A Summary of Korean Terminology for TaeKwonDo

Introduction=

This document is an attempt to compile a list of Korean terminology used in the study of TaeKwonDo. In = years past, the terminology reflected heavy Chinese influence. Around 1975 howeve= r, most styles "upgraded" to use a more "modern" Korean terminology that attempts to shed these other influences in an effort to be more "pure" Korean. Wherever possible, I have tried to use this "new" (more modern) terminology.

Since the Korean language is written using "Hangul" and= not the Roman alphabet, all the spellings you see here are approximate Romaniza= tion and may not be the same spellings that some of you are used to seeing.

The rest of this document is separated into the following sections:

Korea and its Flag

Definition of TaeKwonDo

Korea and its Flag

The Korean name for Korea is "Hangeuk" and its people are called "Hangeuksaram". The ancient name for Korea is "Choson", which means liter= ally "the land of morning calm" and comes from the "Choson" (or "Yi") dynast= y of Korea's= history (1392-1905). The name "Korea" comes from the "Koryu" dynasty= of Korea's history (935-1392) during which westerners had their first contact with Korea.

The national anthem of Korea is "Aeguk Ka" ("Lo= ve of Country"). It was written during the Japanese occupation of Korea (= circa 1905-1945) and was later set to music by Ahn Eak Tai.

The Korean flag is called "Taeguk-ki" and was adopted in August of 1882, not long after the "Hermit Kingdom" opened its front and back doors to foreign aggressive powers. The central t= heme of the flag is that although there is constant movement within the sphere of infinity, there is also balance and harmony. The flag consists of three par= ts: a white field (or background), a red and blue circle in the center of the f= lag (containing a "yin-yang" like symbol), and four black trigrams su= rrounding the circle in each of the four corners of the flag.

The circle in the center is called "Taeguk<= /i>" and means the origin of all things in the universe. The red and blue paisle= ys within the circle represent eternal duality (heaven-earth, fire-water, good-evil, male- female, dark-light, life-death)= . The blue portion of the circle is called "um" and represents t= he negative aspects of this duality; the red portion of the circle is called "yang" and represents the positive aspects. "Um-ya= ng" is the Korean equivalent of "yin-yang".

The four black trigrams come from the Chinese book of "I Ch'ing<= /i>". The trigrams also carry the idea of opposites and of balance. Each trigram = (or "gye") consists of three paral= lel lines, some of which are broken (split), and some of which are unbroken (solid). Each gye has a specific name and repre= sents one or more concepts: In the upper left-hand corner is "K'un" which consists of all solid lines a= nd represents heaven, east, and spring; In the lower right-hand corner is &quo= t;K'on" which consists of all broken lines = and represents earth, west, and summer; In the upper right-hand corner is "= ;Kam" which consists of one solid line sur= rounded by two broken lines and represents water, north, and winter; In the lower l= eft-hand corner is "I" which consists of one broken line surrounded= by two solid lines and represents fire, south, and autumn.

Definition of TaeKwonDo=

"Tae" means "foot" or "= ;to strike with the feet". "Kwon" means "hand",= or "to strike with the hand". "Do" means discipline, art, or way. Hence TaeKwonDo (foot-hand-= way) means literally "the art of the feet and the hands" or "the = art of kicking and punching". Different schools and/or styles may impose different variations on the formal definition however. For example, some st= yles add the words "self defense" to the literal definition and/or thr= ow in some form of the phrase "physical and mental training".

Korean Counting

There are two different numbering systems that are use= d by Koreans. The first numbering system is used when counting, or when only speaking of the numbers themselves. The first ten numbers in this system ar= e as follows:

1

:

hanah

2

:

dool

3

:

set

4

:

net

5

:

dasot

6

:

yasot

7

:

ilgop

8

:

yadol

9

:

ahop

10

:

yool

The stress in "hanah", &quo= t;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 sylla= ble frequently almost disappears (e.g., "han", "das", "yos", "lgop", "hop"= , etc.).

The other numbering system (which is of Chinese origin) is used in most other cases and is often used where Americans would use ordinal numbers (su= ch as "first", "second", etc ...). For example, this second numbering system is used when describing a person's rank: a first degree bl= ack belt would be an "il dan". The first ten numbers in this numbering system are as follows:

1

:

il

2

:

ee

3

:

sahm

4

:

sah

5

:

oh

6

:

ryook

7

:

chil

8

:

pal

9

:

koo

10

:

ship

The final `l' in "chil" and "pal" isn't rounded, like an American `l' .... It's a much shorter sound, sort of like the initial `l' in "let", but even shorter. It's not like the `l' in "ball"= ;.

When pronouncing the word "ship", you must not<= /strong> emphasize the "sh" sound. It's almost= more like "sip" with a sort of a lisp. If you pronounce it like &quo= t;sh" in "shell", then you are referring= to sexual intercourse.

Even though this second numbering system may correspond to ordinal numbe= rs in English in some cases, these are not ordinal numbers. Koreans use a sepa= rate set of words for ordinal numbers.

Basic Body Parts

mom

:

body

kwanjeol

:

joint

ulgool

:

face & head

muh ree

:

head

noon

:

eye

gui

:

ear

ko

:

nose

in joong

:

philtrum

eep

:

mouth

tuhk

:

chin

mokoomeong

:

throat

mok

:

neck

ouka

:

shoulder

myung chi<= /p>

:

solar plexus

pahl

:

arm

pahlkup

:

elbow

pahlmahk

:

forearm

ahn pahlmahk

:

inner side of forearm

bahkat pahlmahk

:

outer side of forearm

meet pahlmahk

:

palm side of forearm

wi pahlmahk

:

back side of forearm

deung pahlmahk

:

back of forearm

sahnmahk

:

wrist

sahn

:

hand

sahnkal

:

outside edge of hand (knife hand)

sahnkal deung

:

inside edge of hand (ridge hand)

sahn deung

:

back hand

joomok

:

fist

sahnkahrak

:

finger

sahnkeut

:

fingertip

momtong

:

trunk (middle section)

huri

:

waist

ahrae

:

lower body (low section)

noolro

:

groin

dahree

:

leg

mooreup

:

knee

ahp jung kang yi

:

shin

bahl mahk

:

ankle

bahl

:

foot (or feet)

bahldung

:

instep

bahlbong oh ri

:

arch of foot

bahl nahl

:

outside edge of foot

an bahl nahl

:

inside edge of foot

bahl badak

:

sole of foot

ahp chook<= /p>

:

ball of foot

dwi koomchi

:

heel

dwi chook<= /p>

:

bottom of heel

bahlkeut

:

toes

Tenets of TaeKwonDo

ye ui

:

courtesy

yom chi

:

integrity

in nae

:

perseverance

kuk gi

:

self-control (also "jah= jeh")

baekjool

:

indomitable spirit (also "= boolgool eui jung shin= ")

Body Movements

mom omgigi

:

movement of the body

mahki

:

block

chagi

:

kick

chirugi

:

thrust (or punch)

chigi

:

strike (with the hand)

jeek gi

:

strike (with the foot)

bahk gi

:

strike (with the head)

sahn ki sool

:

hand technique

bahl ki sool

:

foot technique

kyorugi

:

sparring

bituro

:

twisting

gamya

:

stepping (also "omkyuh<= /i> didigi")

kuht neun

:

walking

uro

:

moving in a particular direction (e.g. "ahp uro gamya" - stepping forward)

bang hyang bakoogi

:

changing direction

bitkyuh surgi

:

escaping

tdwim yu

:

jumping

dora

:

to turn

dolmyo

:

spinning

mee keul myu

:

sliding (also "mee<= /span> kul gi")=

jupgi

:

holding/grabbing

donzigi

:

throwing

goorugi

:

rolling/tumbling

pyihagi

:

dodging

hecho

:

spreading

moyo

:

gathering

bojoo

:

covering

Directions

oo

:

right (also "oh-ruen")

joa

:

left (also "wen")

ahp

:

front

ahn

:

inner

bahkat

:

outer

bahndae

:

reverse

dwi

:

back

ahnuro

:

inward

bahkuro

:

outward

whee

:

high (up)

whee uro

:

upward

guande

:

middle

ulgool

:

high section (also "sah= ngdahn")

momtong

:

middle section (also "c= hungdahn")

ahrae

:

low section (also "hahd= ahn")

Rank

kagup

:

rank

gup

:

grade

dan

:

degree

simsa

:

grading (or promotional) test

simsa kwan

:

examiner

dan gup jedo

:

system of rank

Hand Positions

sahnkal

:

knifehand

sahnkal jecho

:

knifehand with palm up

sahnkal deung

:

ridgehand (also "oppun sahnkal")

sahn bahtong

:

palm heel (also &q= uot;bahtong sahn<= /i>")

sahn deung

:

back hand (also &q= uot;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-knu= ckle fist

bamchu joomuk

:

middle-finger one-= knuckle fist

doo bam joomuk

:

two-knuckle fist

pyun joomuk

:

flat (or open) fis= t

omji joomuk

:

thumb-knuckle fist=

kwan soo

:

spearhand (also "pyun sahnkeut")

sahnkeut

:

spearfinger

gawi sahnkeut

:

scissors-shaped spearfingers

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<= /i> chin chirugi")

doo joomuk chirugi

:

doublefist punch

dikootja chirugi

:

`U' (or `C') shaped punch (hi-lo)

sosum chirugi

:

double uppercut punch

keumgang chirugi

:

diamond-shaped punch

nalgeh chirugi

:

wing-shaped punch

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 "utgi= ruh 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

Kicks

cha olligi

:

stretching kick

jillo chagi

:

thrusting kick

ahp chagi

:

front kick

yup chagi

:

side kick

dolrya chagi

:

round (roundhouse) kick

dwi chagi

:

back kick

bahndae dolrya chagi

:

reverse round kick ("hook kick" for some s= tyles)

dwi dolrya chagi

:

back round kick ("hook kick" for some styl= es)

gullgi chagi

:

hook kick (also "golcho= chagi" or "golro chagi")

bahndall chagi

:

crescent kick (literally "half moon kick")=

hoohrio chagi

:

wheel kick

beet chagi

:

slant (or instep) kick

bahn dolrya chagi

:

half round kick (also "instep kick")

beakya chagi

:

slap kick

nehryuh jeek gi

:

ax kick; literally "downward foot strike"<= /p>

hwe jun chagi

:

swing kick

mil a chagi

:

pushing kick (also "mil gi chagi")

gokwang i chagi

:

pickax kick

pyojuk chagi

:

target kick

dolmyo chagi

:

spinning kick

tdwim yah chagi

:

jumping kick

yung seuk chagi

:

combination (consecutive) kick

meekulmyu chagi

:

sliding kick (also "mik= ulgi chagi")

goollruh chagi

:

rolling kick

natgeh tdwim yu chagi

:

hopping kick

nalla chagi

:

flying kick (also "goon= g jung chagi&qu= ot;)

gahwi chagi

:

scissors kick

illja chagi

:

linear kick

japgo chagi

:

holding (grasp) kick

ohpo chagi

: </

1	:	hanah
2	:	dool
3	:	set
4	:	net
5	:	dasot
6	:	yasot
7	:	ilgop
8	:	yadol
9	:	ahop
10	:	yool

1	:	il
2	:	ee
3	:	sahm
4	:	sah
5	:	oh
6	:	ryook
7	:	chil
8	:	pal
9	:	koo
10	:	ship

mom	:	body
kwanjeol	:	joint
ulgool	:	face & head
muh ree	:	head
noon	:	eye
gui	:	ear
ko	:	nose
in joong	:	philtrum
eep	:	mouth
tuhk	:	chin
mokoomeong	:	throat
mok	:	neck
ouka	:	shoulder
myung chi<= /p>	:	solar plexus
pahl	:	arm
pahlkup	:	elbow
pahlmahk	:	forearm
ahn pahlmahk	:	inner side of forearm
bahkat pahlmahk	:	outer side of forearm
meet pahlmahk	:	palm side of forearm
wi pahlmahk	:	back side of forearm
deung pahlmahk	:	back of forearm
sahnmahk	:	wrist
sahn	:	hand
sahnkal	:	outside edge of hand (knife hand)
sahnkal deung	:	inside edge of hand (ridge hand)
sahn deung	:	back hand
joomok	:	fist
sahnkahrak	:	finger
sahnkeut	:	fingertip
momtong	:	trunk (middle section)
huri	:	waist
ahrae	:	lower body (low section)
noolro	:	groin
dahree	:	leg
mooreup	:	knee
ahp jung kang yi	:	shin
bahl mahk	:	ankle
bahl	:	foot (or feet)
bahldung	:	instep
bahlbong oh ri	:	arch of foot
bahl nahl	:	outside edge of foot
an bahl nahl	:	inside edge of foot
bahl badak	:	sole of foot
ahp chook<= /p>	:	ball of foot
dwi koomchi	:	heel
dwi chook<= /p>	:	bottom of heel
bahlkeut	:	toes

ye ui	:	courtesy
yom chi	:	integrity
in nae	:	perseverance
kuk gi	:	self-control (also "jah= jeh")
baekjool	:	indomitable spirit (also "= boolgool eui jung shin= ")

mom omgigi	:	movement of the body
mahki	:	block
chagi	:	kick
chirugi	:	thrust (or punch)
chigi	:	strike (with the hand)
jeek gi	:	strike (with the foot)
bahk gi	:	strike (with the head)
sahn ki sool	:	hand technique
bahl ki sool	:	foot technique
kyorugi	:	sparring
bituro	:	twisting
gamya	:	stepping (also "omkyuh<= /i> didigi")
kuht neun	:	walking
uro	:	moving in a particular direction (e.g. "ahp uro gamya" - stepping forward)
bang hyang bakoogi	:	changing direction
bitkyuh surgi	:	escaping
tdwim yu	:	jumping
dora	:	to turn
dolmyo	:	spinning
mee keul myu	:	sliding (also "mee<= /span> kul gi")=
jupgi	:	holding/grabbing
donzigi	:	throwing
goorugi	:	rolling/tumbling
pyihagi	:	dodging
hecho	:	spreading
moyo	:	gathering
bojoo	:	covering

oo	:	right (also "oh-ruen")
joa	:	left (also "wen")
ahp	:	front
ahn	:	inner
bahkat	:	outer
bahndae	:	reverse
dwi	:	back
ahnuro	:	inward
bahkuro	:	outward
whee	:	high (up)
whee uro	:	upward
guande	:	middle
ulgool	:	high section (also "sah= ngdahn")
momtong	:	middle section (also "c= hungdahn")
ahrae	:	low section (also "hahd= ahn")

kagup	:	rank
gup	:	grade
dan	:	degree
simsa	:	grading (or promotional) test
simsa kwan	:	examiner
dan gup jedo	:	system of rank

sahnkal	:	knifehand
sahnkal jecho	:	knifehand with palm up
sahnkal deung	:	ridgehand (also "oppun sahnkal")
sahn bahtong	:	palm heel (also &q= uot;bahtong sahn<= /i>")
sahn deung	:	back hand (also &q= uot;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-knu= ckle fist
bamchu joomuk	:	middle-finger one-= knuckle fist
doo bam joomuk	:	two-knuckle fist
pyun joomuk	:	flat (or open) fis= t
omji joomuk	:	thumb-knuckle fist=
kwan soo	:	spearhand (also "pyun sahnkeut")
sahnkeut	:	spearfinger
gawi sahnkeut	:	scissors-shaped spearfingers

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<= /i> chin chirugi")
doo joomuk chirugi	:	doublefist punch
dikootja chirugi	:	`U' (or `C') shaped punch (hi-lo)
sosum chirugi	:	double uppercut punch
keumgang chirugi	:	diamond-shaped punch
nalgeh chirugi	:	wing-shaped punch

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 "utgi= ruh 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

cha olligi	:	stretching kick
jillo chagi	:	thrusting kick
ahp chagi	:	front kick
yup chagi	:	side kick
dolrya chagi	:	round (roundhouse) kick
dwi chagi	:	back kick
bahndae dolrya chagi	:	reverse round kick ("hook kick" for some s= tyles)
dwi dolrya chagi	:	back round kick ("hook kick" for some styl= es)
gullgi chagi	:	hook kick (also "golcho= chagi" or "golro chagi")
bahndall chagi	:	crescent kick (literally "half moon kick")=
hoohrio chagi	:	wheel kick
beet chagi	:	slant (or instep) kick
bahn dolrya chagi	:	half round kick (also "instep kick")
beakya chagi	:	slap kick
nehryuh jeek gi	:	ax kick; literally "downward foot strike"<= /p>
hwe jun chagi	:	swing kick
mil a chagi	:	pushing kick (also "mil gi chagi")
gokwang i chagi	:	pickax kick
pyojuk chagi	:	target kick
dolmyo chagi	:	spinning kick
tdwim yah chagi	:	jumping kick
yung seuk chagi	:	combination (consecutive) kick
meekulmyu chagi	:	sliding kick (also "mik= ulgi chagi")
goollruh chagi	:	rolling kick
natgeh tdwim yu chagi	:	hopping kick
nalla chagi	:	flying kick (also "goon= g jung chagi&qu= ot;)
gahwi chagi	:	scissors kick
illja chagi	:	linear kick
japgo chagi	:	holding (grasp) kick
ohpo chagi	: </