How to Execute Jump Kicks (Twio Chagi) in Taekwondo

Last Updated: January 29, 2023 References

Although Taekwondo has been around since the 1950s, it remains one of the most popular forms of martial arts (Olympic sport) in the world. Most experts consider Taekwondo a suitable fight sport for those who wish to improve on areas such as speed, power, self-control and ultimately, self-defense. Consequently, jump kicks are a stylish way to show off the fighting skills and techniques.

Jumping kicks in Taekwondo are more difficult than standard kicks and, as such, they are awarded and scored more points in competition. Jumping kicks are also the most popular jumped Taekwondo kicks and they're often shown in board breaking demonstrations. To get started on mastering this move, start with Step 1.

Steps

1
Stretch first. Always remember to do some stretching exercises before undertaking these exercises, to prevent muscle tension or strains.

Method 1

Method 1 of 9:

The Jump Front Kick (Twio Ap Chagi)

1
Get ready for action (Chong-bi).
2
Form the fighting stance (Kherugi Seogi). Raise your front foot, ready for a jump.^{[1]
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3
Jump from your standing foot and lift your knee as high as possible.^{[2]
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4
Execute your left leg front kick with your left hand straight down, to assist in maintaining height and to control your body's balance.
5
Return to your initial position. After completing the jump front kick, come back down land both your legs on the ground by keeping your initial posture (Kherugi Seogi – fighting stance).

Method 2

Method 2 of 9:

The Jump Back Kick (Twio Dwi Chagi)

1
Get ready for action (Chong-bi).
2
Adopt the fighting stance (Kherugi Seogi). Keeping your forefoot as the weight-supporting axis, raise your back foot while bending your knee. Turn your trunk slightly backward before jumping and kick the target.^{[3]
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3
While showing your back, jump with both of your knees as high as possible.
4
Thrust out your foot (jump back kick). Your kicking foot must be stretched straight toward the target. After rubbing past the knee of your supporting foot, keep your supporting foot close to the thigh of your kicking foot and look toward your opponent.^{[4]
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5
Bring the knee of your kicking leg back shortly after the kick and land on the floor in a fighting stance (Kherugi Seogi) position.

Method 3

Method 3 of 9:

The Jump Side Kick (Twio Yeop Chagi)

1
Get ready for action (Chong-bi).
2
Adopt the fighting stance (Kherugi Seogi).
3
Lift up the knee of your kicking foot by bending in front of the supporting foot.^{[5]
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4
If your preferred direction is left, jump from your right leg as high as possible and lift your left knee, so that your feet are close together and both of your lower legs point forward.
5
Thrust out your left foot and deliver a jump side kick by stretching your foot straight toward the target and keeping your right foot close to your left thigh.^{[6]
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6
Bring the knee of your kicking leg back shortly after the kick and land on the floor in a fighting stance (Kherugi Seogi) position.

Method 4

Method 4 of 9:

The Jump Backward Thrashing Kick (Twio Dwi – Huryo Chagi)

1
Get ready for action (Chong-bi).
2
Keeping your back foot as the weight-supporting axis, turn your foot along with your body, twisting at the waist. Your eyes must be immediately directed toward your opponent, balancing both of your hands.
3
Raise your front foot while bending your knee, and turn your trunk fully backward before jumping.^{[7]
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4
Jump with both of your knees as high as possible, while turning backward.^{[8]
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5
Make a stretched spinning motion by drawing a circle to deliver a jump backward thrashing kick and look toward your opponent.
6
Bring the knee of your kicking leg back shortly after the kick and land on the floor in a fighting stance (Kherugi Seogi) position.

Method 5

Method 5 of 9:

The Jump Downward (Axe) Kick (Naeryo Chagi)

1
Get ready for action (Chong-bi).
2
Adopt the fighting stance (Kherugi Seogi).
3
Raise your front foot. Jump from your right leg.^{[9]
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4
Lift your right knee as high up as you can, keeping the knee of your kicking foot slightly bent forward.
5
Deliver a downward kick powerfully pulling your foot downward, with both of your hands straight down, so as to create the height needed and to control your body's balance.^{[10]
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6
After completing the jump downward kick, come back down and land both of your legs on the ground in a Beom Seogi – Tiger stance.

Method 6

Method 6 of 9:

The Jump Inner Kick (Twio An Chagi)

1
Get ready for action (Chong-bi).
2
Adopt the fighting stance (Kherugi Seogi).
3
Pull your forefoot fully behind and your back foot front. Turn your body anti-clockwise and lift your foot along with twisting your body at the waist. Turn your trunk fully backward before jumping, swinging with both of your hands to create the height needed.^{[11]
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4
Jump with both of your knees as high as possible, while turning backward.
5
Make a stretched spinning motion to deliver a jump backward thrashing kick by drawing your kicking foot in a circle from outside to inside, using the back of the foot blade to slap.^{[12]
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6
Bring the knee of your kicking leg back shortly after the kick and land on the floor in a fighting stance (Kherugi Seogi) position.

Method 7

Method 7 of 9:

The Jump Outer Kick (Twio Bakkat Chagi)

1
Get ready for action (Chong-bi).
2
Adopt a fighting stance (Kherugi Seogi).
3
Raise your front foot. Jump from your right leg.^{[13]
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4
Turn your body clockwise and lift your foot along with twisting your body at the waist. Turn your trunk fully toward the right.^{[14]
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5
Make a stretched spinning motion to deliver a jump outer kick by drawing your kicking foot in a round circle from inside to outside, using the edge of your foot blade to kick.
6
Bring the knee of your kicking leg back shortly after the kick and land on the floor in a fighting stance (Kherugi Seogi) position.

Method 8

Method 8 of 9:

The Jump Whipping Kick (Twio Huryo Chagi)

1
Get ready for action (Chong-bi).
2
Turn to the right in a Boem Seogi, Tiger stance, keeping your left leg as the weight-supporting axis. Your eyes must be instantly directed toward your opponent, with both of your hands in the fighting position.^{[15]
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3
Jump with both of your knees as high as possible, while turning toward the right side.
4
Raise both your knees, and turn your trunk fully toward the right side before executing the whipping kick.
5
Make a stretched spinning motion by drawing a circle to deliver a jump whipping kick reverse with your eyes looking over your shoulder.^{[16]
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- A balanced landing after the whipping kick is very important, since your body is slightly inclined and bent.
6
Bring your knee of the kicking leg back shortly after the kick and land on the floor in a fighting stance (Kherugi Seogi) position.

Method 9

Method 9 of 9:

The Jump Double Front Kick (Twio Kawi Ap Chagi)

1
Get ready for action (Chong-bi).
2
Stand in a Pyonhi Seogi, the "Ready Stance".
3
Start the frog jumps from a sitting position with your hands in front of your chest.
4
Swing your arms forward up. Jump up as far as you can at the same time, bringing your knees toward your chest, making jerking movements with both your hands down to assist the height of your body in mid-air.^{[17]
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5
Execute the double jump front kick, using the ball of your foot with your toes connecting the target. Do not lean backward––instead, lean forward.^{[18]
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6
After completing the jump double front kick, come back down and try to land on your toes with your feet shoulder width, as in Juchum Seogi, the "Riding Stance". This will ensure good balance and protects your knee joints.
- When you execute a roundhouse kick, you should start with the kicking leg behind you. And that kicking leg should come forward 180 degrees.
- Your base foot that you are standing on is going to pivot 180 degrees so that your toes are pointing behind you and your heel is pointing toward the target.
- Then you execute the kick by pointing your knee at the target and attacking the target with either the top of the foot or the ball of the foot.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I learn Taekwondo at home alone?

Community Answer

You can follow tutorials like this one, or you can watch YouTube, and try copying the moves.
Question

How do I do it when I keep trying to follow but I just can't?

Community Answer

Try watching videos in slow motion if need be. After I left the dojo, I couldn't follow pictures and directions very well having had hands-on training, so I watched videos on YouTube on how to do them, and I slowed the videos down if it was too fast to follow.

Warning

Keep your upper body straight. Do not lean your head or shoulders downward or to the side.
Do not fully extend the leg, otherwise you might (depending on your morphology) damage your bones and connective tissues. Always keep a small angle to prevent permanent problems.
Pull your toes back. If you strike with the tip of your toes, you will damage them. Strike with the ball of your foot, below the toes.
Do not lean backward, lean forward. If you lean backward you may fall and injure yourself. Landing on your heels is bad for your knees.
Landing on your toes protects the joints.
Jumping kicks are often derived from the basic kicks. Before trying to do Jumps kick, one should learn the basic kick on the floor. Check out How to execute a front kick in Taekwondo.