TERMINOLOGY

To Return to the HOME PAGE
Click the Round Button
(Fist Logo) in the upper left-hand corner

Being a traditional martial art, instruction in Kuk Sool is given in Korean as well as the native tongue of the Student. Below is some of the terminology used in Kuk Sool. Because Korean (Han Geul, the great language) uses a different alphabet than English, the spellings below are only phonetic approximations. Please consult with a native Korean speaker for proper pronounciation.


Basic Terms
 Yeh Eui: Etiquette  Doh Jahng: Practice Hall  Ki: Internal Life Force
 Kyung Nyeh: Salute, Bow  Doh Bok: Uniform  Ki Cho Jah Ki: Breathing Exercises that Wring Out “Ki”
 Cha Ryuht: Attention  Ddee: Belt  Ki Hahp: Special Yell utilizing “Ki” Energy
 Juhng Jah: Proper Sitting (Kneeling)  Eui Bok: Clothing  Soom Shee Gi: Breathing
 Joon Bee: Ready  Soo Ryuhn: Practice  Mohm Pull Ki: Body Conditioning Exercises
 Shee Jahk: Begin  Geu Mahn: Stop  Kuk Ki: National Flag
 Geut: Finish (Completion)  Shee Uh: Rest  Won Ki: Kuk Sool Association Flag
 Bah Roh: Straight Alignment (Used for Signaling a Return to Upright Posture After Bowing)


Names and Titles
 Kuk Sa Nim: Grandmaster (10th degree Black Belt) {literally: National Teacher}
 Chong Kwan Jahng Nim: Chiefmaster (9th degree Black Belt)  Jeh Jah: Martial Arts Apprentice, Disciple
 Kwan Jahng Nim: Master (5th, 6th, 7th, 8th degree Black Belt)  Dahn Boh Nim: Black Belt Candidate (Black–Brown Belt)
 Sa Bum Nim: Instructor (4th degree Black Belt)  Jah Ddi: Brown Belt
 Pu Sa Bum Nim: Deputy Instructor (3rd degree Black Belt)  Hohng Ddi: Red Belt
 Kyo Sa Nim: Assistant Instructor (2nd degree Black Belt)  Chuhng Ddi: Blue Belt
 Jo Kyo Nim: Instructor-in-Training (1st degree Black Belt)  Noh Rahng Ddi: Yellow Belt
 Yoo Dahn Jah: Black Belt Holder  Huin Ddi: White Belt


Counting
 Il: First  Hah Nah: One
 Ee: Second  Dool: Two  Seu Mool: Twenty
 Sahm: Third  Set: Three  Suh Reun: Thirty
 Sah: Fourth  Net: Four  Mah Heun: Forty
 Oh: Fifth  Dah Suht: Five  Shwin: Fifty
 Yook: Sixth  Yuh Suht: Six  Yeh Soon: Sixty
 Chil: Seventh  Il Gohp: Seven  Il Heun: Seventy
 Pahl: Eighth  Yuh Duhl: Eight  Yuh Deun: Eighty
 Goo: Ninth  Ah Hohp: Nine  Ah Heun: Ninety
 Ship: Tenth  Yuhl: Ten  Baek: One Hundred


Parts of the Body
 Sohn: Hand  Sohn Mohk: Wrist (Hand’s Neck)  Ahn Sohn Mohk: Inside of Wrist
 Bahl: Foot  Bahl Koom Chi: Heel  Bahl Deung: Ridge on Top of Foot
 Dah Ree: Leg  Pahl Koom Chi: Elbow  Maek: Vital Point
 Moo Reup: Knee  Uh Gkae: Shoulder  Hyul: Acupuncture/Acupressure Point


Directions and Movements
 Ahp: Front  Yuhp: Side  Dee, Dwee: Back, Rear
 Ahn: Inside  Ddui Uh: Jumping  Hweh Juhn: Rolling, Rotating
 Yahng: Both  Ssahng: Double, Twin  Bahn Deh Roh: The Other Way, Other Side
 Yuhk: Reverse, Inverted  Dor Ah: Spinning, Turning  Dee Roh Dor Ah: Turn Around, “About Face”
 Sahng: High  Joong: Middle  Hah: Low


Historical Martial Arts
Sa Doh Mu Sool: Tribal or Family Martial Art Koong Joong Mu Sool: Martial Art of the Royal Court
Bull Gyo Mu Sool: Martial Art practiced in the Buddhist Temples

Martial Art Animals
Ho Rang Ee: Tiger Dohk Soo Ree: Eagle Baem: Snake
Sa Ma Gi: Praying Mantis Yohng: Dragon Hahk: Crane

Jah Seh (Stances)
Kong Kyuk Jah Seh: Offensive Position Ki Mah Jah Seh: Horse-Riding Stance
Bahng Uh Jah Seh: Defensive Position Juhn Gool Jah Seh: Long Stance with Bent Front-Leg
Gool Gohk Jah Seh: Crouching Stance (a.k.a. Back Stance or Cat Stance)


Soo Gi (Hand Techniques)
Juhng Gwuhn: Straight Fist (Punch) Soo Doh: Knife Hand
Yuhk Gwuhn: Inverted Fist (Uppercut) Yuhk Soo Doh: Inverted Knife Hand
Gahk Gwuhn: Back Fist Ssahng Soo Doh: Double Knife Hand
Il Ji Gwuhn: 1-Finger (i.e. Knuckle) Fist Hweh Juhn Soo Doh: Rolling Knife Hand
Sah Ji Gwuhn: 4-Knuckle Fist Pyung Soo: Palm Strike
Joong Ji Gwuhn: Middle-Knuckle Fist Ssahng Pyung Soo: Double Palm Strike
Sah Mah Gwi Gwuhn: Praying Mantis Fist Sohn Deung Pyung Soo: Backhand Strike
Sah Mah Gwi Mahk Ki: Praying Mantis Block Gwahn Soo: Spear Hand
Ship Ja Mahk Ki: Four-Direction Block Pahl Koom Chee Chi Gi: Elbow Strike
Kahm Ah Mahk Ki: Entangling Block Hoh Gwuhn: Tiger Claw Strike
Ahp Dee Soo Gi: Front & Rear Punching Drill Hoh Goo Gwuhn: Tiger’s Mouth Grip
Jah Oo Juhng Gwuhn Dee Soo Doh: 1-2 Punch, Spinning Knife Hand (Combination)


Johk Sool (Leg Techniques or Kicking)
Ahp Cha Gi: Front Kick Ahp Cha Ohl Li Gi: Projection Kick (using Straight Leg)
Yuhp Cha Gi: Side Kick Hoo Li Gi: Foot Sweep
Dee Cha Gi: Back Kick Jik Uh Cha Gi: Axe Kick
Ahn Dah Ree Cha Gi: Inner Leg Kick Bahl Deung Cha Gi: Round Kick (Striking with Top of Foot)
Bah Gaht Dah Ree Cha Gi: Outer Leg Kick Bahl Koom Chi Cha Gi: Hook Kick (Striking with Point of Heel)
Dor Ah Cha Gi: Spin Kick Dee Dor Ah Yuhp Cha Gi: Backward Turning Side Kick
Sahng Dahn Dor Ah Cha Gi: High Spin Kick Yuhk Bahl Deung Cha Gi: Inverted Round Kick
Hah Dahn Dor Ah Cha Gi: Low Spin Kick Ahn Koom Chi Dohl Li Gi: Inside Heel Kick (Toes Turned Outward)
Moo Reup Cha Gi: Knee Kick Dee Uh Cha Gi: Jumping Kicks


Nak Bub (Falling Principles)
Ahp Nak Bub: Front Fall Hweh Juhn Nak Bub: Rolling Fall
Dee Nak Bub: Back Fall Goh Yahng Ee Nak Bub: Cat Roll
Yuhp Nak Bub: Side Fall Doo Sohn Poong Cha: 2-Hand Cartwheel
Ahp Yuhp Nak Bub: Twisting Fall (Sideways Front Fall) Hahn Sohn Poong Cha: 1-Hand Cartwheel
Poong Cha: Windmill (Cartwheel) Pahl Koom Chi Poong Cha: Elbow Cartwheel
Gong Joong Nak Bub: High Fall (in Mid-Air) Gong Joong Poong Cha: Aerial Cartwheel


Moo Ki (Weapons)
Guhm: Sword Poo Chae: Fan Jool Bong: Flail (Jointed Staff)
Dahn Guhm: Short Sword Jee Pahng Ee: Walking Cane Sahm Jool Bong: Three Sectioned Staff
Kahl Guhm: Knife Poh Bahk: Rope Dahn Bong: Short Staff
Dahn Doh: Knife or Short Sword Chahng: Spear Joong Bong: Middle Staff
Wuhl Doh: Halberd (Moon Knife) Doh Gki: Battle Axe Jahng Bong: Long Staff
Goong Shi: Bow & Arrow Goong Sool: Archery Kuk (Sool) Goong: Traditional Korean Archery (utilizing a “thumb” draw)


Greetings and Phrases
Ahn Young Hah Shim Nee Kah?: Hello / Hi / How Are You?
Ahn Young Hee Kah Ship Shee Yo: Goodbye / Go Safely
Soo Go Het Seum Nee Dah: You Worked Hard
Kahm Sah Hahm Nee Dah: Thank You
Chuhn Mahn Eh Yo: You’re Welcome
Soo Ryuhn Geut: Practice Finished