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...

Jujitsu Moves

Jujitsu has long been synonymous with the term martial arts for self defense, and knowing some jujitsu moves will surely get you out of a sticky patch or two. This art was developed by samurai's in ancient Japan, and it is easily one of the deadliest and most ruthless martial arts around. It is meant to protect you from attacks that come your way, and if learned correctly, it can teach you to seriously injure someone with a single blow.

The most basic jujitsu moves heavily involve locking your opponents, grappling with them, throwing them to the ground, and making use of weaponry and other ground skills. Jujitsu moves are some of the most complete and aggressive martial arts skills that one can learn, and their effectiveness is unquestioned the world over.

In order for one to learn and master these jujitsu technique a lot of training and hard work is required, and this can be received from any of the multitude of jujitsu schools that offer courses. The art of jujitsu is about 800 years old, so it is not something that can be picked up easily. People spend many many years mastering their jujitsu moves and gaining more experience. Jujitsu is, in fact, more than just a fighting technique, it is more a way of living and gaining control over your body and your mind so as to lead a positive and healthy life. Also read about the types of martial arts and martial arts styles.

Beginner Jujitsu Moves 

Learning the art of jujitsu takes many years but the basic fundamentals behind it can be understood fairly quickly. The same principles apply for most of the moves and this makes it easier to understand and learn. The throwing techniques for jujitsu moves are known as Nage Waza and some of the most common jujitsu moves for throwing are as follows.

Osoto-Gari (Major outer reap)
O-Goshi (Major hip)
Ippon-Seoi-Nage (One point shoulder throw)

Throwing techniques form an integral part of jujitsu, and without mastering them, advanced jujitsu moves are very hard to learn. Next you have the locking techniques, also known as Kansetsu Waza. The most common locking techniques are Kote-Gaeshi (Wrist twist), Ude-Kujiki (Arm break) and the Ude-Garami (Arm entanglement). The locking techniques usually go hand in hand with the throwing techniques, and together they are enough to counter any potential attackers that come your way.

Lastly, you have the ground techniques to dismantle your opponents while on the ground, and like all the other techniques, these too form the basis for basic and advanced jujitsu moves. The ground techniques are also known as Ne-Waza and it includes the Kesa-Gatame (Scarf hold), Juji Gatame (Cross lock) and the Yoko-Shiho-Gatame (Side four corner hold).

These jujitsu moves simply serve as starting points for getting to know far more advanced and deadly moves. These moves also go a long way in teaching an individual the fundamentals of balance, leverage and momentum. These concepts are key to picking up the art of jujitsu and there is no other way to learn this skill than by constant training and practice. The various skill levels of a person means that they are allotted a belt of a certain color, the highest being the black belt. The order of skill belts is as follows:

• White belt
• Red belt
• Yellow belt
• Orange belt
• Green belt
• Blue belt
• Purple belt
• Brown belt
• Black belt

The white belt level, being the most basic of all, simply deals with kicks, punches, throwing simple strikes and blocking. A few throws are also covered within this level as it builds up to learning the advanced jujitsu moves that come with the succeeding levels.

Also see the following:


Tai Chi Moves
Hapkido Moves
Kung Fu Moves
Taekwondo Moves

To reach the level of a black belt is not simple by any means, and not everyone is capable of doing it either. More than just the knowledge of jujitsu moves, one requires sincerity, hard work and commitment to reach the next level. Enrolling in a jujitsu school is highly advisable in order to get professional training and mentoring, and to learn the very best jujitsu moves and with them best self defense.