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Taekwondo · Basic · b3

Front snap kick

Park or court 10 min 1 and a grown-up One room

Ready when: Bow, stances and balance (b1) started; five-minute warm-up done.

Start a session

What you are learning

The front snap kick, the first taekwondo kick: knee up, toes pulled back, the ball of the foot snaps out and back just as fast, and the foot comes down under control. The snap and the balance matter more than height.

Words on this card Attention, Front snap kick, Ball of the foot, Paddle
Attention
Standing tall with feet together; bending forward from the hips to show respect; feet shoulder-width with fists in front of the belt.
Front snap kick
A kick straight forward with the ball of the foot, snapped out and back.
Ball of the foot
The pad under the toes, the top of the foot, and the outside edge, each used for different kicks.
Paddle
Soft targets held for kicking.

Set up

A pillow or soft paddle held at hip height; a hula hoop.

Weather: dry ground

The base setup for taekwondo

Show it first for the one teaching

  1. Warm up with slow straight-leg swings forward.
  2. Lift the knee to waist height and pull the toes back so the ball of the foot leads.
  3. Snap the lower leg out, snap it back just as fast, and put the foot down under control.

Your part while they practise

Hold the target firmly to the side of your body; say "ready".

Step by step

  1. Warm up with slow straight-leg stretch kicks.
  2. Knee up to waist height, toes pulled back.
  3. Snap the ball of the foot out, pull it back as fast.
  4. Foot down under control.
  5. 10 per leg in the air, then at the pillow; then kick through a hoop for aim.

How much: 10 per leg, 3 rounds 10 min a session 3 days a week

Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.

The game: Through the gap

Kick between two chairs set a little wider than the foot, without touching them, then touch the pillow.

Who plays: the child against their own best; you hold the pillow behind the gap.

How to play, turn by turn
Turns
  1. Set two chairs a foot's width plus a hand apart; hold the pillow behind the gap
  2. Kick through the gap to touch the pillow
  3. 10 kicks per leg
Fair play
A grown-up kicks with the chairs closer.
Points
1 point for each kick through the gap without touching the chairs; 1 more point if the ball of the foot touches the pillow.
Fouls
No points for that kick
  • Touching a chair
  • The toes pointed down
  • Losing balance and putting the foot down early
Winning
Beat your best from 20 kicks.
Stars
  1. 15 points for 1 star
  2. 25 points for 2 stars
  3. 35 points for 3 stars

Easier or harder

Easier

Kick the air, low.

Harder

Target at chest height.

What you will see, and what to say

  • the toes point down Pull the toes backBall of the foot.
  • the leg swings up straight Knee up, then snapFold it first.
  • the foot drops after Snap back, then downBack, then down.

Self-check

8of 10

10 controlled kicks per leg with balance; 8 of 10 touch the target with the ball of the foot.

Stop and get a coach when

Pain in the hip, knee or back.

Fitness for this

Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.

This card trains the snap kick, balance, targeting.

awiseathlete.com/sports/taekwondo/taekwondo-b3