Lesson 4: White Belt
Page 14 of 16
Side Thrust Kick. The side thrust kick is the "trademark" kick of Taekwondo. If you are a Taekwondo stylist, you must be able to perform a beautiful, powerful side thrust kick if you ever want to become a black belt.
- Partner holds a hand target downward with a target surface perpendicular to floor.
- Stand in a front stance with arms held in the basic guard, facing and centered on the target.
- Chamber trailing leg by lifting knee high and across in front of body and backward toward the other side of the body. Think of it as pulling the knee toward the opposite shoulder, although this is not the goal. For most students, the knee will only reach a little over waist high. When chambered, the knee will be pulled back and the knee, shin, and foot of the leg will be parallel to the floor with the foot pointed at the target. When the knee is pulled back tightly, it prevents the kick from being jammed by an opponent who rushes in.
- The kicking foot rotates inward and angles backward so the outer corner of its heel is pointing at the target.
- As you chamber the kicking foot, the foot on the floor pivots forward on the ball until the heel points toward the target.
- Thrust the outer corner of the kicking heel straight at the target using the thigh muscles.
- Just as the heel makes contact with the target, the hip of the kicking leg "snap-rolls" over the leg. This rolling action snaps the mass of the body behind the kick as the thigh is thrusting the kick into the target.
- Quickly pull the kicking knee back to its chambered position. This allows you maintain your balance, step down anywhere you choose, and kick again if necessary.
- In a side thrust kick, think chamber high and tight, thrust knee at target, and pull knee back into the chamber again.
- Do not pull the foot back; pull the knee back, the foot will follow. If you try to pull the foot back, the foot will be pulled backward toward the butt, which will allow the opponent to jab any subsequent attempt to kick again.