What I’m working on in the dojang (gym). Kicks, stances, sparring, flexibility, and the rest of it.
I like kicking and spinning, looks really cool. Honestly I just saw someone do a spinning hook kick in a Jackie Chan movie and thought “I need to learn that.” That was enough motivation for me. No deep philosophical reason. Just pure “that looks insane, I want to do it.”
This page is the map. Everything below is grouped by what I am actually trying to do: get the technique right, get the flexibility to throw it high, get it to land on a moving person, and know what the sport looks like at the top.
(y-) Start Here
New to the notes, or coming back after a while? This is the order that makes sense.
| If you want to… | Go to |
|---|---|
| Learn the vocabulary | (y-) Stances and the kick table below |
| Kick higher | (y-) Flexibility Warm-Up |
| Learn to spin | (y-) Spinning Kicks Guide |
| Actually fight someone | (y-) Sparring |
| Grade or compete | (y-) Taegeuk Poomsae and (y-) Rules |
(y-) Basic Kicks
These are the kicks I have been drilling. Some feel natural, some still feel like my leg has never been attached to my body.
| Kick | Korean Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Front Kick | Ap Chagi | A straight kick driven forward with the ball of the foot, snapping the knee up before extending. |
| Roundhouse Kick (body) | Baldum | A circular kick targeting the body, striking with the instep. |
| High Roundhouse Kick | Dollyo Chagi | A circular kick aimed at head height, striking with the instep or ball of the foot. |
| 360 Spinning Kick | Dora Baldum | A full 360° spinning roundhouse, generating power through the rotation before striking with the instep. |
| Reverse Roundhouse Kick | Pandae Dollyo Chagi | A roundhouse kick thrown with the rear leg in the opposite direction of travel, striking with the heel or instep. |
| Side Kick | Yeop Chagi | A linear kick delivered sideways, striking with the heel or blade of the foot. |
| Back Kick | Dwi Chagi | A rear kick executed by turning away from the target and thrusting the heel straight back. |
| Axe Kick | Naeryeo Chagi | The leg is raised high and brought straight down onto the target, striking with the heel. |
| Hook Kick | Huryeo Chagi | A kick that arcs past the target and hooks back to strike with the heel or sole. |
| Spinning Hook Kick | Dwi Huryeo Chagi | A full rotation that generates power before delivering the hook kick with the heel. |
| Push Kick | Mireo Chagi | A thrusting kick used to create distance, pushing the target away with the sole of the foot. |
| Jump Front Kick | Ieo Chagi | A front kick executed while jumping, adding height and momentum to the strike. |
| Jump Spinning Back Kick | Twieo Dwi Chagi | A jumping variation of the back kick with a full spin, striking the target with the heel in the air. |
(y-) Fundamentals
The base everything else is built on.
- (y-) Stances: the poomsae and sparring stances, what each one is for.
- (y-) Front Kick: ap chagi, the straight-line kick and the chamber every other kick hides behind.
- (y-) Side Kick: yeop chagi, head, hip, and heel on one line, used in sparring as a jab with the foot.
- (y-) Roundhouse Kick: dollyo chagi, the kick that does most of the scoring in sparring.
- (y-) Axe Kick: naeryeo chagi, the head kick that comes down over the guard.
- (y-) Combination Kicks: chaining kicks together, which is where it starts to feel like the real thing.
- (y-) Taegeuk Poomsae: the eight foundational WT forms and the philosophy behind each.
- (y-) Philosophy: the “Do”, the tenets, and why any of this is more than kicking.
(y-) Flexibility & Kick Height
The whole flexibility project, in the order you actually use it. Warm-up first, splits second, troubleshooting when it stalls.
The fifteen minutes before every session: raise, activate, mobilise, potentiate. Includes the five-minute emergency version and what never to do before training.
The science of when to stretch, the PNF contract-relax protocol, and why core stability moves kick height more than pure flexibility does.
The 12-week structure, the golden rules, and the active flexibility work that turns a floor split into an actual high kick.
- (y-) Front Splits: hamstrings and hip flexors, the six-stage ladder, and why the back leg is the half everyone forgets.
- (y-) Side Splits: adductors, hip rotation, and the bone geometry that decides your real ceiling.
- (y-) Flexibility Plateaus & Troubleshooting: the diagnostic list for when nothing has moved in two months.
(y-) Spinning Kicks
The whole reason I started. Full breakdowns of the spins, plus the training that makes them land.
The five phases every spin shares, the whole spinning-kick family, and the universal principles (spot, axis, hip power, land loaded).
- (y-) Spinning Back Kick (Dwi Chagi): the highest-percentage spin, straight-line heel thrust, best counter to pressure.
- (y-) Spinning Hook Kick (Dwi Huryeo Chagi): the showstopper head kick that hooks around the guard.
- (y-) Spin Training Drills: balance, spotting, and rotational-power work that builds the engine.
(y-) Sparring
- (y-) Sparring (Gyeorugi): distance, timing, footwork, and the business of not getting hit.
- (y-) Sparring Footwork (Bal-gisul): the bounce, slide, switch, and cut step, plus how to use the boundary.
- (y-) Cut & Push Kick (Mireo Chagi): the front-leg lift that jams an attack, and the follow-ups off it.
- (y-) Sparring Defense (Bangeo): distance, movement, the guard, and the counter that should follow every block.
- (y-) Sparring Conditioning: plyometrics, round-shaped intervals, and single-leg strength for three two-minute rounds.
- (y-) Modern Competition Rules (2026): what actually scores under PSS electronic scoring.
(y-) Following the Sport
The competitive side changes fast. New electronic-scoring rules landed in 2026 and the LA 2028 ranking race is already on.
Best-of-three rounds, PSS electronic scoring, point values, and the new-for-2026 rule changes (wider 15-point gap, double-value stalling penalty, punch sensors).
Wuxi 2025 Worlds gold medalists, the Roma 2026 Grand Prix, and the road to LA 2028.
(y-) Poomsae Commands
Poomsae (patterns / forms) practice has its own vocabulary. Knowing what the instructor says means you are not the person looking around confused after everyone else bowed.
| Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Charyeot | Cha ryut | Attention stance |
| Gyeongnyae | Gyong nyeh | Bow |
| Joonbi | Joon bee | Ready |
| Sijak | Shi jak | Begin / Start |
| Geuman | Guh man | Stop |
| Baro | Ba ro | Return to ready position |
| Poomsae | Poom say | Pattern / Form |
| Hana, Dul, Set | Hana Dul Set | One, Two, Three |
| Kihap | Key hap | Shout / Yell (the loud exhale you do on certain moves) |
| Dobok | Do bok | Uniform |
| Dojang | Do jang | Training hall |
| Sabomnim | Sa bom nim | Instructor / Master |
| Sunbae | Sun beh | Senior student |
| Gamsahamnida | Gamsahamnida | Thank you |
(y-) Every Page
| Page | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| (y-) Stances | Poomsae and sparring stances |
| (y-) Front Kick | Ap chagi, the straight-line kick |
| (y-) Side Kick | Yeop chagi, the linear power kick |
| (y-) Roundhouse Kick | Dollyo chagi, the main scoring kick |
| (y-) Axe Kick | Naeryeo chagi, over the top of the guard |
| (y-) Combinations | Chaining kicks together |
| (y-) Taegeuk Poomsae | The eight WT forms |
| (y-) Philosophy | The “Do” and the tenets |
| (y-) Flexibility Warm-Up | RAMP protocol before every session |
| (y-) Stretching & Mobility | When and how to stretch, PNF |
| (y-) Splits Progression | The 12-week flexibility program |
| (y-) Front Splits | Hamstrings and hip flexors |
| (y-) Side Splits | Adductors and hip rotation |
| (y-) Flexibility Plateaus | Troubleshooting a stalled split |
| (y-) Spinning Kicks Guide | The universal mechanics of every spin |
| (y-) Spinning Back Kick | Dwi chagi, the highest-percentage spin |
| (y-) Spinning Hook Kick | Dwi huryeo chagi, the showstopper |
| (y-) Spin Drills | Balance, spotting, rotational power |
| (y-) Sparring | Distance, timing, not getting hit |
| (y-) Footwork | Movement, distance bands, the boundary |
| (y-) Cut & Push Kick | Jamming attacks with the front leg |
| (y-) Defense | Distance, movement, guard, counter |
| (y-) Conditioning | Fitness for three two-minute rounds |
| (y-) Rules (2026) | PSS scoring and the 2026 rule changes |
| (y-) 2026 Season | Rankings and the road to LA 2028 |