Poomsae Performance Guide
Kicking

Order of Operations:
Chamber → Extend → Re-chamber

  • Kicks must cleanly move through each of the three above phases

  • The re-chamber must be performed at the same height as the chamber – no swooping down to the mat

  • The arms should proceed to the next technique’s 1st Position during the re-chamber phase

  • Kicks must be extended at least as high as your collar bone. Kicking higher will result in a higher performance score

  • Left and right kicks must be symmetrical and reach the same height on each side

  • You may pivot once to execute the kick and re-pivot once to reach the next stance

  • The anchor leg must be straight at the time of the kick’s extension

Below are listed the kicking techniques which appear in the recognized sets of poomsae, the Yugeupja and the Yudanja.

Front Kick / Ap Chagi
(Multiple Poomsae):

  • The pivoting foot should not exceed what is natural for the strike

  • The striking foot must be in a Pulled Foot shape, using the ball of the foot

  • The fists should be placed symmetrically side by side on either the abdomen or chest

  • The arms should proceed to the next technique’s 1st Position during the re-chamber phase

Turn Kick / Dollyeo Chagi
(Taegeuk 6):

  • The pivoting foot should turn until its toes are facing away from the direction of the strike

  • The striking foot must be in a Pointed Foot shape, using the instep of the foot

  • The arm on the anchor side should be diagonally across the chest while the arm on the attacking side should be folded on the side of the body

  • The arms should proceed to the next technique’s 1st Position during the re-chamber phase

  • The kick must extend 30° - 40° past the center line and must not rest at 0° on the center line

Side Kick / Yeop Chagi
(Multiple Poomsae):

  • The pivoting foot should turn until its toes are facing away from the direction of the strike

  • The striking foot must be in a Bladed Foot shape, using the outer edge of the foot

  • The fists may be placed horizontally beside one another during the chamber and extension phases (form dependent)

  • The fists may be placed in Small Hinge / Jageun Doljjeogwi during the chamber and extension phases (form dependent), excluding Ilyeo

  • The 5 second Side Kicks in Ilyeo are paired up with a Single Mountain Block / Oesanteul Makgi

  • The arms should proceed to the next technique’s 1st Position during the re-chamber phase

Target Inward Crescent Kick / Pyojeok An Chagi
(Taegeuk 7 & Hansu):

  • The inner blade of the foot must strike into the palm of the hand

  • Do not strike with the sole of the foot

  • The targeted palm must remain at 0° forward

  • The pulling hand must remain at the hip throughout the entire kick

Front Foot Front Kick / Ap Bal Ap Chagi
(Taegeuk 8):

  • The pivoting foot should not exceed what is natural for the strike

  • The striking foot must be in a Pulled Foot shape, using the ball of the foot

  • The fists should be placed vertically on top of one another at the abdomen during the chamber and extension phases

  • The arms should proceed to the next technique’s 1st Position during the re-chamber phase

  • The top fist is determined by which side of the body is kicking

Double Front Kick / Dubal Dangseong Ap Chagi
(Taegeuk 8):

  • The first kick targets the solar plexus

  • The second kick targets the face

Jumping Front Kick / Ttwieo Ap Chagi
(Taegeuk 8):

  • Targets the face

  • The landing should not travel forward

Repeating Side Kick / Geodeup Yeop Chagi
(Koryo):

  • The pivoting foot should turn until its toes are facing away from the direction of the strike

  • Both kicks must thrust toward the target rather than snap

  • The fists must be placed horizontally beside one another during the chamber and extension phases

  • The arms should proceed to the next technique’s 1st Position during the second re-chamber phase

  • The first kick must strike at knee level

  • Both kicks must cleanly Chamber → Extend → Re-chamber

Target Tornado Inward Kick / Pyojeok Dolgae An Chagi
(Cheonkwon):

  • The inner blade of the foot must strike into the palm of the hand

  • Do not strike with the sole of the foot

  • The targeted hand must remain at 0° forward

  • The pulling hand must remain at the hip throughout the entire kick

Jumping Side Kick / Ttwieo Yeop Chagi
(Ilyeo):

  • Must cleanly Chamber → Extend → Re-chamber as in a regular Yeop Chagi

  • Must strike with the outer blade of the foot

Common Deductions For Kicks:

  • Kicking below the height of your collarbone

  • Lacking power

  • Poor accuracy

  • Poor posture (bent neck, hips out of alignment, etc.)

  • Improper chamber

  • Improper extension

  • Improper re-chamber

  • Improper foot shape

  • Improper arm position

  • Improper pivot amount

  • The anchor leg is bent during the extension phase

  • Performing more than one pivot to kick

  • Performing more than one re-pivot to recover

  • Poor balance

  • Eyeline doesn’t match the direction of the technique