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Promotion from one geup to the next can proceed rapidly in some schools, since schools often allow geup promotions every two, three, or four months. Students of geup rank learn the most basic techniques first, and then move on to more advanced techniques as they approach first dan. Many of the older and more traditional schools often take longer to allow students to test for higher ranks than newer, more contemporary schools, as they may not have the required testing intervals. View Taekwondo belt levels »
Side Kick
옆차기 yeop-chagi
A kick (차기 chagi) is a physical strike using the foot, leg, or knee. The striker relaxes to the extent possible during the strike, tensing the muscles of much of the body only at the time of impact, then relaxing again to recoil the striking part. Relaxation enables the strike to achieve the greatest possible velocity during travel, while rigidity at impact allows the maximum transfer of force.
Difficulty Level: Beginner Technique: Kick ( 차기 chagi )
The Side Kick ( 옆차기 yeop-chagi ) is a beginner technique which is very powerful kick ( 차기 chagi ) when done properly. The taekwondo practitioner simultaneously raises the knee ( 무릎 mureup ) and rotates the body 90-degrees, while doing that they extend their leg to strike the opponent with most commonly the foot blade ( 발날 balnal ) as the striking surface. The kick ( 차기 chagi ) is delivered sideways in relation to the body of the person kicking.
It is one of the most adaptable kicks ( 차기 chagi ) in taekwondo, useful as both an offensive move and as a defensive counter to an approaching opponent both in sparring ( 겨루기 gyeorugi ) and self-defense ( 호신술 hosinsool ). The unique kick ( 차기 chagi ) is commonly seen during board breaking ( 격파 gyeokpa ), promotion tests, and demonstration events while the technique is often showcased in film and television media.
There are two surfaces that are commonly used as impact points in Side Kicks ( 옆차기 yeop-chagi ). This kicking technique could strike with most commonly the outside edge of the foot namely the foot blade ( 발날 balnal ) or with the bottom of the heel ( 뒤축 dwichuk ) for hard surfaces.
Using the bottom of the heel ( 뒤축 dwichuk ) may provide more force if used in taekwondo tournament sparring ( 겨루기 gyeorugi ). The bottom of the heel ( 뒤축 dwichuk ) is more suited to hard targets such as the ribs ( 늑골 neuggol ), stomach ( 복부 bogbu ), jaw ( 턱 teog ), and chest ( 가슴 gaseum ) area. When performing a Side Kick ( 옆차기 yeop-chagi ) with one's heel, one should pull their toes slightly back so that they only make contact with the heel and not with the whole sole of the foot ( 발바닥 balbadak ).
This variation Skipping Side Kick ( 발붙여 옆차기 balbucheo-yeop-chagi ) is commonly seen during tournament sparring ( 겨루기 gyeorugi ) and board breaking ( 격파 gyeokpa ) demonstrations. Advanced students break several wooden boards placed next to each other when demonstrating the kick ( 차기 chagi ). Bruce Lee, a famous Hong Kong martial arts superstar is seen often using this type of Side Kick ( 옆차기 yeop-chagi ) in films, demonstrations and tournaments.
Taekwondo practitioners may include a shout or yell ( 기합 kihap ), to help tense the muscles at impact and distract or frighten the opponent. Practitioners generally exhale as the kick nears the target. Breath control is also important to relax the body when not attacking; novice practitioners often waste significant energy because they are tense at inappropriate times.
Variations of Side Kick ( 옆차기 yeop-chagi )
- Jumping Side Kick ( 뛰어 옆차기 ttwieo-yeop-chagi )
- Skipping Side Kick ( 발붙여 옆차기 balbucheo-yeop-chagi )
- Holding Side Kick ( 잡고 옆차기 japgo-yeop-chagi )
- Pushing Side Kick ( 밀어 옆차기 mireo-yeop-chagi )
- Front Foot Side Kick ( 앞발 옆차기 apbal-yeop-chagi )
- Repeating Side Kick ( 거듭 옆차기 geodeup-yeop-chagi )
Training Methods
How well one improves with training depends on several factors, such as the frequency it is engaged in, and the type of feedback that is available for improvement. If a student does not train often enough, reinforcement fades, and he or she is likely to forget what was learned.
During training, taekwondo practitioners may use various equipment and gear for practicing the kick ( 차기 chagi ). Taekwondo extensively uses the heavy bag for developing power and endurance. Powerful strikes to the heavy bag aren't recommended for inexperienced, or younger athletes, as risk of sprain, strain, or bone plate damage may adversely affect bone structures. It is highly recommended to carefully focus strikes to reduce chance of injury.
The kick ( 차기 chagi ) is best learned initially striking at the air as though there is an opponent but focusing on the form, speed, control, and technique; then moving on to soft surfaces striking punch mitts and target pads. Large heavy bags are used more for strength and endurance, while smaller targets such as punch mitts and target pads focus on faster kicking speed, timing and coordination. Target pads are useful for training mobility and accuracy on a moving target.
Also a chest protector ( 호구 hogu ) worn by a partner can be used as a stationary or moving target which is useful for getting the feel of impacting the opponent. The chest protector ( 호구 hogu ) is the armor worn by practitioners of taekwondo during sparring ( 겨루기 gyeorugi ).
In preparation for full contact sparring, students may be required to wait a few months, for safety reasons, because they must first build the skills they would ideally employ in their sparring practice. Some schools restrict the amount of force that may be used to hit an opponent, by allowing 'light contact' during sparring. Light contact allows a student to hit an opponent getting the feel of impacting the opponent but with controlled force and not full power. Light contact sparring is a good method to practice the technique.
Difficulty of Technique
Taekwondo students of geup ranking learn the most basic techniques first, and then move on to more advanced and difficult techniques as they approach 1st Dan Black Belt. The more difficult the technique, the more practice may be needed for the purpose of improving or mastering it, as in the phrase 'practice makes perfect'. Every technique must display the requisite speed, balance, power and firmness to be realistically used as an attack or defense move.
* Please see a certified Master Instructor ( 사범님 sabeomnim ) for training. Proper guidance and instructions are needed to ensure safe training.
Promotion Tests
Students often undergo periodic testing and grading by their own Master Instructor ( 사범님 sabeomnim ) in order to advance to a higher level of recognized achievement such as a different belt color. They need to demonstrate their proficiency in the various aspects of the art such as the execution of patterns ( 품새 poomse ), which combine various techniques in specific sequences.
Side Kick ( 옆차기 yeop-chagi ) is a requirement for the below belt levels (Techniques vary between schools). Promotion from one belt level to the next can proceed rapidly in some schools, since schools often allow geup promotions every two, three, or four months. Students of geup rank learn the most basic techniques first, and then move on to more advanced techniques as they approach first dan black belt. View Promotion Tests »
Training Highlights Summary
The Kick ( 차기 chagi ) contains many key point highlights. There are some that are simple and straightforward but then some are complex and detailed that require repeated training to learn and master.
- simultaneously raise the knee ( 무릎 mureup ) and rotate the body 90-degrees, while doing that, extend the leg to strike the opponent
- should strike with the outside edge of the foot namely foot blade ( 발날 balnal ) or the bottom of the heel ( 뒤축 dwichuk ) depending on the circumstances
- delivered sideways in relation to the body of the person kicking
- useful as both an offensive move and as a defensive counter to an approaching opponent
- Front Foot Side Kick ( 앞발 옆차기 apbal-yeop-chagi ) requires one to chamber the front leg and then extend the leg to kick which can stop an approaching opponent quickly and effectively
- Skipping Side Kick ( 발붙여 옆차기 balbucheo-yeop-chagi ) which is done by skipping or shuffling forward with the rear leg first, moving the practitioner closer towards the opponent while simultaneously chambering and snapping the front leg to kick the opponent
- during poomse and demonstrations, practitioners should aim to make the Side Kick ( 옆차기 yeop-chagi ) have the sharp quality look and control when performing the kick in the air
Strength Requirement of the Technique
Most strikes should generally be thrown with some measure of shifting body weight supporting the blow. The striker in combat should attempt to strike through the target area, not just contact the surface. Some strikes do not need as much strength as they target vulnerable areas such as the eyes ( 눈 nun ), neck ( 목 mok ) or sternum ( 흉골 hyung-gol ). The below is an approximate measurement of how much strength the strike requires from the practitioner to be effective.
Precision of Kicking ( 차기 chagi ) Technique
With proper execution opponents may be stopped with a single striking blow, which lessens the number of further strikes. Some kicks ( 차기 chagi ) can strike with more precision which will often cripple or knockout the opponent. The below is an approximate measurement of how precise the kick ( 차기 chagi ) requires from the practitioner to be effective.
Experienced practitioners learn through repetition and muscle memory when (not just how) to launch particular kicks ( 차기 chagi ), based on the circumstances they are facing.
* Please see a certified Master Instructor ( 사범님 sabeomnim ) for training. Proper guidance and instructions are needed to ensure safe training.
Risk of injury can be reduced by completing an effective warm up consisting of a heart raiser to get your pulse up, followed by sport specific dynamic stretches (stretches whilst moving). Please follow the guidance of a certified Master Instructor or trainer when doing sports related activities. Depending on the intensity of the exercise, cooling down can involve a slow jog or walk, or with lower intensities, stretching can be used. Cooling down allows the heart rate to return to its resting rate. View more information on Warming Up and Cooling Down ».
This article uses material from the Wikipedia articles "Warming Up" and "Cooling Down", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.
There are five tenets defined in the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) and several more in World Taekwondo (WT).
Perseverance ( 인내 in-nae ): "One will persevere time and time again until they have achieved a result which is adequate towards what one was trying to achieve." View Taekwondo Tenets »
RESOURCES
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Side Kick" which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.
