Terminology

Practicing martial arts also means being exposed to the language of the art.

Taekwonmudo terms should be used during classes as appropriate. The more you use the terminology, the more you learn. If you are having difficulty with a certain word, ask an instructor.

Notes on Spelling and Pronunciation

Spelling and pronunciation may vary depending on where the terminology is taught. Common variations occur with the following letters:

K and G (Kup or Gup)

H and J (Chireugi or Jireugi) — Jireugi is pronounced shorter

T and D (Tasut or Dasut)

P and B (Pam or Bam)

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General Commands Stances Kicks Strikes Blocks Counting

General
CHI (KI) Physical and mental strength combined to create a great force
CHUNG Blue
DANDegrees of Black belt, 1st - 9th
DOBOK [doe-boek] Uniform
DOJANG [doe-jung]Taekwondo training hall
GUPLevels of rank earned below Black belt
HOGOO [hoe-gu]Chest guard
HONGRed
HOSINSOOL [hoe-sin-sul]Self defence practice
HYUNG [hee-ung] Forms
KIHAP [key-hop] Yell
KYOK PA [kyuk-pa] Breaking techniques
KYOLUGI [kyo-lew-gee] Sparring
POOMJunior Black belt, 15 years old and below
POOMSE [poom-se]Formation
SUNG Winner
TAEGEUK [te-guk] One of official WTF form system, consists of eight forms
TAEKWONDO [te-kwon-doe]A Korean martial art, meaning "The way of defending with the feet and hands"
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Commands
BARO [ba-ro] Return to ready stance
CHARYEOT [cha-ryut]Attention
JOONBE [june-bee]Ready
KAESOK [kay-soek] Resume
KALYO Break
KU KI E [koo-key-ay] Face to flags
KUMAHN [koo-man] Stop
KYEONG YE [kee-young-e] Bow
SHIJAK [she-jak] Begin
SHO At ease
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Stances
AP KUBI [ap-koo-bee] long stance
AP SOGI [ap-so-gee] Walking stance
BEOM SOGI [beom-so-gee] Tiger or cat stance
CHARYEOT SOGI [cha-ryut-so-gee] Attention stance
DWIT KUBI Back stance
JOOCHOOM SOGI [jew-chum-so-gee] Horse stance
Joon Bi Sogi Ready stance
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Kicks
AP CHAGI [ap-chagi] Front kick
BANDAL CHAGI [ban-dal-chagi] Half front, half round kick, used frequently in sparring
BITEUREO CHAGI [bee-two-ree-oh-chagi] Reverse round kick
CHAGI [chagi] Kick
DOLLYO CHAGI [dole-yo-chagi] Turning kick
DOOBALDANGSANG [due-bal-dung-sung] Jumping double kick
DWIT CHAGI Back kick
DWIT DOLLYO CHAGI [dwee-dole-yo-chagi] Hook kick
HURIO CHAGI [who-ryeo-chagi] Swing kick, knee straight
YUP CHAGI Side kick
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Strikes
DEUNG JOOMEOK [dung-jew-moke] Back fist, or strike using back fist
JEBIPOOM MOK CHIGI [jay-bee-poom-moke-chigi] Knife hand head block and neck strike done together
ME JOOMEOK [may-jew-moke] Hammer fist
MOOREUP CHIGI [moo-rup-chigi] Knee strike
NAERYO CHIGI [ne-ryeo-chigi] Downward strike
PALKOOP CHIGIElbow strike
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Blocks
AN MAKKI [ahn-makki] Blocking toward the body
ARAE MAKKI [ah-re-makki] Low block
BAKKAT MAKKI [ba-kkat-makki] Blocking away from the body
EOLGOOL MAKKI [ohl-gul-makki] High block
EOTGEOREO MAKKI [ut-gul-yeo-makki] "X" block, wrist cross each other
HAN SONNAL MAKKI [han-son-nal-makki] One side knife hand block
MAKKI [makki] Block
MOMTONG MAKKI [mom-tong-makki] Middle block
SONBADAK NULER MAKKI [son-baa-dack-nul-ler-makki] Down palm block
SONNAL MAKKI [son-nal-makki] Knife hand block
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Counting
1HANNA
2DUL
3SET
4NET
5DASOT
6YASOT
7ILGOPE
8YODOL
9AHOP
10YOL
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