DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TAEKWONDO ROUNDHOUSE KICK EXECUTED BY THE

Abstract

Taekwondo will become an official event in the 2000 Olympic Games. During competition, over 80% of techniques executed were kicks and roundhouse kick was one of the most frequently used kicking techniques. The purpose of this study was to examine the difference between roundhouse kick executed by the front and back leg. Kicking performance of eight sUbjects was videotaped using two Peak video cameras at 120 Hz. Video materials were digitized by a analysis system (SAS, Germany). Significant differences were found in the movement time maximum linear velocity of ankle and maximum linear velocity of knee between the two kicks. The roundhouse kick executed by the front leg is faster while that the back leg is more forceful. It is suggested that the former might be more effective during fast attack and the later would make the opponent more difficult to block, thus creating new chances to further attack.