Techniques>Kicks>Hook kicks

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Hook kicks

Intro

In the hook kick, the foot of the kicking leg travels in a hooking motion, swinging from the outside to the inside with the knee pointed outward and the heel snapping back toward the hip. This hooking motion allows the kick to reach around a guard.

To perform a hook kick

• The kicking leg is chambered and the kick fires straight forward, just as it is it does on the side kick. The defender will probably think the kick is a straight-in side kick and move to the outside to avoid it. However, the foot is aimed at a point about 12 inches to the outside of the target. Then, instead of traveling straight forward, the kick begins its hooking motion.
• The hip and knee of the kicking leg are pulled in the same direction the target is moving and don’t stop until past the target. Simultaneously, the heel of the kicking foot snaps back toward the kicker's hip. The heel of the kicking foot strikes the side of the target.
• The snapping of the foot backward in combination with the pulling of the hip and leg through the target, add force to the kick. Since the heel makes contact, this kick may be devastating. The sole of the foot may be used to make contact; this makes the impact less forceful since there is a larger striking area.
• When in close range, the kick may be slightly changed to hook past and behind the opponent, so the heel strikes him or her on the back of the head or neck.

Other hook kicks

• 360° aero spin whip kick. The 360° aero spin whip kick is one of the most spectacular taekwondo kicks. Bring your rear leg up in front of you until it is about twelve inches off of the ground. At that point, bring your lead leg up to execute a spin whip kick before the other foot touches the ground. The kick is difficult to control once initiated.
• Jump hook kick.
• Spin hook kick.
• Jump-spin hook kick.

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