Round Kicks

Technique

• The knee of the kicking leg is raised straight up to the side with the heel tight against the buttocks as much as possible.
• The knee and foot are almost parallel to the floor. This chamber disguises the type of kick and the height of the kick and it permits a knee kick it the opponent is too close for the round kick.
• The knee may be chambered with the knee in front, similar to a front kick chamber, to fake a front kick, but the kick will be weaker, and it may get jammed.
• The foot moves towards the target in a wide semicircular motion, with the foot in the shape you want to strike with.
• The knee will move up or down depending on the height you want to kick.
• As the foot moves towards the target in the semicircular motion, the hip of the kicking foot goes forward with the kick and the supporting leg pivots with the heel pointing toward the target. Movement of the hip and rotation of the support foot adds body power to the kick.
• The supporting foot should be in contact with the ground at all times, do not rise to the ball of the foot for more height in the kick.
• The upper body be kept upright as much as possible. After the foot makes contact with the target, the foot should be snapped back to the buttocks.
• The snapping motion along with the forward motion of the hip creates a very powerful kick. The recoil motion helps maintain balance and positions the foot for a second kick. 

Differences between Japanese Karate roundhouse kick and the Korean Taekwondo round/turning kick

In the karate roundhouse kick, the knee is lifted, the hip is turned over, and the leg is snapped outward from the knee to deliver a strike with the ball of the foot; the support heel rotates about 90 degrees toward the target. Masutatsu Oyama modified the kick in Kyokushin karate by using the instep or shin instead of the ball of the foot as the striking point, using more hip rotation, and by shifting the body mass into the target to create a bludgeoning type of strike.

The Muay Thai roundhouse kick is a bit different from the karate version. The kicker raises on the ball of the supporting foot to generate greater turning speed. The power comes from the pivoting of the hips and the spin more than from a snapping of the leg, which stays relaxed during the kick. Because the kick is executed with so much speed and power, a missed kick causes the kicker to keep spinning. The Muay Tai roundhouse kick uses the shin as the striking area.

Initially, the Taekwondo roundhouse kick was the same as the karate roundhouse kick, but, as Taekwondo began trying to rid itself of its Shotokan influences, the kicks began to differ. In the Karate roundhouse kick, the supporting foot pivots about 90 degrees toward the target, which means the kicking foot travels in a quarter of a circle. Taekwondo instructors theorized that, if you pivot the support foot 180 degrees, more body mass would be imparted to the kick since the kicking foot would travel in a half  circle instead of a quarter circle. 

Since Gen. Choi's Taekwondo was designed for the military, the round kick was designed to be used while wearing combat boots, so the toes did not have to be curled back. Instead, the point of the shoe was purposed used. With the full pivot of the body, swinging of the leg, and chambering of the lower leg backward, and then snapping it out, and back to the chamber position in a whip-cracking motion , much power is imparted to the small impact point at the point of the boot. When kicking barefoot, the toes must be curled back so the impact point is the ball of the foot. After rise of the Olympic sport style of Taekwondo, there were a lot of complaints about the "slow speed" of the round kick and toe injuries from kicking training bags with the ball of the foot, so a different type of round kick was developed. A knee whip motion with an impact that pushes beyond the target was developed. This was further aided by the in-stepping and kicking at 45 degree angle. This 45 degree round kick was used in the traditional Taekwondo, as in the Choong Moo pattern, but was not used much in sparring.

Therefore, there are two types of round kicks in Taekwondo. The old, traditional style and the new, modern style (bit chagi). Both of which are different from the karate "mawashi geri" roundhouse kick. 

Comparison of the Three Kicks

In the Taekwondo rear leg "off the line" roundhouse kick, the knee is first chambered before any body rotation. This differentiates it from the Muay Thai, karate, and other roundhouse kicks that tend to start the rotation before or during the rising of the knee. The knee is then rotated nearly parallel to the ground and the kicking hip is simultaneously rotated towards the opponent. The rotation of the hip, combined with the snapping of the leg forward, gives the kick its power.

In a front leg roundhouse, the leading leg is drawn up vertically, and rotated and snapped toward the opponent in the same manner as in the rear leg kick. A fast kick version is done by skipping forward with the rear leg, moving the kicker toward the opponent while simultaneously chambering and firing the front leg roundhouse. This version was effectively used by Bill Wallace, a highly successful Korean martial art stylist, during his full-contact karate career. The front leg kick is weaker than the rear leg kick because the hip does not rotate as much; however, it is faster because the leg travels a shorter distance before striking the opponent. 

Aero Step Round Kick

Chamber rear leg as if performing a front kick, but only lift it a few inches. As the knee passes the support knee, retract the hip and simultaneously execute a round kick with the support leg before the raised foot touches the ground.

A difficult variation of an aero step with a round kick is to lift the front leg first and kick with the rear foot. This is a popular technique for counterattacking without stepping backward. The aero step is an effective way of adding speed and power to the round kick, because of the reaction force of one leg pulling back and the other kicks forward.

Aero Step Double Round Kick

The double round kick is useful for shorter competitors because it takes advantage of their speed. To perform a double kick with an aero step, perform the first round kick as described above, then, just as the kicking foot touches the ground, execute a round kick with the other leg. Quick kickers may fire a round kick again with the first leg. Double or triple round kicks strike the opponent from both sides so he or she cannot mount an effective defense or counter.

Turn (360° round) Kick

When attacking, spin and step rear foot forward (turn step) 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 performed 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 its original spot in a hopping motion.

Jump Turn Kick

To perform a jump turn kick, replace the turn step with an aero turn step. Instead of placing the foot of your turning leg on the floor when you after you turn, hold it in the air as you round kick with the rear leg. Rotate your hips first, and then begin your turn step. A jump turn kick is more powerful than a turn kick because the aero step forces your entire body weight into the target.

Other Round Kicks

• Roundhouse Kick (Ball or instep)
• Jump Roundhouse or Twist Kick
• Spin Roundhouse or Twist Kick
• Jump-Spin Roundhouse or Twist Kick
• Flying Roundhouse or Twist Kick