Terminology
The words called across a Tang Soo Do floor. Romanization is written the way students usually hear it, which is not always official Korean spelling. Hangul is the part to trust when two schools disagree on the English letters.
52 words
차렷
Charyot
Heels together, fists lightly closed at the sides. The class comes to attention before the bow.
경례
Kyung rye
From attention. Eyes stay up in many schools; the bow is respect, not a collapse.
준비
Joon bi
Step out to ready stance. Forms start here, not at attention.
시작
Shi jak
The command to start the form or the drill.
바로
Ba ro
Come back to ready stance when the form is finished.
쉬어
Swi-eo
Also heard as “shio.” Feet apart, hands behind the back or relaxed. Not the same as finished.
그만
Go man
End the repetition. Hold the last position until the next command.
기합
Ki hap
The yell. It marks a finishing technique and forces the breath out. It is not a scream for show.
고맙습니다
Go map seum nida
Polite thanks, often said toward the instructor at the end of class.
도장
Do jang
The room you bow into. Shoes stay at the door.
도복
Do bok
The jacket and pants. Traditionally white. Keep the belt knot centered.
띠
Dee
Also spelled ti or tti. Color marks time in the art, not a prize.
형
Hyung
A set sequence. Called kata in Japanese arts and poomsae in Kukkiwon taekwondo. Same idea, different syllabus.
관
Kwan
A lineage house, not just a building. Moo Duk Kwan is one kwan.
관장님
Kwan jang nim
The nim is an honorific. Use it when you speak to or about the head instructor.
사범님
Sa bum nim
A certified teacher. Students address the person leading class this way.
교사님
Kyo sa nim
Usage varies. In some schools it is a junior instructor or a senior color belt who is teaching.
선배
Sun bae
Anyone who started before you, or who holds a higher rank. You bow toward sun bae.
후배
Hu bae
A student who started after you. Looking after hu bae is part of rank.
준비 서기
Joon bi so gi
Feet about shoulder width, fists at the belt, eyes forward. The pause before a form.
전굴 서기
Chun gul so gi
Long stance, more weight on the front leg. Rear leg straight, heel on the floor. Also romanized jeon gul.
후굴 서기
Hu gul so gi
Most of the weight sits on the rear leg. Front foot is light, often turned in. Also called hoo gul.
기마 서기
Kee ma so gi
Wide, as if sitting on a horse. Knees track over the toes. Home stance of Naihanchi.
교차 서기
Kyo cha so gi
One leg crosses in front of or behind the other. Used to shift weight and to set up a turn.
막기
Mak gi
A deflection, not a catch. The block moves the attack off the center line.
하단 막기
Ha dan mak gi
Sweeps down across the lower body. Fist finishes near the thigh of the front leg.
상단 막기
Sang dan mak gi
Rises to cover the head. Forearm finishes above the forehead, a fist-width away.
안에서 밖으로 막기
An-eso pa-kuro mak gi
Starts near the opposite ear and travels out across the body. The middle block of Ki Cho Sam Bu.
밖에서 안으로 막기
Pa-kat-eso an-uro mak gi
Comes from the outside of the body toward the center. Common in Bassai.
수도
Soo do
The little-finger edge of the open hand. Fingers together, thumb tucked.
정권
Jung kwon
The two large knuckles. This is the surface of a straight punch.
갑권
Kap kwon
The back of the fist, usually snapped horizontally. Appears early in Pyung Ahn Cho Dan.
지르기
Chi ru gi
A straight thrust. Chamber at the hip, turn the fist over as it arrives.
중단 공격
Choong dan kong kyuk
A punch aimed at the solar plexus. “Kong kyuk” is the attack; the height word comes first.
차기
Cha gi
Any kick. The kind of kick is named by adding a direction word in front.
앞차기
Ap cha gi
Knee up first, then the lower leg extends. Snap it back. Toes or ball of the foot, by school.
돌려차기
Dol ryo cha gi
The hip turns the kick across. Striking surface is usually the instep or the ball of the foot.
옆차기
Yup cha gi
Edge of the heel, chamber across the body, thrust out. Also spelled yeop.
뒤차기
Dwi cha gi
Look first, then drive the heel straight back. The support knee stays soft.
뒤돌려차기
Dwi dol ryo cha gi
A turn into a round or hooking kick. Schools disagree on the exact arc. Ask which one yours wants.
반달차기
Ban dal cha gi
An arc like a crescent moon. Inside (an) travels in; outside (bakkat) travels out. Often a trap or a stretch, not a power kick.
앞차올리기
Ap cha ol li gi
A front kick that lifts, used as a stretch and as a chamber drill. The knee leads.
당수도
Tang Soo Do
Tang refers to the Chinese Tang dynasty, a traditional way of saying “Chinese hand,” the same root as karate’s older name. Do is the way.
무덕관
Moo Duk Kwan
The kwan Hwang Kee opened in Seoul in 1945. Most Tang Soo Do practiced today descends from it, even when the patch on the uniform has changed.
수박도
Soo Bahk Do
The name Hwang Kee later emphasized for the art. Some schools still say Tang Soo Do; some say Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan. The training overlaps and is not identical.
인내
In nae
One of the values repeated in Moo Duk Kwan schools. Stay with the repetition after it stops being interesting.
겸손
Kyum son
Rank is a responsibility to the people who know less, not a costume.
정직
Chung jik
Count your own repetitions honestly. A sloppy form you admit is more useful than a sharp one you fake.
용기
Yong gi
Trying the technique you are bad at, in front of the class.
정신 통일
Chung shin tong il
“Unify the mind.” One technique, one target, one breath.
급
Gup
Numbered downward in many schools: a high gup number is a beginner, 1st gup is the rank just under black belt.
단
Dan
Cho dan is first degree. It means the basics are in place, not that training is finished.