over! This is one of the strongest kicks.
Front Turning/Roundhouse Kick (Ap doll yo cha gi) 앞돌려차기
Difficulty: Medium
Self Defence Effectiveness: Medium
This kick is an upgraded version of the front kick, where we can attack the opponent’s ribcage/body, head, or even the lower body (like what happened to McGregor in his fight with Poirier).
360/Spinning Roundhouse (360 cha gi) 360 차기
Difficulty: Medium
Self Defence Effectiveness: Low
By spinning we pick up speed and close the gap, however–in that moment where our back is turned… a lot can happen on the streets!
Side Kick (Yeop cha gì) 옆차기
Difficulty: Medium
Self Defence Effectiveness: Medium
Like the push kick, this kick is very powerful! This kick is effective at range. It can be effective against the shins, groin, chest or face!
Back Kick (Dwi cha gi) 뒤차기
Difficulty: Hard
Self Defence Effectiveness: High
Back kick to the shin (raking) or the groin… or even a stomp on the foot would be highly effective! Even when we have been grabbed from behind, this kick can be effective!
Hook Kick (ap hu ryo cha gi) 앞후려차기
Difficulty: Hard
Self Defence Effectiveness: Low
Hook kick is a great kick for sport taekwondo, however in a street fight or self defence situation it may be easily pushed over/charged by the opponent.
Back Turning Kick (dwi doll yo cha gi) 뒤돌려차기
Difficulty: Hard
Self Defence Effectiveness: High
As with the hook kick, while our leg is up in the air we can be grabbed or caught and therefore put in a bad situation. However, if you can execute this kick quickly enough, it can easily knock out the opponent. Back turning kick can also penetrate a guard or a block to increase it’s effectiveness even if the opponent sees it coming! What a beautiful kick!
Jump Fly Side Kick (Ttwieo yeop cha gi)뛰어 옆차기
Difficulty: High
Self Defence Effectiveness: Medium
If you are able to perform this kick in a self-defence situation, it means maybe you could have run away to escape! You need space to perform this kick, and space means you’re safe… so you’re giving up the safety to charge in and attack. Make sure you’re not overcommitting with this one.
I hope you never, ever have to use any of these kicks in a self-defence situation. Many martial artists never do! However if you do have to… make sure you choose the most simple and effective technique to get away safely.
The best use of your Taekwondo skills, is to not have to use them at all!
Be safe.
Train hard.
See you on the mats!👊
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