THE BIOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS OF ROUNDHOUSE KICK IN TAEKWONDO

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to compare 360° turning roundhouse kick performed by dominant leg and non-dominant leg on kinetic and kinematic variables, and then to find the variables that correlate to the impact velocity. Nine elite taekwondo athletes were recruited. The data were collected with two Redlake cameras (125 Hz) and two Kistler force plates (1250 Hz). The difference between maximal height and beginning of body CM, max velocity of toe/ankle, impact velocity of toe, maximal vertical force of front leg, vertical/horizontal impulse of front leg, were found to be significantly different between dominant and non-dominant leg; and the difference between maximal height and impact of body CM, max velocity of toe/ankle, maximal vertical force of back leg were found to be significantly correlated with the impact velocity.