Taekwondo classes are taught with Korean words. Instructors call commands in Korean, techniques have Korean names, and belt tests often ask students what those names mean. This guide lists the taekwondo terminology most schools use, with the Korean spelling, the hangul and the English meaning: dojang commands, titles and ranks, counting, body parts and target areas, stances, blocks, punches and kicks. Spellings follow Kukkiwon and World Taekwondo usage in Revised Romanization; your school’s handout may spell the same word differently, and ITF schools use some different terms, listed near the end.
| Language | Korean (hangul), written here in Roman letters |
|---|---|
| First words most students learn | Charyeot (attention), gyeongnye (bow), junbi (ready), sijak (begin) |
| Counting in class | Native Korean: hana, dul, set, net, daseot… |
| Technique endings | Seogi = stance, makgi = block, jireugi = punch, chigi = strike, chagi = kick |
| Ranks | Gup for color belts, dan for black belts, poom for junior black belts |
| Two systems | Kukkiwon/World Taekwondo and ITF use some different words and spellings |
Commands
Taekwondo commands in Korean
These are the commands you hear at the start and end of class, during drills and in sparring.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Charyeot (차렷) | Attention: feet together, hands at your sides |
| Gyeongnye (경례) | Bow |
| Junbi (준비) | Ready: move into the ready stance |
| Sijak (시작) | Begin |
| Baro (바로) | Return to the ready position |
| Swieo (쉬어) | At ease, relax |
| Dwiro dora (뒤로 돌아) | Turn around |
| Kihap (기합) | The focused shout given with a technique |
| Gukgi-e daehayeo gyeongnye (국기에 대하여 경례) | Bow (salute) to the flag |
| Sabeomnim-kke gyeongnye (사범님께 경례) | Bow to the instructor |
| Gallyeo (갈려) | Break, separate (sparring) |
| Gyesok (계속) | Continue (sparring) |
| Geuman (그만) | Stop |
For when and how to bow, see bowing in taekwondo. For the shout itself, see what a kihap is.
Tip
A common opening sequence is charyeot, gukgi-e daehayeo gyeongnye, sabeomnim-kke gyeongnye, junbi. If you learn those four, you can follow the start of almost any class.
The dojang
General taekwondo words: the school, uniform and people
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Taekwondo (태권도) | “The way of the foot and fist” |
| Dojang (도장) | Training hall |
| Kwan (관) | School or hall, as in the names of the original schools |
| Dobok (도복) | Uniform |
| Tti (띠) | Belt |
| Sabeomnim (사범님) | Instructor (a black belt who teaches) |
| Kwanjangnim (관장님) | Head of the school, often called grandmaster |
| Seonbae / hubae (선배 / 후배) | Senior student / junior student |
| Gyeorugi (겨루기) | Sparring |
| Poomsae (품새) | Forms (set patterns of movements) |
| Hosinsul (호신술) | Self-defense |
| Gyeokpa (격파) | Breaking (boards, tiles) |
| Taegeukgi (태극기) | The flag of South Korea |
| Hanguk (한국) | Korea |
Related guides: what taekwondo means and where it comes from, the Korean flag, poomsae, sparring and how to tie your belt.
Ranks
Rank and belt terms
급 · Gup
Color belt ranks
Color belt grades count down toward black belt, for example from 10th gup at white belt to 1st gup just before black belt. The number of gups varies by school.
단 · Dan
Black belt degrees
Black belt ranks count up from 1st dan (il dan) to 9th dan (gu dan). The numbers use Sino-Korean counting.
품 · Poom
Junior black belt
Kukkiwon gives poom ranks to black belts under 15. A poom can be converted to the matching dan at age 15.
검은 띠 · Geomeun tti
Black belt
“Black belt” in Korean. Belt colors combine the color word with tti, as in huin tti (white belt).
For the full belt sequence in ITF schools, see ITF belt order and ranks.
Polite phrases
Everyday Korean phrases used in class
- Annyeonghaseyo (안녕하세요): hello
- Gamsahamnida (감사합니다): thank you
- Annyeonghi gaseyo (안녕히 가세요): goodbye, said to someone who is leaving
- Annyeonghi gyeseyo (안녕히 계세요): goodbye, said when you are the one leaving
- Ne (네): yes
Counting
Counting 1 to 10 in Korean
Korean has two sets of numbers. Classes count repetitions with the native Korean set; ranks and form names use the Sino-Korean set, which is why the first form is Taegeuk Il Jang.
| Number | Native Korean (counting) | Sino-Korean (ranks, forms) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hana (하나) | Il (일) |
| 2 | Dul (둘) | I (이) |
| 3 | Set (셋) | Sam (삼) |
| 4 | Net (넷) | Sa (사) |
| 5 | Daseot (다섯) | O (오) |
| 6 | Yeoseot (여섯) | Yuk (육) |
| 7 | Ilgop (일곱) | Chil (칠) |
| 8 | Yeodeol (여덟) | Pal (팔) |
| 9 | Ahop (아홉) | Gu (구) |
| 10 | Yeol (열) | Sip (십) |
For pronunciation and numbers up to 100, see taekwondo numbers 1–100.
Body and targets
Body parts and target areas in Korean
Technique names are built from these words. Eolgul, momtong and arae also name the three target heights, so “arae makgi” means a low block.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Eolgul (얼굴) | Face; the high section |
| Momtong (몸통) | Trunk; the middle section |
| Arae (아래) | Low; the low section |
| Meori (머리) | Head |
| Mok (목) | Neck |
| Son (손) | Hand |
| Jumeok (주먹) | Fist |
| Sonnal (손날) | Knife hand (edge of the open hand) |
| Batangson (바탕손) | Palm heel |
| Palmok (팔목) | Forearm |
| Sonmok (손목) | Wrist |
| Palkup (팔굽) | Elbow |
| Dari (다리) | Leg |
| Mureup (무릎) | Knee |
| Jeonggangi (정강이) | Shin |
| Bal (발) | Foot |
| Apchuk (앞축) | Ball of the foot |
| Dwitchuk (뒤축) | Heel |
| Balnal (발날) | Foot blade (outer edge of the foot) |
Stances
Stance names (seogi)
| Korean | Stance |
|---|---|
| Moa seogi (모아서기) | Closed stance, feet together |
| Naranhi seogi (나란히서기) | Parallel stance |
| Ap seogi (앞서기) | Walking stance |
| Ap gubi (앞굽이) | Front stance (long, front knee bent) |
| Dwit gubi (뒷굽이) | Back stance |
| Juchum seogi (주춤서기) | Horse riding stance |
| Beom seogi (범서기) | Tiger stance |
| Kkoa seogi (꼬아서기) | Cross stance |
| Hakdari seogi (학다리서기) | Crane stance (on one leg) |
| Gyeorugi junbi (겨루기 준비) | Sparring (fighting) stance |
How to do each one: taekwondo stances.
Blocks
Block names (makgi)
| Korean | Block |
|---|---|
| Arae makgi (아래막기) | Low block |
| Momtong an makgi (몸통안막기) | Middle inward block |
| Momtong bakkat makgi (몸통바깥막기) | Middle outward block |
| Eolgul makgi (얼굴막기) | High (rising) block |
| Sonnal makgi (손날막기) | Knife-hand block |
| Batangson makgi (바탕손막기) | Palm-heel block |
| Eotgeoreo makgi (엇걸어막기) | Cross (X) block |
| Hechyeo makgi (헤쳐막기) | Opening (spreading) block |
| Geodeureo makgi (거들어막기) | Assisted block, the second hand supporting the first |
How to do each one: taekwondo blocks.
Hand techniques
Punch and strike names (jireugi, chigi)
Jireugi means a punch, chigi a strike and tzireugi a thrust with the fingertips.
| Korean | Technique |
|---|---|
| Momtong jireugi (몸통지르기) | Middle punch |
| Eolgul jireugi (얼굴지르기) | High punch |
| Baro jireugi (바로지르기) | Reverse punch (rear hand, opposite the front leg) |
| Bandae jireugi (반대지르기) | Lunge punch (same side as the front leg) |
| Dubeon jireugi (두번지르기) | Double punch |
| Deung jumeok chigi (등주먹치기) | Backfist strike |
| Me jumeok chigi (메주먹치기) | Hammer-fist strike |
| Sonnal mok chigi (손날목치기) | Knife-hand strike to the neck |
| Palkup chigi (팔굽치기) | Elbow strike |
| Pyeonsonkkeut sewo tzireugi (편손끝세워찌르기) | Spear-hand thrust |
How to do each one: taekwondo punches and strikes.
Kicks
Kick names (chagi)
| Korean | Kick |
|---|---|
| Ap chagi (앞차기) | Front kick |
| Dollyeo chagi (돌려차기) | Roundhouse (turning) kick |
| Yeop chagi (옆차기) | Side kick |
| Dwi chagi (뒤차기) | Back kick |
| Naeryeo chagi (내려차기) | Axe (downward) kick |
| Huryeo chagi (후려차기) | Hook kick |
| Dwi huryeo chagi (뒤후려차기) | Spinning hook kick |
| Bandal chagi (반달차기) | Half-moon (crescent) kick |
| An chagi (안차기) | Inward kick |
| Bakkat chagi (바깥차기) | Outward kick |
| Mireo chagi (밀어차기) | Push kick |
| Dolgae chagi (돌개차기) | Tornado kick |
| Twieo chagi (뛰어차기) | Jumping kick (twieo ap chagi = jumping front kick) |
| Mureup chigi (무릎치기) | Knee strike |
More on kicks: the full list of taekwondo kicks, the basic kicks and how to do a roundhouse kick.
ITF
Kukkiwon (WT) and ITF terms compared
ITF schools, which follow the system of General Choi Hong Hi, use a different set of names for many techniques, and older romanization. These are the differences students meet most often.
| English | Kukkiwon (WT) | ITF |
|---|---|---|
| Sparring | Gyeorugi | Matsogi |
| Forms | Poomsae | Tul (patterns) |
| Punch | Jireugi | Jirugi |
| Turning kick | Dollyeo chagi | Dollyo chagi |
| Hook kick | Huryeo chagi | Golcho chagi |
| Low block | Arae makgi | Najunde makgi |
| Back stance | Dwit gubi | Niunja sogi (L-stance) |
| Foot blade | Balnal | Balkal |
| Instructor | Sabeomnim | Sabum nim |
Spelling
The same Korean word can appear as charyeot, charyut or chariot, and gyeongnye as kyung ye or kyung nae. These are spellings of one word, not different terms. Learn the spelling on your school’s study sheet for tests.
Learning
How to learn the terms faster
- Learn the endings first: seogi, makgi, jireugi, chigi, chagi. Most names are a height or body part plus one of these.
- Say each term out loud as you do the technique in class.
- Count your own reps in Korean when you practice at home.
- Make flashcards with the Korean on one side and the English on the other.
- Ask your instructor for the school’s study sheet, since belt tests use its spellings.
New to taekwondo? See taekwondo for beginners.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What does taekwondo mean?
Tae means foot or kicking, kwon means fist or striking and do means way, so taekwondo is usually translated as “the way of the foot and fist.”
Do I need to speak Korean to do taekwondo?
No. Schools teach the few dozen words you need, and most classes mix Korean commands with English explanations.
What are the most common taekwondo commands?
Charyeot (attention), gyeongnye (bow), junbi (ready), sijak (begin), baro (return) and geuman (stop).
What is sparring called in Korean?
Gyeorugi in Kukkiwon and World Taekwondo schools, matsogi in ITF schools.
How do you say black belt in Korean?
Geomeun tti. Black belt ranks are called dan, so a first-degree black belt is il dan or cho dan.
Why does my school spell taekwondo terms differently?
Korean can be written in Roman letters in several ways, and ITF and Kukkiwon schools use some different words. Follow your school’s study sheet for tests.
The short version
Taekwondo uses Korean for commands, ranks and technique names. Start with charyeot, gyeongnye, junbi and sijak, learn to count from hana to yeol, then learn the endings seogi (stance), makgi (block), jireugi (punch), chigi (strike) and chagi (kick). Most technique names combine one of these with a height or body part, such as arae makgi, the low block.