Kick Like A Pro #8: How to Do a Tornado Kick

Like clockwork, we’re back with another episode of Kick Like A Pro! Today we’re excited to present one of the most beloved kicks in Taekwondo: the Tornado Kick, also known as the 360° Jump Round House. Stay until the end to hear our pro tip.

The Tornado Kick lands at middle level or head level. If kicking it head level, you’ll need a higher degree of leverage, which you get through leaning the opposite way. In this video we look at the basic, middle-level Tornado Kick.

What Is a Tornado Kick in Taekwondo? The tornado kick, sometimes called a 360 jump round house, is a jumping spin kick where you rotate your whole body in the air before landing a roundhouse kick, usually to the middle or head level. It’s one of the flashier techniques in Taekwondo, showing up constantly in demonstration teams, competition highlight reels, and black belt testing because it combines power, timing, and body control in a single move.

How to Do a Tornado Kick, Step by Step: start with a small forward step or hop to build momentum into the jump; rotate your hips and shoulders as you leave the ground, spinning roughly 180-360 degrees depending on your target; as you complete the rotation, chamber your kicking leg and snap it out into a roundhouse kick as you spot your target; land balanced on your base leg, absorbing the impact through your knee and ankle; reset into your stance quickly, since in sparring a tornado kick that leaves you off-balance is a liability, not a weapon.

Three tips to land a clean tornado kick: spot your target early by turning your head to find it before your body finishes rotating; build the base skills first, since a clean tornado kick depends on a solid roundhouse kick and comfortable jumping and spinning footwork; and warm up your hips and ankles, since this is a high-impact, rotational kick.

Tornado Kick vs. Axe Kick: the tornado kick is a big, rotational, momentum-driven technique, while the axe kick is a controlled, vertical strike that relies on flexibility and precision rather than speed or spin. Most students learn the axe kick first since it’s more forgiving, then build toward the tornado kick once their balance and kicking fundamentals are solid.

Ready to start learning kicks like this one? Our Kids Taekwondo classes in Cedar Mill build these exact skills, plus confidence and discipline. Book a free trial class today.