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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 »
Front Kick
앞차기 ap-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 Front Kick ( 앞차기 ap-chagi ) is one of the first kicks ( 차기 chagi ) learned in taekwondo and if mastered it can become one of the most powerful kicks ( 차기 chagi ) in certain situations. This is a kick ( 차기 chagi ) that a practitioner should practice often and master. Practice is the act of rehearsing a behavior over and over, or engaging in an activity again and again, for the purpose of improving or mastering it, as in the phrase 'practice makes perfect'.
The taekwondo practitioner raises the knee ( 무릎 mureup ) to waist level, extends the foot ( 발 bal ), and quickly pulls the toes back striking the mid-section of the opponent such as the abdomen ( 복부 bogbu ) or the sternum ( 흉골 hyung-gol ). If the knee ( 무릎 mureup ) is raised higher, the practitioner can kick ( 차기 chagi ) higher and aim for the high section area of the opponent such as the chin ( 턱 teog ) as the target.
Suitable targets for the ball of the foot ( 앞축 apchuk ) are the abdomen ( 복부 bogbu ), sternum ( 흉골 hyung-gol ), chin ( 턱 teog ), jaw ( 턱 teog ), and the eyes ( 눈 nun ). The instep of the foot ( 발등 baldeung ) is more suited to the chin ( 턱 teog ) and the groin ( 샅 sat ) area.
In addition to being a kick ( 차기 chagi ) in itself, the kick ( 차기 chagi ) is an exercise used by many instructors to teach the principle of lifting ones' knee ( 무릎 mureup ) before the rest of the kick ( 차기 chagi ) commences, something which is considered important in taekwondo training.
It is common to slightly bend the knee ( 무릎 mureup ) of the leg one is standing on when performing the Front Kick ( 앞차기 ap-chagi ), and pointing the standing foot somewhat outwards for balance. As in all taekwondo kicks, one will also try to get ones 'hip into the kick', resulting perhaps in a slight shift of weight forward, and as such one that can get ones weight behind.
Use of this kick ( 차기 chagi ) is featured prominently in many of the World Taekwondo (WT) Poomse. Taekwondo poomse are the learning ground for real combat. As such, the muscles of the body should be lightly relaxed in order to perform the pattern with fluidity, speed and grace. Muscles should only be tensed at the moment of imaginary impact in order to commute maximum power to any individual taekwondo technique.
Variations of Front Kick ( 앞차기 ap-chagi )
There exist countless variations of the Front Kick ( 앞차기 ap-chagi ), and it can be used along with other kicks without one having to put ones kicking foot down in between kicks. A very common variation is the Flying Front Kick ( 뛰어 앞차기 ttwieo-ap-chagi ) which can reach impressive heights.
Some instructors also refer the Front Kick ( 앞차기 ap-chagi ) as the flash kick. This is in tune with the line of thought which seems prevalent in the various taekwondo poomse forms, where the Front Kick ( 앞차기 ap-chagi ) is used very extensively in combination with relatively short range hand strikes and blocks ( 막기 makgi ), mimicking situations in which it would have to be performed quite quickly.
- Front Kick with Instep ( 발등 앞차기 baldeung-ap-chagi )
- Front Kick with Ball of the Foot ( 앞축 앞차기 apchuk-ap-chagi )
- Front Kick with Heel of Foot ( 뒤축 앞차기 dwichuk-ap-chagi )
- Front Foot Front Kick ( 앞발 앞차기 apbal-ap-chagi )
- Jumping Front Kick ( 뛰어 앞차기 ttwieo-ap-chagi )
- Jump Two-Foot Front Kick ( 뛰어 두발 앞차기 ttwieo-dubal-ap-chagi )
- Pushing Front Kick ( 밀어 앞차기 mireo-ap-chagi )
- Skipping Front Kick ( 발붙여 앞차기 balbucheo-ap-chagi )
- Repeating Front Kick ( 거듭 앞차기 geodeup-ap-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.
Front Kick ( 앞차기 ap-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.
- usually delivered through the ball of the foot ( 앞축 apchuk ), or with flat upperside (instep) of the foot ( 발등 baldeung )
- the height to which it is delivered will also influence the way it is delivered
- hips movement may be used to increase the reach and to thrust one's leg into the target, resulting in a more powerful strike
- the kick ( 차기 chagi ) is delivered differently depending on whether it is executed with the front or the rear leg; or whether it is an offensive kick or a defensive stop-kick
- the kick ( 차기 chagi ) is an exercise used by many instructors to teach the principle of lifting ones knee ( 무릎 mureup ) before the rest of the kick ( 차기 chagi ) commences
- it is considered highly unorthodox to train beginners using the base of the heel ( 뒤축 dwichuk ) due to its difficulties
Instructions to perform the Kick ( 차기 chagi )
- Start with a Fighting Stance ( 겨루기준비 gyeorugi-junbi )
- Turn your body slightly forward and begin to raise your leg
- Be careful not to hit your standing (supporting) leg
- Raise your knees ( 무릎 mureup ) to waist level (if attacking mid-section) and pull your toes back
- Lean back slightly and remember to focus on the target
- Finish off with full extension of leg and snap your knees ( 무릎 mureup )
- Usually delivered through the ball of the foot ( 앞축 apchuk )
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).
Courtesy ( 예의 ye-ui ): "Showing courtesy to all, respecting others, having manners as well as maintaining the appropriate etiquette at all times, both within and outside the dojang (도장) (designated training area)." View Taekwondo Tenets »
RESOURCES
This article uses material from the Wikipedia articles "List of Taekwondo Techniques" and "Front Kick" which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.
