The Korean language is the taekwondo language, and as a taekwondo student or practitioner, it is important to learn and familiarize yourself with some of the terminologies used in the art.
Yea I know, Korean is likely not your original language, but you don’t need to learn the language, you only need to learn what certain individual words or phrases mean as you will be hearing some of these terms every now and then from your instructor (during training), referees (during starring and poomsae), and even from your fellow students.
Taekwondo items and equipment used are also named in the Korean language.
So, while it might be easy to call your taekwondo clothing “uniform”, calling it “dobok” would sure sound professional.
Now, here are some of the Korean terminologies in taekwondo.
Terminologies in Taekwondo
Taekwondo Terminology ANATOMY
mo-li: head
eolgul: face
ip: mouth
mok: neck
momtong: body
palkoop: elbow
palmock: forearm
sonmock: wrist
son: hand
son-kut: fingertip
joomock: fist
huri: waist
dari: leg
moo-rup: knee
baal: foot
baaldung: instep
dwi-chook: heel
ahp-chook: ball of foot
Taekwondo Terminology NUMBERS
Counting:
hana: one
dul: two
set: three
net: four
dasot: five
yasot: six
elgub: seven
yodol: eight
ahob: nine
yol: ten
Listing:
el: first
e: second
sam: third
sa: fourth
o: fifth
yuk: sixth
chil: seventh
pul: eighth
koo: ninth
sib: tenth
Taekwondo Terminology MOVEMENTS
maggi: block
chi-gi: strike
cha-gi: kick
kyorugi: sparring
jupgi: holding
jirugi: thrusting
twi: jumping
hecho: spreading
modoo: gathering
gong-kyok: offense
hosinsool: self-defense
Taekwondo Terminology DIRECTIONS
ahp: front
yop: side
dwi: back
wee: high
gaunde: middle
ahre: low
wen: left
o-ruen: right
dolryo: round
ahn: in (inner)
backat: out (outer)
Taekwondo Terminology STANCES
cha-ryot sogi: attention stance
pyong-hi sogi: ready stance
juchoom sogi: horseback riding stance
ahp-gubi sogi: forward stance
dwi-gibi sogi: back stance
koa sogi: twisted stance
ahp sogi: walking stance
bum sogi: tiger stance
Taekwondo Terminology BLOCKS
yeot pero maggi: X block
eolgul maggi (also wee maggi): rising block
momtong maggi: middle block
ahre maggi: down block
son-nal maggi: knifehand block
hecho maggi: spreading block
Taekwondo Terminology STRIKES
chi-gi: forward punch
gullgi chi-gi: hook punch
me-joomok chi-gi: hammer-fist strike
dung-joomock chi-gi: back-fist strike
son-nal chi-gi: knifehand strike
son-nal dung chigi: spear-fingers strike
pyon-joomock chi-gi: knuckle-fist strike
palkoop chi-gi: elbow strike
Taekwondo Terminology KICKS
ahp cha-gi: front kick
yop cha-gi: side kick
dolryo cha-gi: round kick
dwi cha-gi: back kick
guligi cha-gi: hook kick
bandul cha-gi: crescent kick
twi o-cha-gi: jumping kick
Taekwondo Terminology COMMANDS
cha-ryot: attention (come to attention)
kyong-ye: bow
joonbi: ready (get ready)
dorra: about face
si-jak: begin/start
ba-quo: switch
gu-mahn: hold/stop
barro: return (to previous position)
kalyeo: break/stop
kae sok: continue
Taekwondo Terminology TITLES
kwanjangnim: master instructor (above fifth degree black belt)
Sabomnim: instructor (above fourth degree black belt)
joo sim: referee
bu sim: judge
bae sim: juror
kae sim: time keeper
ki rohk: recorder
GENERAL TERMS
poomse: forms (formal exercises)
kyorugi: sparring
hosinsool: self-defense
ki-hop: yell (the power-sound, which combines physical and mental energy)
guk-gi: flag
dobok: uniform
dojang: gymnasium (for the practice of Tae Kwon Do)
kwan: school (a place where Tae Kwon Do is taught)
jeon: round (competition segment)
jeum: point
shi gan: time (time out)
Hi, my name is Godwin. I am a passionate martial artist with black belts in Taekwondo and Karate. I have over 15 years of martial art experience. I created this platform to enable me to help you learn martial art the right way.
