Kicking in Taekwondo Poomse

Taekwondo is famous for its kicks. The kicks used in Taekwondo sparring are more impressive than in any other martial art. Although the kicks in poomse are simpler than the ones used in sparring, they can be equally as impressive if performed properly. A good, solid front kick is more impressive than an impromptu tornado or double roundhouse kick.

What is it that makes a great kick in poomse? There are several components: balance, proper form, control, and power. Along with each component are exercises that will help you to increase your skills with each one.

Balance

Balance may not be quite as obvious as one may think. Balance is more than just not ending up on the floor -- it is a matter of fluidity, of gracefulness, of naturalness. In a kick with proper balance, the supporting foot does not wobble, the hands do not flail about, and the athlete is not rushed to complete the kick. Also, the athlete begins and ends the technique in the proper stances without having to adjust the stances to accommodate the kick.

Exercises for Developing Balance:

  • Practice your kicks at a variety of speeds while holding onto a chair or wall. After you begin to feel more comfortable, gradually reduce your dependence on that chair or wall until you can do the kick without holding onto anything.
  • Practice moving within your stances (example: stepping forward, stepping back, etc.). When you feel comfortable doing these simple things within your stances, you should try to kick from one stance into another (example: from back stance, do a front kick and land forward into front stance).

Proper Form

Having proper form is prerequisite to having a beautiful kick. Proper form can be defined as the correct positions to which the entire body enters as it performs a kick from start to finish. It is best to talk with your instructor or other certified professional martial artist to learn the more articulate details of proper form. They can answer any specific questions that you may have.

Exercises for Developing Proper Form:

  • Break the kick down into steps and practice them in slow motion.
  • Practice flexing your foot into the proper position (example: for side kick, front kick, etc.). Do this while watching TV or talking on the phone.
  • Stretch your muscles so that proper movement is not inhibited.

Control

The kick in Taekwondo poomse is not supposed to be like a whip -- so fast that it cannot be seen. Instead, the kick is to be savored and beheld as the single most beautiful feature of Taekwondo. It is therefore imperative to control the kick. Controlling the kick involves the ability to freeze the kick for a split second at full extension. This "freeze" is the life of the kick -- it is most memorable and beautiful part of the kick. Controlling the kick involves much concentration and many years of practice.

Exercises for Developing Control:

  • Form is prerequisite to both control and power. So, if you're not sure that you are doing the kick with proper form yet, keep working on the form part before you begin working on the control part.
  • Control is going to take some muscle development and patience, but it is well worth all the effort. Try sitting on the floor and extending your leg as if you were doing a front kick, for instance. Slowly extend your leg completely until the knee is straight and the foot is pointed in the right direction. Now, tense every muscle in your leg as if it were frozen in that position. Then, relax and bend your knee as if you had just finished the kick. Repeat this procedure until you get the idea of how your muscles should feel at the "freeze" of the kick. Note that you stay mostly relaxed in this exercise. You only tense at the moment of full extension.
  • Try the above exercise standing up. Feel free to try it while holding onto a chair or wall. Then when you are comfortable, apply this "freeze" technique to an actual and regular kick. Remember that your leg should only be frozen at full extension for a split second -- not for 3 or 4 seconds.

Power

There is nothing worse than seeing someone perform a kick with great form, balance, and control, but with no power. That person would make a better ballet dancer than Taekwondo practitioner. There is no such thing as an excellent kick that has no power.

Exercises for Developing Power:

  • Just as proper form is prerequisite to control, control is prerequisite to power. IF YOU TRY TO DEVELOP POWER WITHOUT FIRST HAVING PROPER CONTROL, PERMANENT DAMAGE TO YOUR JOINTS MAY RESULT. Be very careful.
  • The process for developing power in a poomse kick is very similar to developing control in a poomse kick. Try sitting on the floor and extending your leg as if you were doing a side kick, for instance. Turn your hips and get ready to extend your kick. Now, quickly and forcefully extend your leg completely until you get to the point where the leg is fully extended. Hold that exact position for a split second, and then relax, bend your knee, and start all over.
  • Try the above exercise standing up.

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