Exploring TaeKwonDo: From Punching to Kicking

This document aims to list the Korean terms used in the study of TaeKwonDo. In the past, the terms were heavily influenced by Chinese, but around 1975, most styles switched to using a more modern Korean terminology in an effort to be more purely Korean.

Since Korean is written using “Hangul” and not the Roman alphabet, the spellings you see here are approximate romanizations and may not be the same spellings that some of you are used to seeing.

Definition of TaeKwonDo

TaeKwonDo, which translates to “the art of the feet and the hands” or “the art of kicking and punching,” encompasses the combination of “Tae” meaning “foot” or “to strike with the feet,” “Kwon” meaning “hand” or “to strike with the hand,” and “Do” representing discipline, art, or way.

Korean Counting

There are two different ways of counting numbers in Korean. The first way is used for counting and when only talking about the numbers themselves. The first ten numbers in this way are as follows:

Number	Native	Hangeul	Sino-Korean	Hangeul	Hanja
1	hana	하나	il	일	一
2	dul	둘	i (“yee”)	이	二
3	set	셋	sam	삼	三
4	net	넷	sa	사	四
5	daseot	다섯	o (“oh”)	오	五
6	yeoseot	여섯	yuk	육	六
7	ilgop	일곱	chil	칠	七
8	yeodeol	여덟	pal	팔	八
9	ahop	아홉	gu	구	九
10	yeol	열	sip	십	十

1 = 하나 hanah {Click to hear how it’s pronounced on Google Translate.}

The stress in “hanah“, “dasot“, and “yasot” is on the first syllable, in “ilgop“, “yadol“, and “ahop” on the second. In counting cadence in TaeKwonDo, this is so emphasized that the other syllable frequently almost disappears (e.g., “han“, “das“, “yos“, “lgop“, “hop“, etc.).

Common Training Vocabulary

There are a number of simple words and commands that are also commonly used as part of everyday taekwondo training. Again, more complete lists are available at the links listed near the top (and bottom) of this page. Some of the commonly-used words however are:

Attention – Charyeot 차렷. {Click to hear how it’s pronounced on Google Translate.}

Bow or Salute – Kyung-Nyeh 경례 (Hanja: 敬禮) (敬 = “display, show”, 禮 = “respect”, lit. “show respect”). {Click to hear how it’s pronounced on Google Translate.}

Get Ready – Junbi 준비 (Hanja: 準備) {Click to hear how it’s pronounced on Google Translate.}

Sitting Stance Middle Punch – Annun So Kaunde Jirugi

Walking Ready Stance Front Snap Kicking – Gunnun Sogi Apcha Busigi

Begin – Sijak 시작 (Hanja: 始作) {Click to hear how it’s pronounced on Google Translate.}

Stop – Geuman 그만 (used as a command, as in “end the sparring match”). {Click to hear how it’s pronounced on Google Translate.}

Return to starting position – Baro 바로. {Click to hear how it’s pronounced on Google Translate.}

Relax – Swiyo

Dismiss – Hae San

National Flag – Geuk-gi 국기 (Hanja: 國旗) (國 = “nation” + 旗 = “flag”). {Click to hear how it’s pronounced on Google Translate.}

Yell – Kihap 기합 (Hanja: 氣合) (“氣” = spiritual energy (like ‘chi’), 合 = gather and focus, so literally “focus your energy”). {Click to hear how it’s pronounced on Google Translate.}

Form – Kukkiwon/WT and ATA styles: Poomsae, (품세, Hanja: 品勢)

ITF style taekwondo: Teul (들)

Traditional taekwondo: Hyeong (형, Hanja: 型)

Uniform – Do-Bok (도복, Hanja: 道服) (literally: 道 = “way” + 服 = “clothing”; lit. “clothing of the way”)

Taekwondo Studio – Do-Jang (도장, Hanja: 道場) (道 “way” + 場 = “place”; lit. “place of the way”)

Thank you (Sino-Korean) – 감사 합니다 (Hanja: 感謝 “thankfulness” + 합니다, formal form of 하다, “to do”) Gamsa-Hamnida. {Click to hear how it’s pronounced on Google Translate.}

There are different phrases for “thank you” in Korean, depending on the formality of the situation. Gamsa-Hamnida is a very formal version of thank you; it’s the version that’s most often used in taekwondo. Read more at WikiHow.

Thank you (native) – 고맙습니다 (Formal ending, Dictionary Form: 고맙다) Gomapseumnida. {Click to hear how it’s pronounced on Google Translate.}

Titles – the use of titles can vary from school to school.

Instructor – Gyosa-Nim 교사님 (Hanja: 教師 + 님 “respected person” suffix) or Gyobeom-nim 교범님 (Hanja: 敎範 + 님 “respected person” suffix) 

Master – Sabeom-nim 사범님 (Hanja: 師範 + 님, “respected person” suffix) 

Grand Master – Gwanjang-nim 관장님 (Hanja: 館長님, + 館 = “school”, 長 = “head” — so literally this is the head of a school) 관장님 

Some alternative terms also seen:

Master  – 세헌님？ Say-Hun-Nim

Grand Master  – 사성님 Sah-Sung-Nim

Taekwon-Do Sparring

Free Sparring – 겨루기 Gyorugi (nominalization of 겨루다, “to compete”) also romanized Gyeorugi or Kyorugi. Means compete, referring to sparring, particularly in WT/Kukkiwon-style taekwondo. {Click to hear how it’s pronounced on Google Translate.}

One step sparring – han bun kyorugi

Two step sparring – doo bun kyorugi

Three step sparring – sae bun kyorugi

Semi free sparring – bahn ja yu kyorugi

Arranged free sparring – machu oh kyorugi

Majseogi – 맞서기, also romanized as Matseogi.  Means confront, referring to sparring, particularly in ITF-style taekwondo. {Click to hear how it’s pronounced on Google Translate.}

Kyeokpa – 격파 (Hanja: 擊破) also romanized Kyukpa. Refers to breaking. {Click to hear how it’s pronounced on Google Translate.}

Hosinsool – 호신술 (Hanja: 護身術), means self-defense. {Click to hear how it’s pronounced on Google Translate.}

WT (World Taekwondo) Sparring Vocabulary

In WT-style sparring, referees use a combination of hand-signals and Korean vocabulary to provide direction and indicate penalties. In addition to the conventional training vocabulary listed above, sparring vocabulary includes:

Chung (청, Hanja: 青) – Blue (competitor); 

Hong (홍, Hanja: 紅) – Red (competitor)

Gahllyeo (gawl-yuh; 갈려) – Pause

Gyay-sok (gyay-soak; 계속, Hanja: 繼續) – Resume

Gam-jeum (gam-jum; 감점, Hanja: 減點) – Penalty

Gueman (goo-mahn, the first vowel is like “brook”; 그만) – end

Sueng (soong, the vowel is like “brook”; 승, Hanja: 勝)- winner (victory)

Kye-shi (kyay-shee; 계시, Hanja: 計時) – injury time-out (60 seconds)

Shi-gan (shee-gawn, 시간, Hanja: 時間) – time-out (indefinite)

Taekwon-Do Stances

Stance – sohgi or jah seh for posture (or stance) [used instead of “sohgi” in some styles

Sitting stance – ahnjun sohgi

Front stance – ahp sohgi

Front bent knee stance – ahp koo bi sohgi (also just “ahp koo bi”)

Back stance – dwi sohgi

Back bent knee stance – dwi koo bi sohgi (also just “dwi koo bi”)

Cat or Tiger stance – beom sohgi (also “goyang-i sohgi”)

Walking stance – kuht neun sohgi

Horseback riding stance – juchoom sohgi (“kima sohgi” in some styles)

Fighting stance – mot sohgi

Sparring stance – kyorugi sohgi

Ready stance – choon bi sohgi (also “pyeonhi sohgi”)

Basic stance – gibon sohgi

Middle stance – guande sohgi

Parallel stance – naranhee sohgi

L’-stance – niun ja sohgi

Fixed (lower-back) stance – gojang sohgi

Diagonal stance – sa sun sohgi

Fixed balance (or bent knee) stance – gyuttari sohgi

Crossed foot stance – koh ah sohgi

X’-stance – kyo cha sohgi

Close stance – mo ah sohgi

Neutral stance – joong-rib sohgi

Dynamic stance – dong yuk sohgi

Natural stance – cha yun sohgi

Kicking stance – chagi sohgi

Crane stance – hahktari sohgi (also “ue bal sohgi”)

Taekwon-Do Kicks

Stretching kick – cha olligi

Thrusting kick – jillo chagi

Front kick – ahp chagi

Side kick – yup chagi

Round (roundhouse) kick – dolrya chagi

Back kick – dwi chagi

Reverse round kick (“hook kick” for some styles) – bahndae dolrya chagi

Back round kick (“hook kick” for some styles)- dwi dolrya chagi

Hook kick (also “golcho chagi” or “golro chagi”) – gullgi chagi

Crescent kick (literally “half moon kick”) – bahndall chagi

Wheel kick – hoohrio chagi

Slant (or instep) kick – beet chagi

Half round kick (also “instep kick”) – bahn dolrya chagi

Slap kick – beakya chagi

Ax kick; literally “downward foot strike” – nehryuh jeek gi

Swing kick – hwe jun chagi

Pushing kick – mil a chagi : (also “mil gi chagi”)

Pickax kick – gokwang i chagi

Target kick – pyojuk chagi

Spinning kick – dolmyo chagi

Jumping kick – tdwim yah chagi

Combination (consecutive) kick – yung seuk chagi

Sliding kick – meekulmyu chagi (also “mikulgi chagi”)

Rolling kick – goollruh chagi

Hopping kick – natgeh tdwim yu chagi

Flying kick – nalla chagi (also “goong jung chagi”)

Scissors kick – gahwi chagi

Linear kick – illja chagi

Holding (grasp) kick – japgo chagi

Falling kick (leg sweep) – ohpo chagi

stooping kick – nachu oh chagi

Taekwon-Do Blocks

bahkat palmahk mahki : outer forearm block
ahn palmahk mahki : inner forearm block
sahng palmahk mahki : twin forearm block
ahnuro mahki : inward block
bahkuro mahki : outward block
ahrae mahki : low block
cho kyo mahki : rising block
daebi mahki : guarding block
bituro mahki : twisting block
gahwi mahki : scissors block
keumgang mahki : diamond-shaped (Hercules) block
gutjha mahki : 9'-shaped block (cross block) yeot pero mahki :X’-shaped block (also “kyo cha mahki”)
santeul mahki : mountain-shaped block (also “osanteul mahki”)
weh santeul mahki : part mountain-shaped block
utgallruyuh mahki : cross block (also “utgiruh mahki”)
hechuh mahki : scattered block (or wedge block)
hwang so mahki : ox (or “bull”) block
bahtangsahn nooluh mahki : pressing down block
deuluh oll ryu mahki : upward scooping fist block

Taekwon-Do Hand Attacks

bahro chirugi : straight (return) punch
bahndae chirugi : reverse punch
gullgi chirugi : hook punch
yung seuk chirugi : combination (consecutive) punch
doo bun chirugi : double punch
sae bun chirugi : triple punch
sahnkeut chirugi : spearfinger thrust
sewo chirugi : vertical punch
gotjang chirugi : vertical fist punch
dolrya chirugi : round punch
dwijubo chirugi : upset punch
soteum chirugi : spring punch
nehryuh chirugi : downward punch
chi chirugi : uppercut punch
jae chuh chirugi : upper punch (also “jae chin chirugi”)
doo joomuk chirugi : doublefist punch
dikootja chirugi : U' (orC’) shaped punch (hi-lo)
sosum chirugi : double uppercut punch
keumgang chirugi : diamond-shaped punch
nalgeh chirugi : wing-shaped punch

Taekwon-Do Hand Positions

sahnkal : knifehand
sahnkal jecho : knifehand with palm up
sahnkal deung : ridgehand (also “oppun sahnkal”)
sahn bahtong : palm heel (also “bahtong sahn”)
sahn deung : back hand (also “deung sahn”)
ah keum sahn : arc hand
galkwi sahn : ripping (or raking) hand
jipke sahn : pincers hand
joomok : fist
deung joomuk : back fist
yup joomuk : side fist
me joomuk : hammer-fist
inju joomuk : forefinger one-knuckle fist
bamchu joomuk : middle-finger one-knuckle fist
doo bam joomuk : two-knuckle fist
pyun joomuk : flat (or open) fist
omji joomuk : thumb-knuckle fist
kwan soo : spearhand (also “pyun sahnkeut”)
sahnkeut : spearfinger
gawi sahnkeut : scissors-shaped spearfingers

Conclusion

Taekwon-Do is a form of self-defence using the body in a scientific way. It involves intense physical and mental training to fully use the body’s capabilities.

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