Taekwondo Sine Wave

This page provides details and instructions for the ITF Taekwondo Sine Wave technique. This technique is used in ITF Taekwondo in order to generate additional power during kicks and strikes. However, be aware that this technique is not used in WTF Taekwondo schools.

Technique Instructions

• According to Drysdale’s School of Tae Kwon Do, "The sine wave is modified so that the body drops as it passes the half way point of the technique, and rises to the maximum height at about the ¾ point and then drops rapidly at the end. The rapid drop at the end of the technique helps accelerate our mass into the target using gravity to our advantage".
• According to Northampton Martial Arts, "The Sine Wave in practice consists of three parts: An initial DOWN designed to relax your muscles by simulating a falling motion; a conscious pre-technique release. Next is a rising UP designed to give you height from which to generate reactionary force and work with gravity. The final down is the strike which takes place as soon as your weight reacts with the unmoving ground. This DOWN – UP - DOWN should be applied to all techniques, punches, kicks, blocks, even checks, shifts, steps, spins, turns, releases and grabs". The sine wave method is based on the formula for power or kinetic energy (interchangeable concepts when you are talking about martial arts though not in pure physics) 1/2Mass x Velocity(squared) = Power/Kinetic energy.

Reference Sources

1. Drysdale’s School of Tae Kwon Do, Sine Wave, http://www.drysdaletkd.com/Student_Training_Guides/Sinewave.htm, Added - 06/17/15
2. Additional sine wave instructions are courtesy of Simon Scher, Northampton Martial Arts, http://www.northamptonmartialarts.com/, Added - 06/30/15