How to do the Taekwondo Hook kick: A step-by-step guide.
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Hooked Hook Kick·Taekwondo Guide
Paul Van Schoyck of Taekwondo Guide gives a step by step breakdown on how to do the Taekwondo hook kick. Visit www.tkdg…
Hooked Hook Kick
SubFamilyフックド・フック・キック(Fukkudo Fukku Kikku)
Translation: Hooked hook kick
Overview
The Hooked Hook Kick features an exaggerated hooking motion at the end of the arc, wrapping around the opponent's guard to strike the back of the head or neck. [1] The deep hook action pulls the foot further around the target than a standard hook kick. [1]
Tight Hook KickBoxingDeep Hook KickBoxing
History & Origin
Effectiveness
Offers specific tactical advantages over the standard hook kick in appropriate situations. [1]
Lineage
Cross-style martial arts kicking tradition; documented in kick compendiums. [1]
Competition Record
Primarily a training, demonstration, and point-fighting technique. Rarely seen in full-contact MMA or kickboxing due to acrobatic risk and telegraphing. Appears occasionally in TKD and point-fighting karate tournaments. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Hook Kick mechanics modified for hooked hook kick variant
Joints Involved — Hip, knee, ankle — specific to hook kick trajectory
Force Vector — Modified hook kick trajectory
Leverage Principle — Hip rotation and leg extension generate force along the hook kick arc
Position & Entry
From fighting stance — Chamber and execute the hooked hook kick
From close range — Adapted version for tight distance
Variants
High variant
Mid variant
Low variant
Videos
Hook Kick and Outside Crescent Tutorial
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Hooked Hook Kick·SykoDragon
Yea, what the title says.
2 videos
What Instructors Say
The hooked hook kick is a fundamental striking technique recognized across taekwondo and tricking disciplines for its versatility and tactical importance. Taekwondo Guide emphasizes that the hook kick, alongside the sidekick and roundhouse, provides complete attack vectors, making it essential for unpredictable offensive strategy. The technique begins with lifting the leg straight (mimicking a side stretch motion) before hooking the foot across the body's back side. Taekwondo Guide stresses a critical timing principle: the leg must be locked straight at impact, with the knee hook occurring after contact—not before. Strike surfaces include the heel, flat of the foot, or cupped foot position, with the medial longitudinal arch offering electronic scoring advantages in competition. Power derives from glute engagement, practiced initially with low kicks before progressing to higher heights. A tight, compact arc increases both power and landing accuracy. SykoDragon approaches the hook kick from a tricking perspective, describing it as a stabilizing transition tool between tricks. The kick originates from a side kick chamber at 45 degrees, extending outward before opening the hips and pulling inward. SykoDragon notes variations in striking surface—heel versus pointed toes at 90 degrees—and emphasizes that spinning hook kicks require exceptional hip mobility and spin quality. Both instructors agree on the importance of chamber control, hip positioning, and deliberate practice at slow speeds to develop proper mechanics before adding speed.
Synthesized from 2 instructors
- Taekwondo Guide — How to do the Taekwondo Hook kick: A step-by-step guide.: Foundational mechanics: straight leg lift, timing of knee hook relative to impact, cupped foot technique, glute-driven power development, tight arc principle, and electronic scoring target zones. Distinguishes beginner chamber method from advanced side-kick-chamber variation.
- SykoDragon — Hook Kick and Outside Crescent Tutorial: Tricking application context: hook kick as transitional stabilizer between tricks, 45-degree angle approach, hip opening mechanics, variations in striking surface (heel vs. pointed toes at 90 degrees), and spinning hook kick execution. Emphasizes slow practice methodology and hip positioning for power.
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
6
High6/10
Hook Kick variant with standard striking power
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Advanced
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Illegal
WBC/Boxing — All kicks prohibited in boxing {src— WBC Rules of Boxing}
Legal
— Unified MMA — Legal striking technique
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDFKyokushin — Legal at full power to body and head {src— IKO Kyokushin Tournament Rules}
— WT — Legal, body kick 2 points, head kick 3 points, spinn...
WT Competition Rules 2024PDF— WAKO — Legal in Full Contact and Low Kick formats
WAKO Competition RulesPDFK-1/GLORY — Legal {src— K-1/GLORY Kickboxing Rules}
— IFMA — Legal — kicks are a core Muay Thai technique
IFMA Muay Thai RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓Master the standard hook kick before attempting the hooked hook kick (De Bremaeker & Faige, 2010)
✓Practise with pad work for targeting accuracy
Common Mistakes
!Attempting without solid hook kick foundation
!Poor balance
!Insufficient power generation
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Feint → Hooked Hook Kick → Follow-up combination
Sources & References
Primary Source
Essential Book of Martial Arts Kicks (De Bremaeker & Faige, 2010)
1Book[1] De Bremaeker, M. and Faige, R. (2010). Essential Book of Martial Arts Kicks: 89 Kicks from Karate, Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Jeet Kune Do, and Others. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4629-0558-4.
2Citation[1] De Bremaeker, M. and Faige, R. (2010). Essential Book of Martial Arts Kicks: 89 Kicks from Karate, Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Jeet Kune Do, and Others. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4629-0558-4.
[1] De Bremaeker & Faige, Essential Book of Martial Arts Kicks (2010)
Community
Athletics
Requires solid hook kick foundation
Good balance and coordination
Notes
Documented in De Bremaeker & Faige, Section 5.2 (ushiro mawashi kakegeri in karate, nakka tshagy in TKD). A hook kick with an exaggerated hooking action — the heel loops further around the target for maximum wrap-around contact. (De Bremaeker & Faige, Essential Book of Martial Arts Kicks, 2010, p. 181)
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the correct timing for the hook motion in a hook kick?
Your leg should be locked straight at the point of impact with the target, and only then do you hook your knee. You should not hook your knee before hitting the target—that's backwards. According to Taekwondo Guide, keeping this principle in mind is essential as you develop the kick.
What are the two main ways to set up a hook kick?
You can chamber the kick and position yourself straight next to the target, then hook the foot across. Alternatively, you can start with a chamber, kick out in the side kick position, and then hook your foot—this is a quicker variation but more advanced, according to Taekwondo Guide.
Why is the hook kick important in taekwondo?
The hook kick, along with the sidekick and roundhouse kick, gives you access to each attack vector. With the sidekick you can go straight toward your opponent, and with the roundhouse and hook kicks you can come from each horizontal direction, according to Taekwondo Guide.
How should I practice isolating the hook kick chamber?
Hold onto something stable like a wall and practice the kick while maintaining a clean knee chamber and a tight arc. Taekwondo Guide advises against swinging your kick out loosely and emphasizes keeping the motion controlled during this isolation drill.
How does the Hooked Hook Kick work?
The Hooked Hook Kick features an exaggerated hooking motion at the end of the arc, wrapping around the opponent's guard to strike the back of the head or neck. The deep hook action pulls the foot further around the target than a standard hook kick.
Where does the Hooked Hook Kick come from?
The Hooked Hook Kick is a specialised variant documented in cross-style kicking methodology. It represents an advanced development of the standard hook kick.
Is the Hooked Hook Kick legal in competition?
Unified MMA: legal — Legal striking technique; WBC/Boxing: banned — All kicks prohibited in boxing; WKF: legal — Legal, chudan (body) kick scores 2 points, jodan (head) kick scores 3 points; Kyokushin: legal — Legal at full power to body and head; WT: legal — Legal, body kick 2 points, head kick 3 points, spinning body 4 points, spinni…; WAKO: legal — Legal in Full Contact and Low Kick formats; K: legal — 1/GLORY — Legal; IFMA: legal — Legal — kicks are a core Muay Thai technique
How dangerous is the Hooked Hook Kick?
Danger rating 6/10. Hook Kick variant with standard striking power
How do I set up the Hooked Hook Kick?
The standard setup chain: Feint → Hooked Hook Kick → Follow-up combination.
How do I defend against the Hooked Hook Kick?
Standard counters include: Step inside range / Block and counter / Low kick to support leg.
What are the variants of the Hooked Hook Kick?
Common variants: High variant; Mid variant; Low variant.
How effective is the Hooked Hook Kick in competition?
Primarily a training, demonstration, and point-fighting technique. Rarely seen in full-contact MMA or kickboxing due to acrobatic risk and telegraphing.
What are common mistakes when doing the Hooked Hook Kick?
Top errors to watch for: Attempting without solid hook kick foundation / Poor balance / Insufficient power generation.
What are other names for the Hooked Hook Kick?
The Hooked Hook Kick is also known as Fukkudo Fukku Kikku, Tight Hook Kick, Deep Hook Kick.