10/05/2026
6 Basic taekwondo kicks 💥🔥
*45 Degree Kick*
This kick strikes at an angle between straight forward and sideways. It’s useful for targeting the side of the torso or ribs when your opponent’s stance is slightly open. The angle makes it harder to block than a straight front kick, and it’s often used to set up follow-up attacks or to disrupt balance while keeping distance.
*Front Kick*
The front kick is one of the most direct and versatile strikes. You drive the foot straight forward using the ball of the foot or the instep. It’s great for maintaining distance, creating space, or targeting the stomach, chest, or face. Because it’s fast and linear, it works well for both offense and as a defensive stop-hit.
*Side Kick*
This kick generates power by driving the heel straight out to the side, with the body turned perpendicular to the target. It’s one of the strongest kicks for linear power and is often used to break boards in testing, but in sparring it’s effective for pushing opponents back or targeting the ribs and knee. The chambered position also gives you good control and stability.
*In-Out Kick*
Also called an inside crescent or inward kick, this moves in an arc from outside to inside. It’s used to sweep around an opponent’s guard to hit the side of the head, face, or body. It’s more about precision and catching an opening than raw power, and it’s effective when someone is guarding too tightly in the centerline.
*Stretch Kick*
This is typically a high, extended front kick aimed at the head or upper body. The “stretch” refers to the full extension of the leg and hip to maximize reach. It’s used to score points at range or to test an opponent’s guard and reaction time. Flexibility and balance are key, since the target is high and the body is fully extended.
*Out-In Kick*
The opposite of the in-out kick, this moves in an arc from inside to outside. It’s used to go around an opponent’s guard on the outside to strike the temple, jaw, or side of the body. It’s often used as a counter when someone leaves their outside line open, and it can be deceptive because the leg motion starts in a way that doesn’t telegraph the target.
