Taekwondo is a popular form of martial arts. It originated in Korea.
Taekwondo is known for being an intense sport with a heavy focus on kicking and footwork.
Since there is a lot of focus on kicks there are a number of different types of kicks to learn in Taekwondo.
Some of these kicks are much easier than others to master (Find out How To Do A 45 Kick here).
The different types of kicks in Taekwondo range in terms of their effectiveness at striking your opponent.
One of the popular types of kicks in Taekwondo is the hook kick.
If you are unfamiliar with this type of kick, then you might be interested in learning more about how to perform it.
If that is the case, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we are going to walk you through everything you need to know about the hook kick.
This includes guiding you through the steps on how to do a hook kick in Taekwondo.
What Is A Hook Kick?
Before we start looking at how to do a hook kick in Taekwondo, we need to understand more about the hook kick.
This includes making sure we are clear on what a hook kick is. The hook kick gets its name because the kick has a hooking motion to it.
This makes it different from other kicks as its aim is not to push your opponent. Instead, a hook kick aims to knock your opponent’s teeth away.
The hook kick is able to knock your opponent’s teeth as you use the heel of your foot.
However, for the maximum damage to your opponent, hook kicks in Taekwondo should be aimed at the temple or the jaw of your opponent.
As you become more familiar with the hook kick you can add your own spin on it.
There are many different versions of the hook kick, for example, the spinning hook kick.
The Reason The Hook Kick Works
The hook kick is a popular kick in Taekwondo because it effectively works at impacting your opponent.
There are many different reasons as to why the hook kick works, here are the main reasons.
Unexpected Kick
One of the main reasons why the hook kick works are because it is a kick that can be disguised.
Due to the way the hook kick is set up, it is similar to many straight kicks.
Hook kicks look as though you could be planning on kicking your opponent on their side or in the middle.
This means your opponent has a higher chance of not expecting this kick or expecting where the strike will be.
This means your opponent has to remain guarded. If they do not remain guarded or attempt to block the wrong kick then they could get knocked out.
Powerful
Another reason the hook kick works well against your opponent is that it is a powerful kick.
Whilst, it is banned in many sporting competitions to try a full-power shot against your opponent, the hook kick is one where you would be able to achieve a lot of power.
Rather than trying to take a full-power shot with this kick, it is a kick that allows you to get enough power to impact your opponent.
In taekwondo tournaments, many use the hook kick as a way to get behind the guard of your opponent.
It is worth noting that the hook kick is not as powerful as other types of kicks, but since it is a kick that can surprise your opponent and it still has power to it, it works to take out your opponent.
Anyone that ignores hook kicks can be taken down by them.
How To Do A Hook Kick
Now that we know why a hook kick is a good kick and what a hook kick is, it is time to look at the steps to performing a hook kick.
Step One: Neutral Stance
The first thing you need to do when starting a hook kick is to be in a neutral stance.
Some people choose to start sideways but this makes it more obvious to your opponent what sort of stance you are doing.
Step Two: Rotate Your Heel
After your starting stance is correct, it is time to lift your foot from the ground.
As you do this you need to make sure the heel of your foot is towards your calf.
This will help to protect your Achilles heel from being damaged during impact.
At this point, you can lift your knee so it is towards your chest. This is the same motion you would do if you were going to do a normal sidekick.
Step Three: Sort Your Knees
Now it is time to work on your knees. After you have lifted your knee it needs to be brought across your body.
This is so you are in the position to kick your opponent near their jaw or temple.
Keeping your knee in the center means you will end up missing the target on your opponent.
Step Four: Swing
Now it is time to swing your leg and extend it so that your heel passes the center of your body.
Make sure to lead with your heel, so your heel makes an impact.
If your kick makes contact with your opponent then you can choose to drop it to the floor or you can rechamber your leg.
If it doesn’t make contact with your opponent, then rechamber your leg and decide if you want to repeat.
Final Thoughts
A hook kick is a great kick to surprise your opponent and impact them with power.
Once you have learned the basic kicks, you can use those techniques to learn how to hook kick.
The main thing about a hook kick is you are kicking with your heel.
We hope this guide has helped you to understand how to do a hook kick in Taekwondo.
Please share this guide with others who might be interested. Thank you for reading!
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