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 »
Supported Downward Blocking
거들어 내려막기 kodureo-naeryeo-makgi
Difficulty Level: Advanced Level Technique: Blocks ( 막기 makgi )
The Supported Downward Block ( 거들어 내려막기 kodureo-naeryeo-makgi ) has the practitioner making a low block ( 아래막기 arae-makgi ) with one hand ( 손 son ), while the other hand ( 손 son ) is supporting the block ( 막기 makgi ) with fists ( 주먹 jumeok ) around the sternum area. This advanced blocking technique is first introduced in World Taekwondo (WT) Taegeuk #8 태극 8장 Pal Jang Poomse.
The blocking hand ( 손 son ) starts from shoulder level with the palm ( 손바닥 sonbadak ) up while you stretch the other hand ( 손 son ) far from the waist reaching outwards with the palm ( 손바닥 sonbadak ) facing downward at shoulder height level. Both hands ( 손 son ) should be completed at the same time but not one after another when executing the block ( 막기 makgi ).
The supporting hand ( 손 son ) could be used as a counter strike such as with the Palm Heel Forward Strike ( 바탕손 앞치기 batangson-ap-chigi ), Spearhand Vertical Thrust ( 편손끝 세워찌르기 pyeonsonkkeut-sewo-jjireugi ), or the Flat Fingertips Horizontal Strike ( 편손끝 엎어찌르기 pyeonsonkkeut-eopeo-jjireugi ).
Other Supported Blocks ( 거들어 kodureo-makgi )
- Supported Trunk Block ( 거들어막기 momtong-kodureo-makgi )
- Supported Hand Blade Block ( 손날 거들어 바깥막기 sonnal-kodureo-makgi )
- Supported Downward Hand Blade Block ( 손날 거들어 내려막기 sonnal-kodureo-naeryeo-makgi )
- Outside Wrist Supported Trunk Block ( 바깥팔목 거들어 바깥막기 bakkatpalmok-kodureo-bakkat-makgi )
- Supported Downward Block ( 거들어 내려막기 kodureo-naeryeo-makgi )
- Ridgehand Supporting Downward Block ( 손날등 거들어 내려막기 sonnal-deung-kodureo-naeryeo-makgi )
- Inner Wrist Supporting Side Block ( 안팔목 거들어 옆막기 anpalmok-kodureo-yeop-makgi )
- Inner Wrist Supporting Outward Block ( 안팔목 거들어 바깥막기 anpalmok-kodureo-bakkat-makgi )
- Palm Assisting Outer Block ( 손바닥 거들어 바깥막기 sonbadak-kodureo-bakkat-makgi )
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.
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.
Supported Downward Block ( 거들어 내려막기 kodureo-naeryeo-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 »
Highlight Knife Hand ( 손날 sonnal ) Posture
By tucking the thumb into the palm, a surface called the knife hand or hand blade ( 손날 sonnal ) is formed. The surface extends with the muscle at the side of the hand located between the base of the small finger and the wrist ( 팔목 palmok ). The hand blade is used as both an offensive and defensive technique which can be executed as a high, low, middle, side, inward, outward, rising or circular. Use of this technique as both a strike and block is featured prominently in many of the World Taekwondo (WT) Taegeuk Poomse.
* Please see a certified Master Instructor ( 사범님 sabeomnim ) for training. Proper guidance and instructions are needed to ensure safe training.
Training Highlights Summary
The Supported Downward Block ( 거들어 내려막기 kodureo-naeryeo-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 practitioner makes a low block ( 아래막기 area makgi ) with one hand ( 손 son ), while the other hand ( 손 son ) is supporting the block ( 막기 makgi ) with fists ( 주먹 jumeok ) around the sternum area
- to keep the wrists ( 팔목 palmok ) straight and the blocking arm is angled 90-120 degrees
- the supporting hand ( 손 son ) provides extra force for the block ( 막기 makgi ) and acts as a preparation move for follow-up attacks such as with a Punch ( 지르기 jireugi )
- the blocking arm's elbow ( 팔굽 palgup ) and the supporting hand ( 손 son ) should not be touching each other
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).
Integrity ( 염치 yeom-chi ): "Although it may be similar, this form of integrity takes on a more wider role then defined in the common dictionary. In taekwondo, integrity means not only to determine what is right or wrong but also having the conscience to feel guilt if one has done wrong and to have the integrity stand up for what is right." 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.