Ap Chagi
앞차기
Literally: front kick
Taekwondo's basic front kick: the knee lifts, the shin snaps forward, and the ball of the foot lands on the target.
Quick Facts
⚠️ Common Mistakes
Inconsistent height and distance of the kick and poor timing, so the kick lands off target or too late.
💡 Key Tip
Lift the knee to waist height first, only then snap the shin forward; without the knee chamber the kick loses speed and accuracy.
Katas containing this technique
About
Ap chagi, literally front kick, is the first kick taught in taekwondo. The practitioner lifts the knee to waist height, then snaps the shin forward and straightens the leg. The strike usually lands with the ball of the foot, toes pulled up, depending on target also with the instep, and in advanced practitioners with the heel. The standing leg stays slightly bent, toes turned outward, and the hip moves forward at the end of the kick. It targets the stomach, sternum, chin or jaw. Power comes from a sharp snap; this is what sets ap chagi apart from the pushing front kick (mireo ap chagi), which shoves the opponent back. In sparring it is used alone less often than the roundhouse kick, more as a fast opener for combinations. Karate knows the same technique as mae geri.