Body parts

Joomuk (주먹) means closed fist in Korean. It is used for punches or other techniques.

Depending on the technique, different parts of the fist can be used, such as:

• Ap Joomuk (앞주먹): This is the front part of the fist, used for powerful strikes
• Dung Joomuk (등주먹): This is the back of the fist, used for striking specific areas
• Yop Joomuk (옆주먹): This is the side of the fist

When you close your fist, it’s important to keep your thumb on the outside to avoid injury.

Palmok is the forearm. It’s used in Taekwon-Do for various blocks because it’s a hard part of the body. You can use:

• An palmok: The inner forearm
• Bakat palmok: The outer forearm

Palkup (팔꿈) is the elbow. The elbow is used because it is a very hard part of the body and effective in certain techniques.

You can strike in different ways:

• Ap palkup: to strike forward
• Wi palkup: to strike upward
• Yop palkup: to strike to the sides

Son means open hand. In Taekwon-Do, you can use several attacking or blocking techniques with it. You can use:

• Sonkal (손칼) : The outer edge of the hand called “knife-hand”
• Sonkal Dung (손칼등) : The inner edge of the hand called “reverse knife-hand”
• Sonkut (손끝) : The fingertips
• Sonbadak (손바닥) : The palm of the hand
• Songarak (손가락) : The fingers
• Sondung (손등) : The back of the hand

Even if your hand is open, you need to be careful to position your thumb correctly according to the technique.

Moorup is the knee. The knee is used to strike upward, aiming either at the face or the body, after grabbing.

Bal (발) refers to the foot. Taekwon-Do is known for its kicks. Therefore, several parts of the foot are used for kicking techniques (chagi) and blocking techniques (makgi). You can use:

• Ap kumchi (앞꿈치) : The ball of the foot, used for precise kicks
• Baldeung (발등) : The instep of the foot is sometimes used for Dolyo Chagi
• Dwit kumchi (뒤꿈치) : The heel, used for powerful kicks
• Balkal (발칼) : The back edge of the foot called “Footsword”, to hit like a saber