Striking Techniques
Chigi Kisul - 치기 기술
While the word “striking” is generally a catch all term for martial arts techniques where the aim is to deliver a blow to an opponent, when it comes to Kukkiwon Taekwondo it refers to offensive movements which are not classified as:
Kick / Chagi / 차기
Punch / Jireugi / 지르기
Techniques are typically named in the following way:
Body part being used
Direction of motion
Action being done
Example:
Back Fist Forward Strike / Deung Jumeok Ap Chigi / 등 주먹 앞 치기
Body part being used:
Back Fist / Deung Jumeok / 등 주먹Direction of motion:
Forward / Ap / 앞Action being done:
Strike / Chigi / 치기
Motion Directions Applicable To Offensive Techniques:
Forward / Ap / 앞
Backward / Dwi / 뒤
Upward / Ollyeo / 올려
Downward / Naeryeo / 내려
Inward / An / 안
Outward / Bakkat / 바깥
Turning / Dollyeo / 돌려
Twisting / Biteureo / 비틀어
Side / Yeop / 옆
Body Parts Applicable In Offensive Techniques:
Fist / Jumeok / 주먹
Back Fist / Deung Jumeok / 등 주먹
Hammer Fist / Me Jumeok / 메 주먹
Knife Hand / Sonnal / 손날
Ridge Hand / Sonnal Deung / 손날 등
Spear Hand / Pyeonsonkkeut / 편손끝
Arc Hand / Ageumson / 아금손
Palm Heel / Batangson / 바탕손
Elbow / Palgup /
Inner Forearm / An Palmok / 안 팔목
Outer Forearm / Bakkat Palmok / 바깥 팔목
Forehead / Ima / 이마
Knee / Mureup / 무릎
Shin / Jeonggangi / 정강이
Foot Instep / Bal Deung / 발 등
Ball Of The Foot / Ap Chuk / 앞 축
Sole Of The Foot / Bal Badak / 발 바닥
Bottom Of The Heel / Dwi Chuk / 뒤 축
Back Of The Heel / Dwikkumchi / 뒤꿈치
Foot Blade / Bal Nal / 발 날
Reverse Foot Blade / Bal Nal Deung / 발 날 등
Often in English it sounds more proper to say the direction before the body part (Forward Back Fist Strike rather than Back Fist Forward Strike) and so this is typically used in discussion and writing at NB TKD Academy.
Italicized text following the Hangul is the approximate phonetic pronunciation.
Examples given do not, of course, include all techniques.
Assisted Strike
Geodeureo Chigi
거들어 치기
“Guh-Dool-Uh Chih-Gee”
Strikes where the other hand is overhooking one of the assailant’s arms.
Examples:
Assisted Forward Back Fist Strike
Geodeureo Deung Jumeok Ap Chigi
거들어 등 주먹 앞 치기Assisted Arc Hand Strike Strike
Geodeureo Ageumson Chigi
거들어 아금손 치기 치기
Back Fist Strike
Deung Jumeok Chigi
등 주먹 치기
“Doong Joo-Muhg Chih-Gee”
Strikes using the back of the first two knuckles of a clenched fist.
Examples:
Forward Back Fist Strike
Deung Jumeok Ap Chigi
등 주먹 앞 치기Outward Back Fist Strike
Deung Jumeok Bakkat Chigi
등 주먹 바깥 치기Spinning Back Fist Strike
Dwi Dora Deung Jumeok Chigi
뒤 돌아 등 주먹 치기
Hammer Fist Strike
Me Jumeok Chigi
메 주먹 치기
“May Joo-Muhg Chih-Gee”
Strikes using the bottom of a clenched fist.
Examples:
Downward Hammer Fist Strike
Me Jumeok Naeryeo Chigi
메 주먹 내려 치기Inward Hammer Fist Strike
Me Jumeok An Chigi
메 주먹 안 치기Spinning Hammer Fist Strike
Dwi Dora Me Jumeok Chigi
뒤 돌아 메 주먹 치기
Knee Strike
Mureup Chigi
무릎 치기
“Moo-Roop Chih-Gee”
Strikes using the point of a bent knee.
Examples:
Upward Knee Strike
Mureup Ollyeo Chigi
올려 무릎 치기Turning Knee Strike
Mureup Dollyeo Chigi
무릎 돌려 치기Grabbing Knee Strike
Japgo Mureup Chigi
잡고 무릎 치기
Elbow Strike
Palgup Chigi
팔굽 치기
“Pahl-Goop Chih-Gee”
Strikes using the point of a bent elbow.
Examples:
Turning Elbow Strike (Elbow Hook)
Palgup Dollyeo Chigi
팔굽 돌려 치기Upward Elbow Strike
Palgup Ollyeo Chigi
팔굽 올려 치기Target Elbow Strike
Palgup Pyojeok Chigi
팔굽 표적 치기
Palm Heel Strike
Batangson Chigi
바탕손 치기
“Bah-Tahng-Sohn Chih-Gee”
Strikes using the bottom of the palm.
Examples:
Palm Heel Hook
Batangson Dollyeo Chigi
바탕손 돌려 치기Palm Heel Straight
Batangson Ap Chigi
바탕손 앞 치기Palm Heel Uppercut
Batangson Ollyeo Chigi
바탕손 올려 치기
Knife Hand Strike
Sonnal Chigi
손날 치기
“Sohn-Nahl Chih-Gee”
Strikes using the outside edge of the hand, primarily against soft targets such as the neck and throat.
Examples:
Inward Knife Hand Strike
Sonnal An Chigi
손날 안 치기Outward Knife Hand Strike
Sonnal Bakkat Chigi
손날 바깥 치기Forward Knife Hand Strike
Sonnal Ap Chigi
손날 앞 치기
Ridge Hand Strike
Sonnal Deung Chigi
손날 등 치기
“Sohn-Nahl Doong Chih-Gee”
Strikes using the inside edge of the hand, primarily against soft targets like the neck and throat.
Examples:
Inward Ridge Hand Strike
Sonnal Deung An Chigi
손날 등 안 치기Upward Ridge Hand Strike
Sonnal Deung Ollyeo Chigi
손날 등 올려 치기
Spear Hand Thrust
Pyeonson Jjireugi
편손 찌르기
“Peeuhn-Sohn Chjee-Roo-Gee”
Strikes using the first three fingers, only used against soft targets like the throat and eye.
There are 3 types of Spear Hand Thrust:
세워 찌르기 / Sewo Jjireugi / Vertical Thrust
엎어 찌르기 / Eopeo Jjireugi / Horizontal Thrust
젖혀 찌르기 / Jeojhyeo Jjireugi / Turn Over Thrust
Examples:
Assisted Spear Hand Thrust
Geodeureo Pyeonson Jjireugi
거들어 편손 찌르기Grabbing Spear Hand Thrust
Japgo Pyeonson Jjireugi
잡고 편손 찌르기
Arc Hand Strike
Ageumson Chigi
아금손 치기
“Ah-Goom-Sohn Chih-Gee”
Formerly known as 칼재비 Kaljaebi “Kahl-Jeyh-Bee”.
Strikes using the inner edge between the thumb and forefinger, primarily used to attack (not grab) the throat.
Examples:
Arc Hand Throat Strike
Ageumson Mok Chigi
아금손 목 치기Arc Hand Knee Strike
Ageumson Mureup Kkeokkgi
아금손 무릎 꺾기Assisted Arc Hand Strike
Geodeureo Ageumson Chigi
거들어 아금손 치기
Fist Strike
Jumeok Chigi
주먹 치기
“Joo-Muhg Chih-Gee”
Strikes using the fronts of the first two knuckles of a clenched fist — just another way to say “punch”.
Examples:
Jab Punch
Jaeb Jireugi
잽 지르기Rear Straight Punch
Dwit Son Ap Jireugi
뒷 손 앞 지르기Lead Hook Punch
Ap Son Dollyeo Jireugi
앞 손 돌려 지르기
Grabbing Strike
Japgo Chigi
잡고 치기
“Jahp-Goh Chih-Gee”
Strikes which involve holding onto an opponent before hitting.
Examples:
Grabbing Hammer Fist Strike
Japgo Me Jumeok Chigi
잡고 메 주먹 치기Grabbing Knee Strike
Japgo Mureup Chigi
잡고 무릎 치기Grabbing Back Fist Strike
Japgo Deung Jumeok Chigi
잡고 등 주먹 치기
Pulling Strike
Danggyeo Chigi
당겨 치기
“Dahng-Geeuh Chih-Gee”
Strikes where you are pulling on the opponent’s limb or clothing while attacking.
Examples:
Pulling Uppercut
Danggyeo Ollyeo Jireugi
당겨 올려 지르기Pulling Knife Hand Strike
Danggyeo Sonnal Chigi
당겨 손날 치기Pulling Knee Strike
Danggyeo Mureup Chigi
당겨 무릎 치기
Swallow Strike
Jebipum Chigi
제비품 치기
“Jay-Bee Poom Chih-Gee”
A strike which one hand intercepts a strike to the face while the other delivers a counter attack.
Named for the narrow, speedy shape of a swallow as it is preparing to attack.
Examples:
Swallow Form Neck Strike
Jebipum Mok Chigi
제비품 목 치기Swallow Form Chin Strike
Jebipum Teok Chigi
제비품 턱 치기
Target Strike
Pyojeok Chigi
표적 치기
“Peeoh-Juhg Chih-Gee”
A strike in which one hand holds the target in place while delivering an attack. Holding the target in place helps with increasing proprioceptive awareness as well as limiting the range of motion of the target being attacked.
Examples:
Target Elbow Strike
Palgup Pyojeok Chigi
돌려 표적 치기Target Punch
Pyojeok Jireugi
표적 지르기Target Hammer Fist Strike
Me Jumeok Pyojeok Chigi
메 주먹 표적 치기
Fingertip Thrust
Pyeonsonkkeut Jjireugi
편손끝 찌르기
“Peeuhn-Sohn-Koot Chjee-Roo-Gee”
A strike which uses the flattened fingertips to attack soft targets.
Fingertip Thrust can be done in the following ways:
Turn Over Thrust
Jeojhyeo Jjireugi
젖혀 찌르기
”Juh-Choh Chjee-Roo-Gee”
The palm faces up.Horizontal Thrust
Eopeo Jjireugi
엎어 찌르기
”Uhp-Oh Chjee-Roo-Gee”
The palm faces down.Vertical Thrust
Sewo Jjireugi
세워 찌르기
”Say-Woh Chjee-Roo-Gee”
The palm faces in.
Examples:
Low Turn Over Thrust
Arae Jeojhyeo Jjireugi
아래 젖혀 찌르기Horizontal Throat Thrust
Eopeo Mok Jjireugi
엎어 목 찌르기Grabbing Vertical Thrust
Japgo Sewo Jjireugi
잡고 세워 찌르기
Headbutt
Ima Chigi
이마 치기
“Ee-Mah Chih-Gee”
A strike which uses the top of the skull.
Examples:
Front Headbutt
Ima Ap Chigi
이마 앞 치기Upward Headbutt
Ima Ollyeo Chigi
이마 올려 치기Grabbing Headbutt
Japgo Ima Chigi
잡고 이마 치기
Uncommon Strikes
This is a list of strikes which exist but don’t show up in any Recognized Poomsae and are more or less relics of the early “Korean Karate” days of Taekwondo but are worth looking at for educational purposes.
Back Hand Strike
Son Deung Chigi
손 등 치기
“Sohn Doong Chih-Gee”
A strike using the back of the opened hand.
Scissor Finger Strike
Gawi Sonkkeut Chigi
가위 손끝 치기
“Gah-Wee Sohn-Koot Chih-Gee”
A strike to the opponent’s eyes using the tips of the first and second fingers.
Single Finger Thrust
Han Sonkkeut Jjireugi
한 손끝 찌르기
“Hahn Sohn-Koot Chjee-Roo-Gee”
A strike to the opponent’s eye using the tip of the first finger.
Two Finger Thrust
Moeun Dusonkkeut Jjireugi
모은 두손끝 찌르기
“Moh-Oon Doo-Sohn-Koot Chjee-Roo-Gee”
A strike to the opponent’s eye using the combined tips of the first two fingers.
Three Finger Thrust
Moeun Sesonkkeut Jjireugi
모은 세손끝 찌르기
“Moh-Oon Say-Sohn-Koot Chjee-Roo-Gee”
A strike to the opponent’s eye using the combined tips of the first three fingers.
Five Finger Thrust
Modum Sesonkkeut Thrust
모둠 손끝 찌르기
“Moh-Doom Sohn-Koot Chjee-Roo-Gee”
A strike to the opponent’s eye using the combined tips of all five fingers.
Bear Hand Strike
Komson Chigi
곰손 치기
“Kohm-Sohn Chih-Gee”
A strike using the underside of a clenched fist where the thumb is moved to the side. Often used with boxing gloves and mixed martial arts gloved while throwing hook punches. See the Diaz brothers’ technique for reference.
Bent Wrist Strike
Guphin Sonmok Chigi
굽힌 손목 치기
“Goop-Heen Sohn-Mohk Chih-Gee”
A strike under the chin of an opponent using the top of the bent wrist.