Evolution of Taekwondo kicks

The back kick is even more powerful and faster than either of the other kicks, since you save time by not spinning, To execute a back kick, slightly rotate your hips backward, pivot your support foot, and  thrust your rear leg to the target. There is no chamber since the kicking foot travel from the floor to the target in a mostly straight line. The back kick is an excellent counterattack against an aggressive opponent, such as when in a closed fighting position and opponent attacks with a lead leg round kick, the back kick turns your back to the attack and scores to the opponent's midsection.Since these kicks expose target areas to counter attacks during or immediately after the kick, a new type of kick evolved, the spin whip kick. Although the exact development of the spin whip kick is unknown,  it's roots can be traced to three kicks: the spin heel, spin hook and spin crescent kicks. The spin whip kick uses the power of the spin heel kick, the speed and deception of the spin hook kick, and the close range of the spin crescent kick while protecting target areas. In the early days of competition, the spin heel kick was popular because its power was difficult to block. To execute a spin heel kick, from a low sitting stance, pivot of the hips, swing rear leg  behind the body, and strike opponent's body with the back of the heel.

The spin heel kick is powerful, but  it is also cumbersome, since the kicking leg remains straight from beginning to end. An improvement came with the spin hook kick. It is faster and more deceptive than the spin heel kick, and just as powerful. To perform the spin hook kick, from a fighting stance, pivot, chamber, and kick similar to the spin side kick, except the foot is aimed beside the target and the the heel is pulled through the target by the knee and the snapping of the heel back toward the hip.The spin crescent kick is ideal for close range attacking because, unlike any other spin kick, the body is kept upright and compact throughout the kick. However, as fighters learned to read and counter the kick, it fell out of favor in full contact sparring.To perform the spin whip kick, the upper body rotates around its vertical axis while the lead foot rotates until the heel points at the opponent. Once the body is coiled, the rear foot shoots straight out to the side of the target and the body uncoils to whip the kicking leg through the target. The kick is quick, powerful, and may be used at close range. Since the chamber may also be used for a spinning hand technique, the kick can be deceptive. With the body kept upright, you have the opportunity to also attack with a hand combination. If the body leans back to keep the head out of range of a counterattack, your hands will be out of attacking range.The most recent kicking innovation is the spin 360° round kick. Prior to the mid-1980's, the 360° round kick was unheard of outside of Korea.

With the immigration of a new generation of Korean competitors and instructors to the U.S. and Europe, the turn kick gained widespread popularity in less than five years. When attacking, spin and step rear foot forward and then perform a round kick using the other foot. Range is controlled by how far the spinning foot steps forward. When defending, the kick may be perform in place by placing the spinning foot just in front of the kicking foot in a hopping motion. When used in a counter, the spinning foot spins around the kicking foot to it original spot in a hopping motion. When attacking with a spin side, spin hook, or spin back kick, if the opponent reads the kick and back up, step through and fire the round kick. To use as a counter, instead of stepping forward into the kick, step down in a sort of hopping motion and the fire the round kick.Taekwondo has evolved since its inception and it continues to evolve. Is the evolution good or bad? There are differences in opinion as to whether the changes are true to the art or are merely just to make kick more eye-catching and entertaining. Either way, evolution happens and cannot be stopped, although it may be controlled so the traditions of Taekwondo may survive.