most powerful kick

[frightmaster]

For me it is a spinning side kick on the ground and a flying front kick from the air.

[Superfoot]

Aerial: Spinning Axe Kick, due to the combined force generated via the centrifugal motion of the spin, and the elastic tension released from brining the kicking foot down from across the body. Another plus could be argued that being in the air helps due to less resistance from an earthed pivot.

Ground: Spinning back kick. Here is a nice article that says why: http://www.taekwondobible.com/trainings/basic/bkick.html. Personally, I find the spinning back kick to be powerful in that (similar to above) the spinning motion coupled with a kick delivered in a straight line carries both momentum and power. As the kick travels in a straight line, it is also hard to percieve and thus block.

Some say that a turning motion should be used with this kick, rather than spinning the upper body (one of my seniors in TKD) others utilise a spinning of the upper body (Benny "the Jet" Urquidez).

[Sam]

dpends on the situation..... the turn would direct teh power inwards and across, wehre as straight would thrust through the target.....

[tufrthanu]

Well because spinning increases the torque of the body any kick with a spin in it will necessarily be more powerful than a straight kick. Back kicks are more powerful than skipping side kicks. Back leg round kicks are more powerful than front leg ones, yes there is a spin in that kick if you think about it. But there does come a point when you start to lose momentum. For instance a spinning inside to outside crescent kick will be significantly more powerful than a straight standing one. However, a 360 spinning inside to outside crescent might not be quite as powerful...and increasing degrees of turn given the same push off point will continue to be weaker and weaker.

[Sam]

its also about maximising the exlposive energy in the turn after 360 degrees that starts to peter out.

[tsdtony]

depinds on what art difrent arts devolp powere difrently.so wile in tkd your right about the momentim but i have see kyosikan and tangsoodo and kenpo fighters trough standing side kicks.With as much if not more powere behind theam as someone troung and jump spinning 360 kick.At the same time there jumpspinning kicks had more powere than there side kicks.Just a thought but iguees that comfurms what your saying.But all youe powere comes froum your hip i belave in tkd and the other 3 arts it comes froum your breathing and hip.But i dont take tkd so i am not sure.

[aefibird]

I'd say my most powerful kicks are spinning back kick and left rear leg round kick.

[Sam]

mines a twist kick..... lol

[The Saint]

sidekick or hook kick, I'm 6' so a hook kick (with heel) to the head is more than enough.

[Menjo]

Mine would be either side thrust or front thrust.