Taekwondo 태권도Taekwondo Preschool
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 »
Pushing Side Kick
밀어 옆차기 mireo-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: Intermediate Technique: Kick ( 차기 chagi )
The Pushing Side Kick ( 밀어 옆차기 mireo-yeop-chagi ) is used often during taekwondo sparring ( 겨루기 gyeorugi ) competitions to distance and push the opponent away with the Side Kick ( 옆차기 yeop-chagi ). This could be advantageous for taller fighters who can control the match against a shorter fighter.
The striking surface for the Pushing Side Kick ( 밀어 옆차기 mireo-yeop-chagi ) would be ideally the outside edge of the foot namely foot blade ( 발날 balnal ), though using the bottom of the heel ( 뒤축 dwichuk ) is also possible.
After performing the kick ( 차기 chagi ), the practitioner can improvise and perform the Roundhouse Kick ( 돌려차기 dollyeo-chagi ), Side Kick ( 옆차기 yeop-chagi ), or Hook Kick ( 후려차기 huryeo-chagi ) in combination while the kicking leg is still in the air.
The intermediate level kick ( 차기 chagi ) can also be a feint move during taekwondo sparring ( 겨루기 gyeorugi ) and is unique to taekwondo 태권도. One can perform the Pushing Kick ( 밀어차기 mireo-chagi ) as a feint move to put some pressure on the opponent while moving closer and then striking with another technique such as the Back Kick ( 뒤차기 dwi-chagi ), Axe Kick ( 내려차기 naeryeo-chagi ), or the Whirl Kick 360º ( 360도 돌개차기 360º dolgae-chagi ).
Penalties on any prohibited acts shall be declared by the referee. Penalties are divided into warnings ( 경 고 gyeong-go ) and deduction penalty ( 감점 gamjeom ) based on the tournament point scoring system. For self-defense ( 호신술 hosinsool ) applications, the taekwondo practitioner can strike below the waist with targets such as the thigh ( 허벅지 heobeokji ), shin ( 정강이 jeonggangi ), and knees ( 무릎 mureup ), since attacking leg muscles will often cripple an opponent's mobility.
Variations of Push Kick ( 밀어차기 mireo-chagi )
- Pushing Kick ( 밀어차기 mireo-chagi )
- Pushing Front Kick ( 밀어 앞차기 mireo-ap-chagi )
- Pushing Side Kick ( 밀어 옆차기 mireo-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.
Pushing Side Kick ( 밀어 옆차기 mireo-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.
- seen often during taekwondo sparring ( 겨루기 gyeorugi ) competitions to distance and push the opponent away
- advantageous for taller fighters who can control the match against a shorter fighter
- the practitioner will raise their knee ( 무릎 mureup ) and then push the opponent away
- could be a feint move as well during taekwondo sparring ( 겨루기 gyeorugi )
- understanding the tradeoff between power, balance, speed, and footwork ( 딛기 ditgi ), is important in making the appropriate decisions to adjust to each moment is key
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.
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This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Kick" which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.
