- 1). Begin by facing your opponent in the traditional Tae Kwon Do combat stance. Assume this position by putting your right foot forward and keeping your weight on your left foot. Extend your right fist to make it horizontal with your shoulder, your arm half cocked at the elbow. Your left fist should be held in an underhand position, close to your chest. You should be well within kicking distance when you begin your attack.
- 2). Turn your lower body sidelong so your right shoulder is angled toward your opponent. Lift your right leg out to the side, blocking your opponent’s advance. Keep the foot raised above knee height and directly within your opponent’s path, the flat of your foot facing him. This is the side check. It effectively prevents your opponent from direct attacks; he will need to perform a spin kick to get around it.
- 3). Twist your left foot to point away from your opponent, turning your body slightly further counterclockwise. You may need to look at your opponent over your right shoulder, depending on how far you turn. Draw your right leg back toward your body. Bend it at the knee, keeping your upper leg raised parallel to the ground.
- 4). Extend the leg forward and to your left, keeping the knee half bent. Sweep the leg back to your right in a straight horizontal line, leading with the back of the heel. Ideally, the back of your heel should hook into the side of your opponent’s midsection or chest and drive her hard to your right. This is where the hook kick gets its name. Some kicks done in this manner have sufficient force to throw an attacker clean off her feet. This comes with practice.
- 5). Twist on your left foot so it points back toward your target, and bring your leg down to resume the stance described in Step 1.
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