ARM MOTIONS FOR DIFFERENT TARGET POSITIONS DURING TAEKWONDO ROUNDHOUSE KICKS

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate arm motions for five different target positions during Taekwondo roundhouse kicks. Nine Taekwondo experts performed roundhouse kicks at a target. A 3D motion analysis was conducted. One-way repeated ANOVA was used to compare the arm motion among five conditions. This study reveals that a higher kick needs the increased vertical separation of the right and left arm (elbow and wrist) in release phase. For a longer kick at Body level, elbows should be more vertically apart and wrists should be more horizontally apart in the release phase. Both attackers and counter attackers in Taekwondo athletes can use the arm swing characteristics at different target heights and distances.