Korean TKD Terminology (revised & expanded)
Brad Appleton
Korean terms for TKD. Thank you very much to all who replied!
I will not post this again unless I see an explicit interest.
If anyone has access to an anonymous FTP site they are more than
welcome to archive this article there (and let the rest of rec.m-a
know where it is).
If anyone would like the nroff/troff source (which uses the "-mm"
macros) for the terminology list (so it looks pretty when sent to
the laser-printer) please e-mail me with your request!
==============================================================================
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 however, 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 romanizations 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
Korean Counting Basic Body Parts
Tenets of TaeKwonDo Body Movements
Directions Rank
Hand Positions Hand Attacks
Blocks Kicks
Stances Sparring
Forms Uniform
Equipment Commands
Common Phrases Titles
Miscellaneous
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
literally "the land of morning calm" and comes from the "Choson" (or "Yi")
dynasty 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" ("Love 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 theme 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 parts: a white field (or
background), a red and blue circle in the center of the flag (containing a
"yin-yang" like symbol), and four black trigrams sorrounding the circle in
each of the four corners of the flag.
The circle in the center is called "Taeguk" and means the origin of all
things in the universe. The red and blue paisleys 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 the negative aspects of this duality; the red portion
of the circle is called "yang" and represents the positive aspects. "Um-
yang" is the Korean equivalent of "yin-yang".
The four black trigrams come from the Chinese book of "I Ch'ing". The
trigrams also carry the idea of opposites and of balance. Each trigram (or
"gye") consists of three parallel lines, some of which are broken (split),
and some of which are unbroken (solid). Each gye has a specific name and
represents one or more concepts: In the upper lefthand corner is "K'un"
which consists of all solid lines and represents heaven, east, and spring;
In the lower righthand corner is "K'on" which consists of all broken lines
and represents earth, west, and summer; In the upper righthand corner is
"Kam" which consists of one solid line sorrounded by two broken lines and
represents water, north, and winter; In the lower lefthand corner is "I"
which consists of one broken line sorrounded 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 styles add the words "self defense" to the literal
definition and/or throw in some form of the phrase "physical and mental
training".
Korean Counting
===============
There are two different numbering systems that are used 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 are 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", "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.).
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
(such as "first", "second", etc ...). For example, this second numbering
system is used when describing a person's rank: a first degree black 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 emphasize the "sh" sound.
It's almost more like "sip" with a sort of a lisp. If you pronounce it
like "sh" in "shell", then you are referring to sexual intercourse.
Even though this second numbering system may correspond to ordinal numbers
in English in some cases, these are not ordinal numbers. Koreans use a
separate 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 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 (knifehand)
sahnkal deung inside edge of hand (ridgehand)
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 ball of foot
dwi koomchi heel
dwi chook 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 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 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 "sahngdahn")
momtong middle section (also "chungdahn")
ahrae low section (also "hahdahn")
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 "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
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' (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 "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
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 styles)
dwi dolrya chagi back round kick ("hook kick" for some styles)
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"
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 "mikulgi chagi")
goollruh chagi rolling kick
natgeh tdwim yu chagi hopping kick
nalla chagi flying kick (also "goong jung chagi")
gahwi chagi scissors kick
illja chagi linear kick
japgo chagi holding (grasp) kick
ohpo chagi falling kick (leg sweep)
nachu oh chagi stooping kick
Stances
=======
sohgi stance
jah seh posture (or stance),
[ used instead of "sohgi" in some styles ]
ahnjun sohgi sitting stance
ahp sohgi front stance
ahp koo bi sohgi front bent knee stance (also just "ahp koo bi")
dwi sohgi back stance
dwi koo bi sohgi back bent knee stance (also just "dwi koo bi")
beom sohgi cat (or tiger) stance (also "goyang-i sohgi")
kuht neun sohgi walking stance
juchoom sohgi horseback riding stance
("kima sohgi" in some styles)
mot sohgi fighting stance
kyorugi sohgi sparring stance
choon bi sohgi ready stance (also "pyeonhi sohgi")
gibon sohgi basic stance
guande sohgi middle stance
naranhee sohgi parallel stance
niun ja sohgi `L'-stance
gojang sohgi fixed (lower-back) stance
sa sun sohgi diagonal stance
gyuttari sohgi fixed balance (or bent knee) stance
koh ah sohgi crossed foot stance
kyo cha sohgi `X'-stance
mo ah sohgi close stance
joong-rib sohgi neutral stance
dong yuk sohgi dynamic stance
cha yun sohgi natural stance
chagi sohgi kicking stance
hahktari sohgi crane stance (also "ue bal sohgi")
Sparring
========
kyorugi (free) sparring
han bun kyorugi one step sparring
doo bun kyorugi two step sparring
sae bun kyorugi three step sparring
bahn ja yu kyorugi semi free sparring
machu oh kyorugi arranged free sparring
jeon round (competition segment)
shihap bout or match
jeum point
shi gan time out
keum bahk out of bounds
kyong go warning
gam jeum deduction of point
shil kyuk disqualification
boo sang injury
seung win
bi kim tie
chung blue
hong red
hin white
jajun bahl use of footwork to dodge a technique
nachugi body evasion by "ducking"
Forms
=====
poomse form (pronounced "poom-say"), also "hyung"
tul patterns
jang similar to a page or a chapter
yung seuk combination
sa bang hyang four direction
Uniform
=======
dhee belt
dobok uniform
ha'i training pants
Equipment
=========
hogoo chest protector (also "bohogoo")
sahn boho jang kap protective gloves
pahlmahk bohodae forearm guard
jung kang yi bohodae shin guard
nang shim bohodae groin cup
muh ree bohodae protective head gear
eep bohodae mouth guard
Commands
========
cha ryuht attention
choon bi ready
bah ro return to starting position
dwi uro dorah about face
dorah turn
elosoh stand
gomahn stop (also "mum cho")
geuk gi hyang ha yoh face the flag
jwa woo hyang woo face each other
sah bum nim keh face instructor/master
sun bae nim keh face senior student
simsa kwan nim keh face examiner/tester
dobok dahnjung fix your uniform
dhee dahnjung fix your belt
hai sahn class dismissed (also "hae cho")
jonglee line up (also "ji hap" and "jung yul")
kyung nae bow
ahnjoe sit
kool o angi kneel (kneeling)
bah ro angi sit in lotus position (yoga posture)
bahl bah kwah switch your stance (switch your feet)
koo ryung op see in your own time
seijak begin
shiuh relax
kalyeo break (or stop)
kae sok continue
Common Phrases
==============
ye yes (also "ne")
anio no
kahm sa hamnida thank you
komap sumnida less formal form of "thank you"
cheon maeneyo you're welcome (literally "Don't mention it!")
ahnyong hasimnika How are you? (literally "Are you well?" or
"Are you at peace?")
ahnyong hasayo less formal form of "How are you?"
yoboseyo hello (used on the phone or to get someone's
attention; literally "Please look here!")
ahnyonghee gasipsiyo good-bye (to the person who is leaving);
literally "Go in peace!"
ahnyonghee gyesipsiyo good-bye (to the person who is staying);
literally "Stay in peace!"
ahnyonghee gasayo less formal form of "good-bye"
(to the person who is leaving)
ahnyonghee gyesayo less formal form of "good-bye"
(to the person who is staying)
pangap seumnida Pleased to meet you!
toh poepkeseoyo See you later!
eoseo osayo Welcome!
choesong hamnida I'm sorry
mian hamnida less formal form of "I'm sorry!"
shillye hamnida Excuse me! (asking forgiveness for an impolite act)
kwaen chanayo That's all right
ahlge seoyo I understand
moreuge seoyo I don't understand
chaemi isseoyo It is fun (or interesting)!
Titles
======
do joo nim founder (of the art)
kwan jang nim grandmaster
chung sah nim chief instructor (or "chief master")
sah bum nim instructor (or "master")
sah boo nim more intimate and respectful form of "sah bum nim";
literally "teaching father"
kyo sah nim teacher (also "seon saeng nim")
sun bae nim senior student
hu bae nim junior student
hak saeng student
suryun saeng trainee
jeja pupil
joo sim referee
bu sim judge
bae sim juror
kae sim time keeper
ki rohk recorder
Miscellaneous
=============
dojang place where one trains (house of discipline)
gong-kyok offense
hosinsool self-defense
mukyum meditation
kihap yell
jung shin yuk mental strength or martial art spirit
(also "moodo jung shin")
jung shin dong il concentration of the mind
jung shin soo yang development (training) of the mind
jung do the "right" way (correctness of action)
sim shin dahn ryun mind and body discipline
chung myung kwon development (training) of the body, mind, & spirit
chi shik knowledge of mind and thoughts
heng dong execution (action) of the body and its techniques
pil seung certain victory
il sok pil sai one strike must kill
ho hyoop breathing
shim ho hyoop breathing control (deep breathing)
himm force or power
ki life-energy
dahnjun the center of your "ki"
bokboo The stomach area where "ki" is generated.
choong sim center of gravity
chojum focus (focal point) of your energy
jeung ga increase (to strengthen or augment)
kyuk pa breaking (the art of breaking boards, bricks,
and tiles)
shibum demonstration (or exhibition)
pyugi stretching
ye jol etiquette
jon gyung respect
choong sung loyalty (also "eui ri")
jung jhik honesty
kahjok family
______________________ "And miles to go before I sleep." ______________________
Brad Appleton br...@ssd.csd.harris.com Harris Computer Systems
uunet!travis!brad Fort Lauderdale, FL USA
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Disclaimer: I said it, not my company! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ms J I Vousden
where I can buy a pair of Pro Spec TaeKwonDo shoes.
I can't seem to get hold of them in the UK.
Thanks.
Janet Vousden
Dept. of Psychology
Warwick University
West Midlands
England
e-mail ps...@csv.warwick.ac.uk