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Learn some Korean vocabulary for Taekwondo techniques from AcademicTaekwondo.com

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BASIC KOREAN TERMINOLOGY

OPEN AND CLOSE OF CLASS

Charyut	attention
Kuki aye	face the national flags
Kyung yet	salute (hand over the heart to the flags)
Baro	return
Sabom-nim aye	face the instructor
Kyung yet	salute (bow to instructor)

NOTE: Now days it is customary in Korea to salute the flags with the hand to the heart and to salute the instructor with a bow.

COUNTING - Korean version

1. hana
2. dul
3. set
4. net
5. dah sawt
6. yaw sawt
7. ilgop
8. yaw dawl
9. ah hope
10. yawl

COUNTING - Chinese version

1. ill
2. eeh
3. sahm
4. sah
5. oh
6. yuke
7. chill
8. pahl
9. khoo
10. ship

MARTIAL ARTS

Tae kwon do	foot hand way	kicking and striking with the hand and foot
Kong Soo Do	empty hand way	old style of Taekwondo
Hap ki do	unity energy way	joint locks and takedowns, with some striking
Yudo (Judo)	gentle way	throws and ground fighting
Sim Mu Do	heart martial way	a blend of all of the above
Sul	technique
Hoshin-sul	self-defense technique
Kwon-sul	striking technique
Chey-sul	throwing technique
Mugi-sul	weapons technique
Kom-sul	sword technique
Bong-sul	stick technique
Khal-sul	knife technique
Chong-sul	gun technique

FORMS TRAINING

Charyut	attention
Kyung yet	salute - bow to instructor, or hand over art to the flag
Joon bi	ready
Shee jak	begin

KongSooDo Style Color Belt Forms:

• Kibon Hyung (basic form, 1-5 forms)
• Pyung Ahn (peaceful mind, 1-5 forms)
• Chulgi (iron horse, 1-2 forms)

OTHER TERMS

Do jang	training hall
Chae yook kwan	fitness center (common term for martial arts school in Korea)
Dobok	uniform: do-way bok-clothing
Dee	belt
Gup	grade (for white and colored belt students)
Dan	rank (for black belt holder)
Deh Han Min Kook	Republic of Korea. This is usually shortened to “Deh Han” which means the same.
Hyup Hae	association (often shortened to Hae)

Below is a listing of several Korean martial arts associations with similar titles:

Deh Han Simmudo Hyup Hae	Korea Simmudo Association
Deh Han Taekwondo Hyup Hae	Korea Taekwondo Association
Deh Han Hapkido Hyup Hae	Korean Hapkido Federation
Deh Han KyukTooKi Hyup Hae	Korea KyukTooKi Association
Deh Han Yudo Hyup Hae	Korea Yudo Association

PERSONAL TITLES

Some people may be led to believe that the term "KwanJangNim" means grandmaster. In some martial arts circles today this title is used with such reverence as to keep us in awe of the great and almighty "KwanJangNim".

If you take a close look at the Korean language you’ll find the following information to be true:

Kwan is actually a suffix of the term “chae yook kwan” a common term in Korea used now days for "dojang".

Chae yook means fitness athletic training, physical education, or Chae yook kwan means fitness or athletic center.

Kwan is also the suffix of "toh suh kwan" meaning library, "pang muhl kwan" meaning museum, or "mee sul kwan" meaning fine art museum.

Jang means director with nim as a common respectful suffix. Therefore, kwan jang can be the title for the director of a library, a museum, an art center, as well as the owner of a martial art school (with "nim" added for appropriate referral of respect).

The idea that "kwanjang-nim" means master or grandmaster most likely comes from a common standard among martial artists in Korea. That standard is to own a martial arts school one must be a 4th Dan black belt and is then called a "kwanjang-nim". The assumption is that kwanjang-nim means master, when it truely means the owner/director of a martial arts school commonly referred to as a chae yook kwans (fitness center).

Without owning a martial arts school, a 4th Dan and above would be referred to as a "sabom-nim". This is a title given to someone who is a qualified instructor of a particular subject of study that is usually sports related.

Sonseang-nim:	teacher general term for teacher of any subject respectful form of the word “you”
Sabom-nim:	martial arts instructor (in Korea 4th Dan and above) In the USA a black belt of any level may teach martial arts. Therefore, the title "Sabom-nim" is sometimes used by native Koreans to refer to the martial arts instructor
Kwan jang-nim:	owner of a martial arts school kwan - derived from the term Chae yook "kwan" (literally: fitness center) jang - a suffix term meaning head, chief, or director of nim - a respectful suffix added to a person’s title The term "kwnajangnim" does not literally mean master. In the past only 4th dan or above could own a martial arts school in Korea. Therefore this term is sometimes used in the USA to refer to "master" In the USA a black belt of any level may own/operate a martial art school. Therefore, the title "KwanJangNim" is often used by native Koreans to refer to the school owner.
Chong kwan jang:	means the head or chief Kwan jang.
Hae jang-nim:	president or head of an association Hae refers to association jang - a suffix term meaning head, chief, or director of
Suseung-nim:	This is the actual Korean term for a student's master. This term is used only on a student to instructor level. It refers not to the ownership of a martial arts school, but to the student / instructor relationship.
Hakseang:	student
Taekwondo-in:	Taekwondo(ist) practitioner of TKD
Hapkido-in:	Hapkido(ist) practitioner of HKD
Yudanja-nim:	black belt holder

GREETINGS

How are you? Are you at peace? (casual)	Ahn young ha say yo?
How are you? Are you at peace? (formal)	Ahn young ha shim nee kkah?
I'm pleased to meet you	Pan gahp sum ni da.
Yes (either one is correct)	Ney or Yey
No	Ah nee yo
I am "name"	Chaw nun "name" im ni da.
Thank you.	Kam sa ham ni da.
You are welcome.	Chon man ney yo.
I'll see you again.	Ta shi man ah yo.
Good bye (to the person staying)	Ahn young hee gay ship shi yo.
Good bye (to the person leaving)	Ahn young hee gah ship shi yo.