Taekwondo Kick Statistics

Name: Taekwondo Kick Statistics
Creator: Fight Encyclopedia

14,500+ kicks analyzed · World Championships & Olympics · 2012–2024

Note: WT electronic scoring (PSS) does not track specific kick types — only scores by target and rotation. The technique-level data below comes from academic studies that manually coded competition video from World Championships and Olympic events (2012–2024).

🥋

65–72%

of all kicks are roundhouse kicks

🎯

45–60%

of total points come from head kicks (only 18–25% of scores)

🦵

60–65%

of attacks come from the front leg

💥

9,015 N

peak impact force — back kick (highest of any kick)

Kick Frequency Distribution

14,500+ kicks analyzed from 2023 World Championships & 2024 Olympics

Roundhouse Kick (Bandal Chagi)65–72%

Most commonly executed kick — fastest and most adaptable

Spinning Kicks (all types)8–12%

Score 2 pts (body) or 4 pts (head). Coaches encourage more spinning kicks

Back Kick (Dwi Chagi)5–8%

Linear technique, highest impact force. Less frequent but high scoring

Push Kick (Mireo Chagi)5–8%

Used for distance management. May not always score on PSS

Axe Kick (Naeryeo Chagi)3–5%

Descending kick to head. High point value but low frequency

Punch (Jireugi)3–5%

Only scores to body. Used tactically, not as primary weapon

Hook Kick (Huryeo Chagi)2–4%

Deceptive arc, often scores to head

Side Kick (Yop Chagi)2–3%

Linear technique with highest force but slower delivery

Scoring Distribution

How points are scored in WT competition (PSS electronic scoring)

Kick to trunk (body)(1 pt) — 57.5%

Kick to head(3 pts) — 17.5%

Punch to trunk(1 pt) — 12.5%

Spinning kick to trunk(2 pts) — 6.5%

Spinning kick to head(4 pts) — 4%

Points vs Frequency: The Head Kick Paradox

18–25%

of all scores are head kicks

45–60%

of total points come from head kicks

Head kicks score 3–4 points vs 1 point for body kicks, making them disproportionately valuable despite lower frequency

Female athletes use more faking/feinting

23.3/round vs 17.4/round for males

Expert athletes score more with head kicks

Novice athletes score more with body kicks

Spinning techniques increased

After electronic scoring (PSS) introduction in 2009

Front Leg vs Rear Leg Attacks

Distribution of attacks by stance position

Front Leg60–65%

Rear Leg35–40%

Academic Sources

[1]A Structural Empirical Analysis of Kicking Techniques in Modern Taekwondo Competition (European Journal of Sport Sciences, 2024)
[2]Effectiveness of roundhouse kick in elite Taekwondo athletes (PubMed, 2014)
[3]AI-Driven Real-Time Kick Classification in Olympic Taekwondo Using Sensor Fusion (ArXiv, 2024)
[4]Correlation analysis between biomechanical characteristics of taekwondo double roundhouse kick (Frontiers in Physiology, 2023)
[5]Taekwondo win-loss determining factors using data mining (PMC, 2024)

Sources: Academic research papers · World Taekwondo competition analysis · Data compiled by Fight Encyclopedia