General terms
Dobok: The white, V-neck uniform worn during taekwondo matches. The style is based on traditional peasant garb.
Dojang: Training gym or school where a student develops his body and mind
Gam-jeom: Penalty. When issued to a competitor, their opponent receives one point.
Headgear: Worn by each athlete to protect their head. Can be blue or red, depending on which color is assigned to the athlete. Includes electronic sensors as part of the Protector and Scoring Sytem used in taekwondo.
Hogu: Padded chest protector. In international competition, the hogus must be marked red (chung) or blue (hong).
Jeon: One round of competition
Joo sim: Referee
Kyorugi: Sparring or competing against an opponent. This is the type of competition that is practiced during the Olympics.
Poomsae: Pattern of techniques used against an imaginary opponent. In some competitions, an athlete's poomsae is scored and specific moves are required, similar to the compulsory round in figure skating.
PSS: Protector and Scoring System. Each athlete's trunk protector and headgear are equipped with electronic sensors that help to automatically measure the impact of any strikes delivered and automatically record valid points for those strikes.
Trunk protector: Worn by each athlete to protect their torso. Can be blue or red, depending on which color is assigned to the athlete. Includes electronic sensors as part of the Protector and Scoring Sytem used in taekwondo. Also known as a "hogu."
Types of attacks
Ahp cha-gi: Front kick, performed by thrusting the foot to the target in a linear motion
Cha-gi: Kick
Chi-gi: Punch
Dolryo cha-gi: Frequently used roundhouse kick
Dui-hooryo cha-gi: Spin whip kick, performed by pivoting on one leg, spinning the body around and release the kicking leg in a circular motion. The sole of the foot is used to strike the opponent's face.
Dung-joomock chi-gi: Back fist punch
Dwi cha-gi: Back kick, used mainly for counter-attacking
Guligi cha-gi: Hook kick
Guligi chi-gi: Hook punch
Me-joomok chi-gi: Hammer fist punch
Naeryo cha-gi: Axe kick, performed both with a bent knee and a straight leg. When executed with a bent knee, the knee is unfolded in a downward direction, beginning at the highest point of the kicking path. The straight leg kick is performed by lifting the leg straight up at a slightly off-center angle and dropping it on the target.
Pyon-joomock chi-gi: Knuckle fist punch
Sob-nal chi-gi: Knife hand punch
Twi-o cha-gi: Jump kick
Yop cha-gi: Side kick
Referee signals
Cha-ryeot: Attention. The referee shouts this prior to the start of a match to both competitors.
Counting: If a knockdown occurs, the referee will count from 1 ("ha-nah") to 10 ("yeol") in Korean to give the downed athlete time to recover. Even if the downed contestant stands up and wants to resume, he or she must wait while the referee continues counting to 8 ("yeo-dul").
Kal-yeo: The referee's order to break. After the referee calls for a "kal-yeo," competitors are not allowed to attack each other.
Keuman: Stop. The match ends when the referee declares this.
Kye-sok: The referee's command to resume a match
Kyeong-rye: Bow. Contestants bow to each other and to the officials before and after the match.
Shi-jak: The referee's command to start the match
Yeol: When an athlete is knocked down, the referee calls for a break and begins counting 10 ("yeol") in Korean. If the knocked down athlete is unable to recover, then their opponent wins by knockout.
Parts of the body
Baal: Foot
Dari: Leg
Eolgul: Face
Joomock: Fist
Mok: Neck
Mo-li: Head
Moo-rup: Knee
Momtong: The middle part of the body, or trunk
Palmmock: Forearm
Son: Hand
Sonmock: Wrist