Legs are approximately four times as strong as arms so the force that a trained expert can generate with a kick is enormous and fighting when not in good condition is potentially very dangerous. As well as good endurance, taekwondo fighters need to develop spring in the legs and a tough well conditioned mid section so that they can keep kicking and shrug off the punishment inflicted by their opponents.
The head is frequently the target of taekwondo kicking techniques, so good range movement and flexibility is very important. Even more important is the speed of delivery and accuracy of the kick. The focus of the technique must be concentrated upon the smallest possible area so the various kicks all have different striking areas.
The front kick and turning kick are usually delivered with the instep or the ball of the foot. The side kick focuses its power on the side edge or heel of the foot and back kicks use the heel.
Most kicks are delivered on the move in a taekwondo bout as the fighters are rarely static.
The ability to kick with both legs is extremely desirable in order to be able to set up the kind of combination attacks which will actually score in the heat of battle against a well trained opponent.
Top fighters throw as many kicks as boxes do punches in the course of competition and in order to score these need to be just as fast and accurate and even more elaborate in their use of feints and combinations. This is tremendously tiring and demands superb fitness and conditioning as well as the ability to absorb punishment during the course of a match.
Continued....