The axe kick is a typical Tae Kwon Do kick often seen in competitions. Because of the large strike, it’s very easy to counterattack an axe kick. That’s why a lot of timing and speed are necessary for a successful application. In Korean, there are three different terms for the Tae Kwon Do axe kick: "Naeryo Chagi," "Naeryo Chikki," and "Ap Cha Olligi." Find more Tae Kwon Do tutorials at Tae Kwon Do main.
Description: Axe Kick - Tae Kwon Do
Stand in a fighting stance with your left leg forward. Look straight forward during the whole technique and don’t crouch your back at all. Of course, you can also do the axe kick the other way around. This kick requires a lot of timing, flexibility, and speed. You can make a hop forward or backward to adjust the distance to your opponent. You can also lift the kicking leg with the knee bent if the opponent is too close. Another variation is to kick in a circular motion (half-moon axe kicks). In this lesson, you will learn the most basic variation of the axe kick: the straight axe kick without a hop and with both knees fully extended.
Start kicking your right leg and twist 90° on the ball of your left foot (counterclockwise). The heel of the standing foot is elevated a little bit, but if you elevate the heel too far, the kick becomes unstable, making it easier for your opponent to counterattack you. To adjust the distance to your opponent, you can also make a hop forward or backward (practice all three variations).
Kick up your right foot to head level. When you first learn the axe kick, keep both knees fully extended. If your opponent is too close, you can lift the kicking leg with the knee bent. But the down motion always has to be with the knee fully extended.
DON’Ts When You Kick Up
Kicking up with a bent knee often leads to the mistakes listed above. That’s why you should learn the axe kick with both knees fully extended first.
Snap down your right leg with the knee fully extended and hit your opponent with the bottom of the foot or the heel. At the same time, push your hips slightly forward to bring the kicking foot closer to your opponent and get your head out of the reach of your opponent.
Finally, go back to your fighting stance. Now you stand the other way around.
Trainer advice: Axe Kick - Tae Kwon Do
Practice all axe kick variations: with hop and without hop, lifting the kicking leg with the knee bent and extended, and half-moon axe kick variations.
Warm up and stretch your splits before you practice axe kicks.
Related instructions: Axe Kick - Tae Kwon Do
Stretching
Front Splits
Straight Wushu Stretchkick
Videos: Axe Kick - Tae Kwon Do
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