What is Taekwondo?

Taekwondo is the traditional and globalized form of martial arts of Korea.

It is regarded as a meaningful art form that emphasizes correct humanity through mental armament together with physical training which used the form of attacking and defense utilizing hand and foot. Taekwondo is a bare-hands martial arts posing technical mechanism that attack opponents with bare hand and foot and showing remarkable differences from other martial arts on the various powerful foot techniques. Various foot techniques made itself as unique martial arts different from others. Taekwondo became an international sports event through various international competitions, and is a one of the official event at the Olympics.

• Related organization

  관련단체에 대한 안내

  Name	Website
  Korea Taekwondo Association	http://www.koreataekwondo.org
  World Taekwondo (WT)	http://www.worldtaekwondo.org

The art of Taekwondo

Major techniques in Taekwondo has various major techniques such as Kkeokgi(folding joints), Neomgigi(knocking down an opponent player by tripping), Makgi(defence), Milgi(putting an opponent player away with hands or feet), Jireugi(punching), Jjireugi(stabbing), Jjikki(downward kick), Pihagi(evading) and spectacular Chagi(kicking) technique.

Kkeokgi(Snapping)

• Techniques of restraining by pressing or twisting the opponent’s joints
  These are restraining skills to press or twist the opponent’s wrist, elbow, shoulder, ankle, or knee with the performer's hand. These skills are executed when the performer is seized by the assailant or one is grabbing the opponent at close range.

Neomgigi Throwing down or Tripping up

• Tripping up or throwing down techniques by pulling or pushing the opponent off balance

Ditgi(Stepping)

• Movements of changing directions or one’s feet to various points in order to adjust one’s distance to the opponent, where one executes attacks or makes defensive moves
  These include all kinds of foot movements involved in taekwondo and are used in the form of nae-ditgi, dora-ditgi, mo-ditgi, mulleo-ditgi, yeop-ditgi and jejari-ditgi.

Ttwigi(Jumping)

• Applications of a jumping movements to apply the diverse technical skills of taekwondo
  These are movements used to attack a target that is higher or farther than normal, or to evade the opponent’s attack. They can involve one or more vertical turns or horizontal flips.

Makgi(Blocking)

• Techniques of protecting the vital parts of the defender’s body from the assailant’s attack by blocking it off with a hand, arm, foot or leg
  Cheo-makgi (Striking Block) is one of the conventional blocking skills frequently used in defensive taekwondo techniques. The defender confronts the assailant’s attack by matching force for force. Occasionally, bada-makgi (Absorbing Block) absorbing the impact of punching and kicking attacks, georeo-makgi (Tripping Block) obstructing the offense in advance, and geodeo-makgi (Deflecting Block) deflecting or pushing off the opponent’s attack are also employed.

Milgi(Pushing)

• A motion to extend one’s arms or push away the opponent with one’s hands or feet
  This is a movement to keep one’s distance with the opponent by pushing away in order to create sufficient space to facilitate an attack or to dodge the opponent’s attack.

Ppaegi(Pulling out)

• A technique of pulling oneself free when part of the defender's body is seized by the opponent
  They are the skills executed by twisting or turning the joint and pulling it out when the defender’s wrist or ankle is grabbed by the assailant.

Seogi(Stance)

• Various postures of standing on one's feet in order to perform offensive and defensive techniques.
  They are the various standing postures with feet positioned on the ground to efficiently shift the performer's center of gravity and/or change his or her directions.

Japgi(Grabbing)

• Auxiliary techniques of holding the opponent’s body, collar, etc. with the hands.
  They are auxiliary skills to interfere with the opponent’s movement or seize him or her by grabbing a part of his or her body with the performer’s hands.

Junbi-jase(Ready Posture)

• Postures for physical relaxation, breath control and mental focus before executing taekwondo techniques
  There are six fundamental, standardized postures in poomsae (patterns) whereas individuals may freely adopt postures in georugi (sparring) in accordance with their physical conditions and characteristics.

Jireugi(Punching)

• Techniques of striking with the fists
  They are the skills of striking the opponent’s vital points with the Fist, Extended Knuckle Fist, Pincers Fist, Trigger Finger Fist and Half?clenched Fist (Flat Fist). These striking surfaces are utilized with jireugi, jeocheo-jireugi (Turn-over Punch), dollyeo-jireugi (Turning Punch), dwi-jireugi (Punch to the rear), etc.

Jjireugi(Thrusting)

• Techniques of striking the opponent’s vital points with the fingertips
  These skills have the same movements as those of punching techniques; however, their striking surfaces are the fingertips so that they can deliver a strong impact to the opponent’s vital points

Jjikgi(Chopping)

• Techniques of striking the target swiftly with curled fingers
  This is a skill of striking with the fingertips after they are firmly closed at the first knuckles of the five fingers and used in such techniques as naeryeo-jjikgi (Downward Chop) an-jjikgi (Inward Chop) and ap-jjikgi (Forward Chop).

Chagi(Kicking)

• Techniques of striking a target with the feet by extending or turning legs
  They are the skills to dominate the opponent in a confrontation by delivering a strike with the foot. They are offensive skills using the power generated from flexing and extending the knee or swinging the leg.

Chigi(Striking)

• All kinds of offensive techniques delivered by the hand excluding fist, fingertips and foot
  They are the techniques of striking targets by using the rotational force of the body while the elbow is being bent and extended or just in a state of being bent. These techniques include all offensive strikes executed with hands except jireugi (punching), jjirueugi (thrusting), and jjikgi (chopping)

Pihagi(Evading or Dodging)

• Techniques of moving the performer’s body to evade or dodge the opponent’s attack
  These are skills to avoid the opponent’s attack by turning or twisting the performer's body to the left or right or by lowering it forward or leaning it backward.