Preface
Taekwondo is a free-fighting, combat sport that is popular in Hong Kong. It is an international sport,
with over 18 million participants worldwide, and is one of the new Olympic sports in the Sydney 2000
Games. Taekwondo is well-known for its fast, high and spinning kicks, and good kicking technique is
an essential part of the sport.
Using biomechanical analysis, Dr Hong and his team studied athletes' kicking technique and then
designed a training programme that strengthened the leg muscles used during high-speed kicks. The
study was carried out in association with Lok Wah Taekwondo Club and SDB acknowledges the Club's
contribution to the study.
The Hong Kong Sports Development Board (SDB) commissioned this study as part of its sports
science and medicine research programme, and it provides another example of how scientific study
can help Hong Kong's athletes improve their training and competitive performance.
Biomechanical Analysis of
Taekwondo Kicking Technique,
Performance & Training Effects
The study was carried out for SDB by:
Dr Youlian Hong (Principal Investigator), Associate Professor, Department of Sports Science
and Physical Education, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Leung Hing Kam, Chief Coach and Chairperson of Lok Wah Taekwondo Club
Luk Tze Chung, Jim, Department of Sports Science and Physical Education, The Chinese
University of Hong Kong
SDB Research Report ­ No. 2
 SDB, August 2000
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FINAL REPORT
For the Project
Biomechanical Analysis of Taekwondo Kicking
Technique, Performance and Training Effects
Submitted to
Hong Kong Sports Development Board
By
Youlian Hong, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Department of Sports Science and Physical Education
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Leung Hing Kam, Chief Coach and
Chairperson of Lok Wah Taekwondo Club
Luk Tze Chung, Jim
Department of Sports Science and Physical Education
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the kicking technique of Hong Kong
Taekwondo athletes and to develop a well-designed training protocol to improve the
performance of Taekwondo athletes in Hong Kong. A pre- and post-test design was
employed in this study to examine the effectiveness of a training protocol that was
based on the outcome of the pre-test. For each test session, the Taekwondo frontal
attack kicking technique, such as sidekick, pushing kick, slap kick and back kick, was
investigated. Kicking performance was video filmed and the muscle activities were
recorded by an electromyography (EMG) system. Based on the recorded EMG signals
and the EMG signals obtained from measuring the maximum voluntary contraction
(MVC) before the test trial, the percentage MVC (%MVC) was derived. The
kinematics of each kicking movement were obtained by digitising and analysing the
recorded video tapes on a motion analysis system. The results showed that there were
significant differences in kicking time among different styles of kicking (p<.001) and
different heights of kicking (p<.001). However, there was no significant difference
in kicking time between different preparation forms. The front turning kick to the
waist level with standing preparation form was significantly faster (0.70  .098s) than
the other styles of kicking. However, the one-step sidekick to the head level with
standing preparation form was significantly slower (1.09  .119s) than other styles of
kicking. The muscle activity during kicking was significantly different among
selected muscles (p<.001). The vastus lateralis and tensor fasciae latae showed
significantly higher average activity when compared with other selected muscles. The
average muscle activity for the tensor fasciae latae and the vastus lateralis was 133.12
 77.55%MVC and 250.44  182.28%MVC, respectively. This value for sartorius,
rectus femoris and vastus medialis was 42.33  14.98%MVC, 66.84  31.31%MVC
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and 75.98  41.19%MVC, respectively. Muscle activity of hamstrings can be
represented by semitendinosus and biceps femoris. The activity level of these two
muscles was 43.53  15.43%MVC and 47.14  28.29%MVC, respectively. The
isokinetic training protocol was designed with knee concentric extension/flexion at
240deg/s, 20 repetitions in each set, 5 sets for each session, 3 sessions weekly. The
isokinetic concentric knee extension peak torque at 240 deg/s showed significant
increase from pre- (108.83  16.95 Nm) to post-test (117.83  18.99 Nm) for the
training group. It was concluded that isokinetic training at 240 deg/s angular velocity
can increase the muscle peak torque of concentric knee extension at that velocity.
Objectives
The objective of this study was to investigate the available methods for analysing
kicking technique and performance of Taekwondo athletes. By using biomechanical
analysis, a systematic measurement of Taekwondo kicking technique and
performance could be developed. The results obtained from this study could be used
to develop an advanced protocol to improve the kicking technique and performance of
Taekwondo athletes in Hong Kong. The ultimate target is to increase the competitive
ability of Hong Kong Taekwondo athletes.
Background
Taekwondo is one of the popular sports in Hong Kong. Moreover, it will become a
formal event in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Therefore, there is a need to place
considerable attention on this sport. Taekwondo was originally developed as a
fighting art in Korea and has been distributed all over the world. With over 18 million
practitioners worldwide, today Taekwondo is generally regarded as the most popular
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event of the martial arts. When reviewing the development of Taekwondo in various
countries, Mainland China would be a good example, as it has forcibly promoted
Taekwondo in the last three years. The aim being to raise the level of Taekwondo in
Mainland China to world standard.
Biomechanics methods have been successfully used to improve traditional training
methods and athletic performance. Traditional training methods for Taekwondo have
been developed for a decade in Hong Kong. However, the scientific study of
Taekwondo was lacking. To improve the competitive ability of Hong Kong
Taekwondo athletes in world level competition, it is necessary to develop applicable
scientific training methods. The systematic and scientific methods that were
developed in this study will be useful in evaluating the performance and technique of
Taekwondo athletes in Hong Kong.
In this study, a biomechanical method for evaluating Taekwondo kicking technique
and performance was developed. The kicking speed, reaction time, and muscle group
recruitment for kicking was measured. Taekwondo is a sport that focuses on using
appropriate kicking technique. The proper use of the lower limb muscles when
kicking is an important factor affecting the overall performance of Taekwondo
athletes.
Based on the results of the evaluation, a scientific training protocol was developed.
The training protocol focused on the kicking speed, force produced and strengthening
exercise for the prime muscles. A pre- and post-test experiment was performed, with
an eight-month training period in between, to evaluate whether or not the athletes'
kicking technique and performance had been improved.
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The results of the present study are described in two parts. The first part is the
biomechanical analysis of Taekwondo kicking technique and performance. The
analysis of technique and performance included kicking speed, kicking time duration,
and muscle group recruitment. The second part is the development of a scientific
training protocol. The design of the training protocol was based on the information
obtained from the technique and performance evaluation in the pre-test. The protocol
aimed to provide a specialised training technique for increasing muscle strength and
reaction time during kicking.