First turning kick, low
Ready when: Front snap kick (b3) self-check met.
What you are learning
The turning kick, the most-used kick in taekwondo: knee up, turn on the standing foot until its heel points at the target, turn the hip over and snap the top of the foot (the instep) into the target. Low first, and the pivot always comes before the kick to protect the knee.
Words on this card Attention, Chamber, Ball of the foot, Pivot
- Attention
- Standing tall with feet together; bending forward from the hips to show respect; feet shoulder-width with fists in front of the belt.
- Chamber
- Lifting the knee and folding the leg before a kick.
- Ball of the foot
- The pad under the toes, the top of the foot, and the outside edge, each used for different kicks.
- Pivot
- Turning on the foot you stand on so the heel points at the target.
Set up
A pillow held at waist height, beside the parent.
Weather: dry ground
Show it first for the one teaching
- Lift the knee and turn on the ball of the standing foot until the heel points at the pillow.
- Turn the hip over so the knee points at the pillow.
- Snap the instep into the pillow and back, then return to ready.
Your part while they practise
Hold the target still; watch the standing foot turn.
Step by step
- Knee up.
- Pivot on the standing foot until its heel points at the target.
- Turn the hip over.
- Snap the instep into the pillow.
- Back to ready. 8 per leg, waist height only.
How much: 8 per leg, 3 rounds 10 min a session 2 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Around the world
You hold the pillow at four sides in turn; one kick at each without hopping.
Who plays: the child against their own best; you hold the pillow.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- Hold the pillow in front, then to the left, the back and the right of the child
- The child turns to face it and does one turning kick each time
- 2 rounds per leg
- Fair play
- A grown-up kicks with the weaker leg.
- Points
- 1 point for each kick with the heel turned before contact; 1 more point for no hop.
- Fouls
- No points for that kick
- The standing foot does not turn
- Kicking above waist height
- Kicking before you say "ready"
- Winning
- Beat your best from 16 kicks.
- 12 points for 1 star
- 20 points for 2 stars
- 28 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
Pivot and chamber only, no kick.
Two kicks in a row, same leg.
What you will see, and what to say
- the standing foot stays still
Turn the heel to the target
Heel points first. - the knee twists
Pivot first, then kick
Turn, then snap.
Self-check
6 of 8 kicks per leg with the heel turned before contact.
Stop and get a coach when
Any knee discomfort; this kick needs a teacher's check early.
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 turning kick, the pivot.
awiseathlete.com/sports/taekwondo/taekwondo-b4