Taekwondo Moves

Out of the many different martial arts, taekwondo is perhaps one of the most popular. Taekwondo moves require immense agility and fitness levels, as a lot of the basic taekwondo moves use the movement of legs extensively, and also require an individual to raise their legs above the head of an opponent.

In recent years, the importance and popularity of martial arts as a form of self defense has greatly gone up, and this has led to a lot of people trying their hand at newer forms of martial arts. At the fore of this new wave of self defense martial arts is the art of taekwondo, which satisfies the need for a method of self defense, along with keeping an individual physically and mentally fit as well. Taekwondo techniques are not that hard to learn, and with some practice and dedication, one can master them with relative ease.

Taekwondo Moves - The Stance

This is the most important thing that comes into play when a person is attempting to learn taekwondo. The way in which you stand is the most elemental factor to take into consideration, and all future lessons depend on how correct your stance is. Holding the right stance also gives you more freedom of movement as far as throwing punches and kicks are concerned. The following are the most basic stances that every student of taekwondo must be well aware of.

Walking stance
Horse riding stance
Back stance
Tiger stance or Cat stance
Front stance or long-forward stance

If a person has learned how to hold these stances correctly, it becomes much simpler to learn and perform all the taekwondo moves.

Taekwondo Moves - Blocks

The most basic taekwondo moves are the blocks, which are specially designed to help you avoid receiving a blow by your opponent. You can use pretty much any part of your body to block an impending blow, and then get an opportunity to strike a blow yourself, soon after that. Blocks are required to be fast and strong in order to thwart an attack on yourself, and they are given great importance when a person is being taught the art of taekwondo. Each of the different kinds of blocks require a twist at the end of the move in order to combat the oncoming blow effectively. These proper taekwondo techniques for blocking can only be picked up with a lot of practice. Examples of some of the blocks are the low block, the middle block, the high block, the outer forearm block, and the knife block.

Taekwondo Moves - Attacks


Then you finally reach the attacking moves that can be used on your opponent. Taekwondo originated with the use of the legs purely, but over the years it has evolved to include strikes and blows by the arms as well. You cannot learn how to attack unless you know how to defend though, so the taekwondo moves list for attack will be taught to you by your teacher much later. The punch has now become a primary weapon in taekwondo moves, and mastering this is given great importance. Here are some basic punching and kicking moves that you will be asked to pick up when you start learning taekwondo.

Punching hand twists
Back-fist strike
Double knife-hand strike
Front kick
Roundhouse kick
Back kick
Axe kick
Side-kick

Apart from these attacking moves, there are many more that can be utilized as well. These will all be variations of moves mentioned above though, and learning these basic taekwondo moves will open up the doors to other more advanced moves and techniques.

Also see the following:

Martial Arts Styles
Martial Arts Training Tips

The key to learning taekwondo is confidence. The confidence to have the blows coming towards you and have the ability and composure to block them, and also the ability to deliver your blows with conviction. People who are apprehensive about the whole matter will be unable to get any good at the sport, no matter how many taekwondo moves that they may have picked up. Over time, it becomes apparent that learning taekwondo is more a state of mind than anything else.

Taegeuk Il Jang - Heaven (Keon = Heaven and Light) -  Powerful, Manly, pure Yang (South, Father) The first Taegeuk is the beginning of all Poomses. The associated trigram represents Yang (heaven, light), therefore, this poomse should be performed with the greatness of Heaven.

Taegeuk Yi Jang - Lake (Tae = Joyful, Serene) -  Gentle, Firm, Feminine (South East, Youngest daughter) In the depths of the lake are treasures and mysteries.

Taegeuk Sam Jang - Fire (Ri = Fire and Sun) - Variety, Passion like fire, Feminine (East, Second daughter) Fire contains a lot of energy. Fire helped man to survive, but on the other hand had some             catastrophical results. This form should be performed rhythmically, with some outbursts of energy.

Taegeuk Sah Jang - Thunder (Jin = Brave) - Calm in the face of danger, Masculine (North East, Eldest    son) Thunder comes from the sky and is absorbed by the earth. Thunder is one of the most powerful natural forces, circling, gyrating. This Taegeuk/Palgwe should be performed with this in mind.

Taegeuk Oh Jang - Wind (Seon = Alternately yielding and powerful) -  Feminine (South West, Eldest    daughter) Wind is a gently force, but can sometimes be furious, destroying everything in it's path. Taegeuk Oh Jang should be performed like the wind: gently, but knowing the ability of mass destruction with a single movement.

Taegeuk Yuk Jang - Water (Gam = Flowing) -  Gentle and destructive, Masculine (West, Second son)   Water can move a mountain. The movements of this Poomse should be performed like water. Sometimes standing still like water in a lake, sometimes thriving as a river.

Taegeuk Chil Jang - Mountain (Gan = Stable, Motion and Immobility) -  Knowing where and when to stop, Masculine Mountains will always look majestic, no matter the size. This Poomse should be performed with the feeling that all movements are this majestic and deserved to be praised.

Taegeuk Pal Jang - Earth (Gon = Strong, Concentrated) - Respect, Pure Um (or Yin), Feminine The associated trigram of this Poomse is Yin: the end of the beginning, the evil part of all that is good. Even in this darkness, there is still some light. Performing this Taegeuk, one should be aware that this is the last Taegeuk to be learned, it also is the end of a circle, and therefore it is also the first, the second etc...