Instructions

Charyeot
Attention
차렷
“Chah-L’yuht”

Students will stand at attention by placing their feet together (Closed Stance / Moa Seogi) with their fists at their sides. Strong posture and a focused mind are the hallmarks of someone standing at attention.

Gyeonglye
Bow
경례
“Gyuhng-L’yay”

Students and instructors show respect and trust to one another by standing in Closed Stance (Moa Seogi) and bowing the body at the waist by approximately 45°. The hands should remain stationary at one’s sides, not slide down the legs while bowing and one should retain good posture throughout.

Kukki Gyeonglye
Flag Salute
국기 경례
“Kook-Gee G’yuhng-L’yay”

Students will pay respect to the national flags present by placing their right palm over their heart before returning their fist back to their side. Sometimes the command is also 국기에 대 하 요 경례 “Kukkie Dae Ha Yo Gyeonglye” (“Koog-Kee-Ay Deyh Hah Yoh Gyawng-Leeyay”).

Junbi
Ready
준비
“Joon-Bee”

Students will assume the posture relevant to the activity being done (sparring, poomsae, etc).

Sijak
Start
시작
“Shee-Jahg”

Students will begin the current activity on their own time.
Kyorugi: The beginning of a new round of combat
Poomsae: The entirety of the form will be executed
Drills: The techniques will be repeated until told otherwise

Baro
Return
바로
“Bah-Roh”

Return to the position you began the exercise in.

Swieo
Relax
쉬어
“Shwee-Uh”

Students can stand at ease, often accompanied by a brief water break.

Dora
Turn
돌아
“Dohr-ah”

Perform a 180° turn to the opposite direction from which you were facing (dwi dora). Most often performed as a rear foot turn. Dwilo Dora 뒤로 돌아 (“Dwee-Loh Dohr-Ah”) is also used.

Bal Bakkum
Change Feet (Stance)
발 바꿈
“Bahl Bah-Koom”

Change from a left fighting stance to a right fighting stance or vice versa.

Gong-Gyeog
Fight
공격
“Gohng-G’yuhg”

The referee will say this while making a hand signal if one or both fighters have not engaged within 3 seconds of the previous fighting exchange. A further 3 seconds of inactivity after the command will result in a gam-jeom (penalty).

Prior to 2023 referees would say “Fight!” in English while giving the associated hand signal, but it has since changed over to being said in Korean.

Kallyeo
Break (Separate)
갈려
“Kahl-L’yuh”

When the referee would like the fighters to break apart. The referee may issue a penalty before calling for the match to resume.

Kyesok
Continue
계속
“G’yay-Sohg”

The referee will say this to have the match resume after it has been paused.

Keuman
Stop
그만
“Koo-Mahn”

The referee will say this at the end of a round.