Taekwondo Kicks

Taekwondo is known for its powerful kicks. Therefore to master Taekwondo, we will help you learn all of the Taekwondo kicks below. Each of these pages provides free video and/or written instructions that will help you to learn these Taekwondo kicks.

For the Korean names for these Taekwondo kicks, please visit our Korean Names for Taekwondo Kicks page.



Basic Taekwondo Kicks – Written and/or video instructions

  • Axe Kick – A high axe kick is useful to striking your opponent’s head or collar bone.
  • Back Kick – The back kick is my favorite Taekwondo kick. Very powerful.
  • Crescent Kick – This page covers inner and outer crescent kicks.
  • Front Kick – A front kick is useful for hitting your opponent in the groin or doing a snap kick to the chin.
  • Hook or Whip Kick – The hook kick is a deceptive kick if executed properly.
  • Push Kick – The push kick is a great defensive Taekwondo kick in order to knock your opponent off balance.
  • Roundhouse Kick – This basic Taekwondo roundhouse kick is probably the most frequently used kick in Taekwondo, esp. for sparring.
  • Front Foot Roundhouse Kick – This is where you use your forward foot to execute a roundhouse kick (versus using your rear leg).
  • Side Kick – A Taekwondo side kick is an effective self-defense kick, especially if it is aimed at the knee.



Advanced Taekwondo Kicks

  • Butterfly Kick – The butterfly kick is a great kick for demonstrations but not practical for real-world situations.
  • Butterfly Twist – An advanced and more acrobatic version of the butterfly kick.
  • Double Roundhouse Kick – This kick is often used in Taekwondo sparring.
  • Downward Roundhouse Kick – You will need to be very flexible to master the downward roundhouse kick.
  • Flying Back Kick – A flying back kick is a more advanced version of a jumping back kick. Lots of fun to perform this kick.
  • Flying Front Kick – This page will also help you with a “jumping front kick”.
  • Flying Side Kick – The flying side kick is another fun “flying” martial arts kick. Kids love to hit a practice dummy with this flying kick.
  • Hopping or Step Behind Side Kick – The Taekwondo step behind side kick is a great way to close the distance with an opponent & land a powerful kick.
  • Jumping Back Kick – A jumping back kick is a useful counter kick for sparring.
  • Jumping Spinning Crescent Kick
  • Jumping Spinning Hook Kick – I always find the Taekwondo jumping spinning hook kick very difficult to execute. 🙂
  • Knee Strikes – You can not use knee strikes during Taekwondo sparring. However, knee strikes are very effective in “real life” combat. There are many different knee strikes including vertical knee strikes and horizontal knee strikes.
  • Scissor Kick – The scissor kick allows you to strike two targets at the same time.
  • Shin Kick – In Taekwondo, you are usually taught to strike an opponent with your instep or the top of your foot while doing a roundhouse kick. In contrast, if you use a shin kick, you will hit an opponent with the dense bone of your shin (versus your instep or the top of the foot).
  • Spinning Crescent Kick – The Taekwondo spinning crescent kick is a more powerful version of the traditional crescent kick.
  • Spinning Hook Kick – If done correctly, the Taekwondo spinning hook kick is a very deceptive and devastating kick. Taekwondo is known for its mastery of the spinning hook kick!
  • Spinning Roundhouse Kick – The spinning roundhouse kick is a more powerful version of the regular roundhouse kick.
  • Tornado Kick (or Jumping Spinning Roundhouse Kick) – Here are some video instructions for a tornado kick. If used properly, this Taekwondo kick can result in some spectacular knockouts during sparring (see the video on this page).
  • 540 Roundhouse Kick – 540 kicks are spectacular spinning kicks. However, be care as you can damage your knee if you land incorrectly.