↩ Back

Terminology

Intro

Definitions of some common terminology that may be used during your first taekwondo class.

Body Directions

Leading. The arm, leg, or side of the body that is nearest to the opponent.
Trailing. The arm, leg, or side of the body that is farthest from the opponent.

Body parts

Inner forearm. The thumb side of the forearm.
Outer forearm. The little finger side of the forearm.

Body sections

For attacking and blocking purposes, the body is divided into three sections:

High. Areas above the shoulders.
Middle. Areas between the shoulders and the hips.
Low. Areas below the hips.

Point of focus

The point of focus is an imaginary point in space where an attack or block ends its motion. The power of a technique peaks at this point. Impact at any point before the point of focus will have less power. If the point of focus is too far behind the target, the impact power of the technique will be changed into a pushing motion.

This point may be:

Just in front of the surface of the target, as when no-contact sparring.
On the surface of the target, as when light-contact sparring.
At some point beneath the surface of the target, as when full-contact sparring or breaking.

Chamber

A chamber is the cocking of an arm or leg so it may achieve a full range of movement in an attack or block, and thus helping it achieve its maximum power.

Arms are usually chambered to a position about 180 degrees opposite their ending position. In general, arms are chambered as follows:

Low techniques are chambered in the high-section, over the non-blocking arm.
Middle techniques are chambered in the middle section, under the non-blocking arm.
High techniques are chambered in the low-section and below the non-blocking arm.

Legs are chambered to various positions depending on the technique.

A full-range chamber is used while learning new techniques (to help students learn the motion) and when performing patterns (for aesthetics). When sparring, the chamber is minimized or eliminated (to maximize quickness and so as not to telegraph a movement to the opponent).

Handshape

Handshape is the position the hand is held in during a technique, such as in a knife-hand or hammer fist shape.

Just as with the chamber, pre-shaping of the hand is used when learning new techniques and when performing patterns. However, when sparring, pre-shaping of the hand is eliminated to maximize quickness and so as not to telegraph a movement to the opponent.
When sparring, all hand attacks or blocks start with hands held in tight fists.
Handshape is changed, as is necessary, just as the hand begins its movement toward the point of focus. For example, if planning a knife-hand attack, do not open the hand into a knife-hand shape before the hand starts moving toward the target.

Hand and foot timing

Hand and foot timing occurs when the arm performing a technique is timed to reach its point of focus just as the stepping foot touches the floor. This ensures that body mass is applied to the technique at just the right moment.

A general rule is to keep the arm chambered until the instant the stepping foot touches the floor. Since the arm moves so quickly, it will reach its point of focus just as the bodyweight shifts to the stepping foot.

Snap and twist

The snapping and twisting of the hand into a hand attack or block. A microsecond before a hand technique reaches its point of focus, the arm quickly twists the hand from its chambered position into its striking position. This applies all the power in the muscles of the arm to the technique and tenses the arm for the impact.

Hip snap

The snapping and twisting of the hips into a hand or foot attack. Hips are chambered and then they snap over a microsecond before a technique reaches its point of focus. This applies body mass to the technique to help it achieve maximum power.