Taekwondo 태권도Taekwondo Preschool
When you reach senior belt you are expected to guide the junior belts when they are beginning Taekwondo such as showing by example. To advance from one rank to the next, students typically complete promotion tests in which they demonstrate their proficiency in the various aspects of the art before a panel of judges or their teacher. View Taekwondo belt levels »
Outside Wrist Pressing Block
바깥팔목 눌러막기 bakkatpalmok-nulleo-makgi
Difficulty Level: Intermediate Technique: Blocks ( 막기 makgi )
In the Outside Wrist Pressing Block ( 바깥팔목 눌러막기 bakkatpalmok-nulleo-makgi ) a closed fist ( 주먹 jumeok ) may be brought down in a pressing motion to block ( 막기 makgi ) the trunk and groin area. Using the outside wrist area to block ( 막기 makgi ) the attack is called bakkatpalmok ( 바깥팔목 ) in korean.
To begin the block ( 막기 makgi ), the fist ( 주먹 jumeok ) is raised up to shoulder height and then the practitioner will thrust directly down to meet the attackers strike. The outside wrist ( 바깥팔목 bakkatpalmok ) to the outer forearm ( 앞팔 ap-pal ) area makes contact with the attacker’s forearm in case of a punch ( 지르기 jireugi ), or the shin ( 정강이 jeonggangi ) in case of a kick ( 차기 chagi ).
Although simple, it requires a lot of partner training to get the timing of this taekwondo block ( 막기 makgi ) correct. Breath control is also important to relax the body when blocking; novice practitioners often waste significant energy because they are tense at inappropriate times.
Training Methods
How well one improves with training depends on several factors, such as the frequency it is engaged in, and the type of feedback that is available for improvement. If a student does not train often enough, reinforcement fades, and he or she is likely to forget what was learned.
When learning the block ( 막기 makgi ), it is helpful to use mirrors to observe your technique and fix your mistakes immediately. Initially, a student may need focused feedback from a certified Master Instructor ( 사범님 sabeomnim ); however, as they progress, they must develop the ability to self-assess the block ( 막기 makgi ).
The technique is also learned by blocking in the air as though there is an opponent striking but focusing on the form, speed, and technique; then moving on to partner training (self-defence scenarios, sparring practices, one-step sparring, etc) reinforcing the block ( 막기 makgi ) on a realistic moving attack.
In preparation for full contact sparring, students may be required to wait a few months, for safety reasons, because they must first build the skills they would ideally employ in their sparring practice. Some schools restrict the amount of force that may be used to hit an opponent, by allowing 'light contact' during sparring. Light contact allows a student to hit an opponent getting the feel of impacting the opponent but with controlled force and not full power. Light contact sparring is a good method to practice the block ( 막기 makgi ).
Difficulty of Technique
Taekwondo students of geup ranking learn the most basic techniques first, and then move on to more advanced and difficult techniques as they approach 1st Dan Black Belt. The more difficult the technique, the more practice may be needed for the purpose of improving or mastering it, as in the phrase 'practice makes perfect'. Every technique must display the requisite speed, balance, power and firmness to be realistically used as an attack or defense move.
* Please see a certified Master Instructor ( 사범님 sabeomnim ) for training. Proper guidance and instructions are needed to ensure safe training.
Promotion Tests
Students often undergo periodic testing and grading by their own Master Instructor ( 사범님 sabeomnim ) in order to advance to a higher level of recognized achievement such as a different belt color. They need to demonstrate their proficiency in the various aspects of the art such as the execution of patterns ( 품새 poomse ), which combine various techniques in specific sequences.
Outside Wrist Pressing Block ( 바깥팔목 눌러막기 bakkatpalmok-nulleo-makgi ) is a requirement for the below belt levels (Techniques vary between schools). Promotion from one belt level to the next can proceed rapidly in some schools, since schools often allow geup promotions every two, three, or four months. Students of geup rank learn the most basic techniques first, and then move on to more advanced techniques as they approach first dan black belt. View Promotion Tests »
Training Safety Precautions
Starting with coloured belts taekwondo students must learn Breaking ( 격파 gyeokpa ). As they progress through the ranks, the breaks they perform increase in difficulty as do the number of boards. Wooden boards are the most common breaking item in most martial arts.
There are safety concerns with taekwondo breaking ( 격파 gyeokpa ), so one should seek out a certified Master Instructor ( 사범님 sabeomnim ). There are many small bones of the foot ( 발 bal ) and hand ( 손 son ) which need to be very carefully and slowly conditioned for safety. Repeated damage to the extensor capsules of the knuckles can lead to long term problems with dexterity. View Breaking ( 격파 gyeokpa ) »
* Please see a certified Master Instructor ( 사범님 sabeomnim ) for training. Proper guidance and instructions are needed to ensure safe training.
Training Highlights Summary
The Outside Wrist Pressing Block ( 바깥팔목 눌러막기 bakkatpalmok nulleo-makgi ) contains many key point highlights. There are some that are simple and straightforward but then some are complex and detailed that require repeated training to learn and master.
- the closed fist may be brought down in a pressing motion to block the trunk and groin area
- focus on the tightening of the muscles of the hand while you clench a fist
- wrist ( 팔목 palmok ) must also be kept straight in proper alignment during the posture
Precision of Blocking ( 막기 makgi ) Technique
Depending on the strike, one may block ( 막기 makgi ) an attack most commonly by placing a limb across the line of the attack. Some techniques can block and deflect an attack with more precision which allows an effective counterstrike. The below is an approximate measurement of how precise the block requires from the practitioner to be effective.
Experienced practitioners learn through repetition and muscle memory when (not just how) to launch particular blocks ( 막기 makgi ), based on the circumstances they are facing.
* Please see a certified Master Instructor ( 사범님 sabeomnim ) for training. Proper guidance and instructions are needed to ensure safe training.
There are five tenets defined in the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) and several more in World Taekwondo (WT).
Courtesy ( 예의 ye-ui ): "Showing courtesy to all, respecting others, having manners as well as maintaining the appropriate etiquette at all times, both within and outside the dojang (도장) (designated training area)." View Taekwondo Tenets »
RESOURCES
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "List of Taekwondo Techniques", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.