To do a roundhouse kick, lift the knee of the kicking leg, pivot on the ball of the standing foot and turn the hip over, then snap the leg out so the top or the ball of the foot hits the target from the side. Then bend the knee to pull the foot back before setting it down. In Tae Kwon Do the kick is called dollyeo chagi, or the turning kick, and a child learns it in class, under an instructor.
Chung TKD in New Hyde Park teaches Tae Kwon Do, a Korean martial art also written taekwondo, to children ages 2 to 13, in three programs by age: Pee-Wee, Children and Youth. Grandmaster Howard Chung, 9th Dan, has taught Tae Kwon Do since 1970 and opened the school in 1984. This guide is by Master Chris J. Chung, 5th-degree black belt.
What is a roundhouse kick?
A kick that swings the leg around in an arc and hits the target from the side. The knee lifts, the hips turn and the standing foot pivots, then the leg snaps out. It is also called a turning kick or a round kick, as Wikipedia's Roundhouse kick entry explains. In Korean it is dollyeo chagi, pronounced dohl-yuh chah-gee, and our parent's glossary has more Tae Kwon Do terms.
How do you do a roundhouse kick, step by step?
Here are the five steps for a kick with the back leg.
- Stand with the kicking leg in back and both hands up.
- Lift the knee of the kicking leg straight up in front of the body. This is the chamber.
- Pivot on the ball of the standing foot until its toes point away from the target, and turn the kicking hip toward the target, so the knee comes around nearly level with the floor.
- Straighten the leg, so the foot snaps into the target from the side with the top of the foot or the ball of the foot.
- Bend the knee to pull the foot back, then set it down in the stance.
Which part of the foot hits the target?
The top of the foot, called the instep, or the ball of the foot. For the instep, the toes point. For the ball of the foot, the toes pull back, out of the way. Ask an instructor which one your child should use.
Why does the standing foot turn?
So the hips can turn into the kick. The turn of the standing leg and the hips gives the kick its power, as the Wikipedia entry explains.
How is a roundhouse kick different from a side kick?
By the path of the leg and the part of the foot that lands. In a roundhouse kick, the hip turns over and the leg swings around in an arc, landing with the top or the ball of the foot. In a side kick, the body turns sideways and the leg drives straight out, landing with the outside edge of the foot or the heel. Our guide to the basic Tae Kwon Do kicks compares the front, side, roundhouse, back and axe kicks.
Is a Tae Kwon Do roundhouse kick different from a kickboxing one?
Yes, in how the leg moves and what hits. In Tae Kwon Do, the leg snaps out from the chamber and hits with the instep or the ball of the foot. In Muay Thai, or Thai boxing, the hips turn through the kick and the shin hits, since the shin is more durable than the foot, as the Wikipedia entry describes. In karate the kick is called mawashi geri.
What should I look for when my child does a roundhouse kick?
Watch the standing foot first. A good roundhouse kick shows these four things, from the floor up.
- The standing foot pivots until its toes point away from the target.
- The knee lifts before the leg straightens.
- The top or the ball of the foot hits, not the toes.
- The leg comes back bent before the foot touches down.
Praise balance, not how high the kick went. If something looks off, ask an instructor after class rather than correcting it at home.
How can my child practice a roundhouse kick safely at home?
By learning it in class first, then kicking only in the air or at a soft pillow, in a clear space. Go through this checklist with your child before practice.
- Your child has learned the roundhouse kick in class, from an instructor.
- There is clear space all around, since the leg swings out to the side.
- Your child is barefoot rather than in socks on a smooth floor, so the standing foot can pivot without slipping.
- Kicks go in the air or at a soft pillow held by an adult, never at a person or anything hard.
- Kicks start low and slow, and balance comes before height.
- Sparring and board breaking wait for class.
Our guide to practicing Tae Kwon Do at home covers what else to practice between classes.
How does my child learn the roundhouse kick?
In class, under an instructor. At Chung TKD, the school's instructors teach the classes, and classes also cover the ITF forms, called hyung, and self-defense. Ask an instructor after class what your child should work on in their roundhouse kick.
Where else does the roundhouse kick show up?
In sparring and in board breaking. Our guide to Tae Kwon Do sparring for kids explains what sparring is and how kids are matched. For breaking, the Wikipedia entry says the ball of the foot is preferred on thick boards, and our guide to why students break boards explains what a board shows.
Where is Chung TKD?
Chung TKD is at 1527 Jericho Turnpike, New Hyde Park, NY 11040.
How do we get started?
Start with the two free trial classes. A parent or guardian stays for both, and kids wear something comfortable, sweats or shorts. Book a free class online, and our guide to a first Tae Kwon Do class covers the first visit.
Questions parents ask
What is a roundhouse kick called in Tae Kwon Do?
Dollyeo chagi, the turning kick. It is also called a round kick.
Which part of the foot hits in a roundhouse kick?
The top of the foot, called the instep, or the ball of the foot.
Why does the standing foot pivot in a roundhouse kick?
So the hips can turn into the kick, and that turn gives the kick its power.
Can my child practice roundhouse kicks at home?
Yes, once an instructor has shown them the kick in class. Kick in the air or at a soft pillow held by an adult, in a clear space, barefoot rather than in socks on a smooth floor.
How does a new family start at Chung TKD?
With two free trial classes. A parent or guardian stays for both.