The history of Korean martial arts dates back more than 2,000 years. Today, Korean styles like tae kwon do, tang soo do and hapkido are some of the most widely practiced martial arts around the world. Students of Korean martial arts must learn an arsenal of techniques in order to achieve the prestigious black belt. Some of the most common techniques seen in Korean martial arts studios are the roundhouse kick, hook kick, axe kick, knife-hand strike and ridge-hand strike.
Roundhouse Kick
The roundhouse kick is the most popular kick in Korean martial arts. It is heavily used in sporting events that feature tae kwon do, such as the Olympic Games. Martial art practitioners like this kick because it is fast, powerful and difficult to block. The roundhouse kick is performed by raising the knee and kicking horizontally toward a target. The instep or the ball of the foot is used to make contact. There are many variations of this technique, such as jumping roundhouse and spinning roundhouse kicks.
Hook Kick
Another heavily used technique in Korean martial arts is the hook kick. The hook kick is a fast and deceptive technique. It can appear to be coming from one direction when it suddenly strikes from the opposite direction. The hook kick is performed by lifting the knee and then hooking the back of the heel across the target. In a self-defense situation, the heel is hooked across the side of an attacker's face or into his ribs. A spin can be added to this kick to make it more surprising and powerful.
Axe Kick
The axe kick is somewhat unique among Korean kicking techniques in that it strikes downward on an opponent. It is another kick that is popular in tae kwon do tournaments. The axe kick is executed by lifting the kicking leg straight up into the air and forcefully bringing it back down on a target. The heel or bottom of the foot hits the target. For self defense on the streets, the axe kick can hit an attacker's collarbone, head or sternum.
Knife-Hand Strike
Korean martial arts are known for their kicking techniques, but these fighting styles also teach several hand strikes. The knife-hand strike is often used as a preliminary hit that is followed by additional strikes or kicks. The knife-hand strike is performed by raising one hand next to the side of the head. The fingers are pointed toward the ear as the palm faces the opponent. When executed, the strike quickly slices through the air and hits the target with the outside edge of the hand. The side of an attacker's neck, the throat and the ribs are generally good targets for the knife-hand strike.
Ridge-Hand Strike
The ridge-hand strike is another hand technique that is frequently practiced in Korean martial-arts studios. The ridge-hand strike is executed in an arcing motion from the hip toward an attacker. Using the forefinger's base knuckle on the side of the hand, a martial artist can deliver a devastating blow to an attacker's temple, neck or throat. If performed correctly, this one strike can quickly stop an attacker.
Member Comments
DanielEpps April 28
That was broken down very nicely might I say. It was informative and easy to understand which I like haha but theres still alot more techniques out there