Hand Attacks

Taekwondo hand strikes are performed as a close distance alternative to kicks. They are executed
in a number of ways from standing, jumping, spinning and rushing forwards. Hand strikes make
up fast combinations of strikes which can leave an opponent stunned and unable to defend
himself. Taekwondo hand strikes can be separated into two distinct styles:

1. Closed hand strikes (jireugi)

2. Open hand techniques (chigi)

1. Forefist - A closed fist may be jabbed out directly to strike with the forefist knuckles.
This is a suitable position for general punches to soft areas of the body.
2. Hammer fist - A closed fist may be brought down in a hammering motion to strike with
the underneath.
3. Backfist - A Son Deung clenched hand is swung backwards into the face of an opponent.
The back of the hand makes contact and the momentum garnered in the swing makes this
a powerful strike.
4. Knifehand - 'Sonkal' is the Taekwondo name for a move similar to the "karate chop", i.e.
where an open hand is hammered down to make impact with the underside. A ridgehand
is the opposite, where the top of the open hand strikes. These are commonly made to the
side of the neck.
5. Fingertips - Jumeok can be used to strike vulnerable areas of the body such as pressure
points. Four finger strikes engaging the tips of the outstretched hand (known as a
spearhand) can be made to vital points in the neck.
6. Thumb - Eomji is a fist with the thumb protruding over the top. This is a formidable
weapon in pressure point striking. Vulnerable areas can be targeted all over the body such
as the sternum, the spaces in between the ribs and other nerve clusters.
7. Palm heel - a classic self-defence strike where the hand is pulled back to engage the base
of the palm in an upwards thrusting strike.
8. Elbow strike (palgup chigi)- The forearm is folded inwards towards the body and the
strike is delivered with the outside of the forearm or elbow while stepping forwards.
9. Four-knuckle strike - This is a fist shape particular to the Asian martial arts. Instead of
closing the fist completely, the fingers are held out and only the knuckles are bent,
thereby presenting the upper set of knuckles as the striking surface. This fist is used for
breaking boards as the smaller surface area concentrates the punches power. In self-
defence, it may be used to purposefully break an attacker's jaw.
10. Eagle strike - In this strike, the fingers all touch together, and the hand is pointed down,
exposing the top of the wrist, which is then swung upward to strike the underside of the
jaw. If done properly, this strike can easily fracture the jawbone, and is usually banned
from competitions due to the extreme danger. If done improperly, however, the
practitioner may break his wrist.
11. Tiger claw - A strike using the space between the index finger and thumb. Fingers are
made rigid, and the attack is usually directed towards the neck/trachea. Serves as a way to
incapacitate an opponent for a few seconds.
12. Pincer hand - A strike which uses thumb and forefinger to strike opponent's throat. In this
technique a fist is closed except thumb and forefinger which are fully extended outwards.
 13. Scissor finger - A fist in which forefinger and middle finger is extended out as if to dig
someone's eye. Similar to Pincer hand except that the forefinger and middle finger is
extended outwards.
14. Chestnut fist - Similar to normal fist except that first three knuckles are pushed outward
slightly with thumb.

Kick (Chagi)
All kicks can be executed as jump kicks, spin kicks, jump spin kicks or multi-rotational spin
kicks. Also, all can be performed by the front or rear leg in a given stance.

1. Front Kick (앞 차기 ap chagi): This is a very linear kick. The practitioner raises the knee
to the waist, pulls the toes back and quickly extends the foot at the target. It is also known
as the snap kick. This technique is more meant to be used to push the attacker away, but
can injure the opponent as well.
2. Side kick ( 옆 차 기  yeop chagi): A very powerful kick, in which the practitioner
simultaneously raises the knee and rotates the body 90 degrees, while extending their leg.
3. Roundhouse kick (돌려 차기 dollyeo chagi): The practitioner raises the knee, turns the hips,
pivots on the non-kicking foot, and snaps the kick horizontally into the target at an 80 to 90-
degree angle, either with the instep or with the ball of the foot with the toes pulled back.
4. Back kick (뒷 차기  dwit chagi): The practitioner turns the body away from the target and
pushes the back leg straight toward the target, hitting it with the heel while watching over the
shoulder. The turning motion helps to give this kick a lot of power. Without proper care, you
can "spin out" and lose your balance from using this attack.
5. Reverse side kick (반대 옆 차기 bandae yeop chagi): This kick is similar to the back kick,
except the body turns further, allowing the heel to hit the target with the foot pointing to the
side as in a regular side kick, instead of downward as in a true back kick.
6. Hook kick (후려 차기 huryeo chagi): The practitioner raises the knee in a fashion similar to
the roundhouse kick, then extends the foot outward then snaps it around in a dorsal arc, with
the heel as the intended striking weapon.
7. Axe kick (내려 차기 naeryeo chagi): The leg is raised usually from the outside of the body
like an outside crescent kick. then the leg is pulled down with the heel pointed downward. It
is typically targeted toward the head, shoulder, or chest and requires significant flexibility to
employ effectively.
8. Crescent kick (an chagi/bakkat chagi): There are two variations of this kick: the outer
crescent and the inner crescent. In the outer, the practitioner raises the extended leg as high
as possible, and slightly up across the body, (a bit across the centerline of the body), then
sweeping outward to the side, in a circular movement. In the inner, the motions are the same
but the direction of the kick changes, this time originating from the outside of the body,
heading towards the inside, or centerline of the body. These kicks are also called "inside
crescent kick" and "outside crescent kick" at some taekwondo schools.
9. Reverse Turning Kick (반대 돌려 차기 bandae dollyeo chagi): This kick may appear similar
to a hook kick, but is performed with a straight leg, and usually at least a half-rotation. The
heel connects with the target.
10. Spin kicks There are several spinning kicks that involve the rotation of the entire body and
head before the kick is released. Spinning kicks include the back pivot kick (dweel chagi),
spinning hook kick (dweel huryeo chagi), spinning axe kick, returning kick, 360 turning
kick, and a number of other kicks of varying popularity.
11. Fly Kick (on mondollyo chagi):The practitioner steps forward and spins in the direction of
their back leg while raising their knee and jumping to perform a spinning inside crescent
kick in midair.

Blocks
Taekwondo blocks known as Makgi are used to stop and deflect an incoming attack. They
engage various parts of the arm with the hand and are held in different positions such as knife-
hand, closed fist etc. Each block is suitable for a particular kind of attack and may be combined
with another punch or kick to make a counter-attack.

1. Single Forearm Block - Wae Sun Palmok is used to deflect an attack (usually a kick)
made at the torso. Starting up near the opposite shoulder, and the leading hand is
projected down and across the body to deflect the kick with the forearm.
2. Low Block - Najundi Makgi is used to defend against low attacks to the torso or legs. This is
one of the most basic Taekwondo blocks and one of the first things a beginner will learn. The
lead forearm is bent and raised to shoulder height, snapping the arm down straight with the
palm facing the ground, which blocks any incoming low kicks.
3. Rising Block - Chookya Makgi is another basic Taekwondo block, used to defend against
overhead attacks to the head and shoulders. The arm is bent and raised above the head, and
the underside of the forearm absorbs the impact of the blow, which may be painful but is
better than it connecting with your head or delicate clavicle. This block is used to defend
against Hammerfists, Axe Kicks and overhead strikes with blunt instruments.
4. Palm Block - Sonbadak Naeryo Makgi is a standard block used to deflect incoming kicks
and punches. The open hand is raised up to shoulder height and thrust directly down to meet
the attackers limb. The heel of the hand makes contact with the attacker's forearm in case of
a punch, or shin in case of a kick. Although simple, it requires a lot of partner training to get
the timing of this Taekwondo block correct.
5. Knife Hand Block - The hand is kept in a knife hand position to block attacks to the torso. As
the front arms sweeps down in an arc from the inside to the outside of the body, the back
hand is simultaneously pulled back to the back hip and ready for a counter punch.
6. Double Forearm Block - This is a more advanced Taekwondo block, designed to be used
against a strong attack to the center of the body. Standing sideways, the lead forearm blocks
the attack with the fist closed. The second arm provides further support, linking into the
crook of the arm so both forearms are at a 90 degree angle to the body.
7. Double Knife Hand Block - With the hands held open in the knife hand position, a powerful
kick aimed at the solar plexus can be successfully blocked. Both hands come across the
body, intersecting at the forearms and providing a firm defence.
8. Nine Block - This is a black belt leveled block and the first time it is usually used is around
the black belt form. The person blocks their chest with one hand and stomach region with the
other. The shape of the block forms a number nine when executed correctly. Both arms are
bent at a 45 degree angle as well and it leaves little space open in the mid region of the
defenders body. Your hand when this move is executed correctly should also be above your
groin on the bottom and next to you opposite shoulder with the top hand.
9. Upper Block - Also known as the Ulgul Makgi. The one using the block first keeps their fist
sideways at the stomach or torso. They then rise the fist up to their head, deflecting the
attack. Any attack made at the upper part of the body is blocked if timed correctly using this
block.