Ridgehand Supporting Downward Block

Blocking Surface

Various surfaces of the body may be engaged as the blocking surface depending on which area of the body is being targeted. This leads to a large array of blocking positions. For more information on Impact Surface Areas »

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Technique Injuries

Collisions with the ground, objects, and other taekwondo practitioners are common, and unexpected dynamic forces on limbs and joints can cause injury. Taekwondo injuries can also occur in techniques if done improperly or from overuse of a particular body part. Taking a break from training or reducing the volume and the intensity of the training will allow the body to recover. For more information on Injuries »

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Common Mistakes when Performing the Technique

When performing the technique, there will be more mistakes as a beginner and as the practitioner advances through the rankings, they will have learned and improved from the past. 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.

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Some Counterstrike Combinations after the Block ( 막기 makgi )

After a successful block ( 막기 makgi ) the taekwondo practitioner may immediately counterattack to the opponent with a kick ( 차기 chagi ) or punch ( 지르기 jireugi ). When the opponent is attacking, they may leave themselves vulnerable in some areas such as recovering from a technique, positioning, imbalance, and more. Practitioners may combine techniques in a series to ensure one or more strikes impact their opponents.

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Some Stance(s) ( 서기 sogi ) used with this Block ( 막기 makgi )

An example of the union of mental and physical discipline is the combination of stance ( 서기 sogi ), footwork ( 딛기 ditgi ), and technique (either with kick, block and/or strike), which requires both physical mastery of the technique and the concentration to focus one's power. Experienced practitioners learn through repetition and muscle memory when (not just how) to launch particular techniques, based on the circumstances they are facing.

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Use in Sparring ( 겨루기 gyeorugi )

Under World Taekwondo (WT) and Olympic rules, sparring is a full-contact event and takes place between two competitors in an area measuring 8 meters square. A win can occur by points, or if one competitor is unable to continue (knockout) the other competitor wins. Points are awarded for permitted, accurate, and powerful techniques to the legal scoring areas; light contact does not score any points. For more information on World Taekwondo (WT) Tournament Sparring »

The Ridgehand Supporting Downward Block ( 손날등 거들어 내려막기 sonnal-deung-kodureo-naeryeo-makgi ) is not used in World Taekwondo (WT) sparring ( 겨루기 gyeorugi ) due to the dangers of breaking ones' fingers. The practitioner may well break their hand ( 손 son ), wrist ( 팔목 palmok ) or fingers ( 손가락 songalag ) if they use this block ( 막기 makgi ) during sparring ( 겨루기 gyeorugi ) competition. The technique is more suited for use in self-defense ( 호신술 hosinsool ) applications to defend oneself.

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Use in Self-Defense ( 호신술 hosinsool ) Applications

Self-Defense is to protect yourself from being attacked from would-be aggressors. It is a countermeasure that involves defending the health and well-being of oneself from harm and is designed primarily to cause injury or quickly incapacitate an attacker, in addition to being a deterrent against them. Attackers are typically larger, stronger, and are often armed or have an accomplice. With proper execution attackers may be incapacitated with a single blow, which lessens the number of attacks with multiple people. For more information on Self-Defense ( 호신술 hosinsool ) »

Each technique must be correctly timed and aligned in order to defend effectively. Taekwondo practitioners must have their body weight correctly distributed during the stance ( 서기 sogi ) including proper footwork ( 딛기 ditgi ). The block ( 막기 makgi ) is performed during Self-Defense ( 호신술 hosinsool ) scenarios.

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Use in One-Step Sparring

One-Step Sparring is performed with a partner in which predefined movements are practiced. One student is the attacker while the other student responds with defenses, counterattacks, and/or other actions, based on part of the predefined movements. For more information on One-Step Sparring »

The block ( 막기 makgi ) is not featured during One-Step Sparring practice. Fundamentally, taekwondo One-Step Sparring is one of the learning grounds for real combat. As such, every technique including stance ( 서기 sogi ) must display the requisite speed, power and firmness to be realistically used as an attack or defense move. One-Step Sparring varies between schools.

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Use in Breaking ( 격파 gyeokpa )

The discipline of destroying inanimate objects such as wooden boards, baseball bats, ice blocks or cement bricks and is a feature common to martial arts including taekwondo. A single board or stack of boards may be broken or, alternatively, a series of boards may be broken in a pre-set sequence utilizing a variety of strikes. Advanced competitors may even break several boards in a single jump with multiple kicks before landing. For more information on Breaking ( 격파 gyeokpa ) »

In use, the block ( 막기 makgi ) is not featured during Breaking ( 격파 gyeokpa ) events. General qualities that judges look for in any taekwondo practitioner include proper breathing technique and body control. The diaphragm must be engaged in deep breathing, shallow breathing concentrated in the upper abdomen results in raised shoulders and stressed muscles. Breaking ( 격파 gyeokpa ) varies between schools.

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Use in Patterns ( 품새 poomse )

Poomse is the foundation for the teaching of taekwondo. A poomse or form is a detailed pattern of defense-and-attack motions and techniques used in traditional martial arts. Poomse is useful in developing proper kinetics, mental and physical fortitude.

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Most Kukkiwon 국기원 schools will use the poomse taegeuk whereas a few schools will use the poomse palgwe. The meanings, trigrams and symbols are shared by both poomse taegeuk and poomse palgwe, however the sequence of movements is different. The first 8 forms of the set of poomse differ from each other, whereas the last 9 forms (Black Belt forms) of the set are shared between the two sets. All students studying in World Taekwondo (WT) Kukkiwon style must learn these forms, or taegeuk, to advance to a higher belt level. There are eight taegeuk forms, each one similar to the previous one, but each time with more complicated techniques to display the students' mastery of the techniques learned during lessons, as well as the ability to interconnect these techniques.

For more information on taekwondo patterns refer to Poomse 품새 Section »

Use in Demonstrations

To promote taekwondo for its emphasis on high kicking and fast hand techniques, taekwondo schools perform at tournaments, community events, shopping malls, parks, and tv shows. Demonstrations vary from school to school, but may include such elements as the execution of poomse ( 품새 poomse ), which combine various techniques in specific sequences; the breaking of boards to demonstrate the ability to use techniques with both power and control; sparring ( 겨루기 gyeorugi ) and self-defense ( 호신술 hosinsool ) to demonstrate the practical application and control of techniques; physical fitness usually with push-ups and sit-ups. For more information on Demonstrations »

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Use in Warming-Up

A warm-up generally consists of a gradual increase in intensity in physical activity, joint mobility exercise, and stretching, followed by the activity. Warming-up brings the body to a condition at which it safely responds to nerve signals for quick and efficient action. For more information on Warming-Up »

In addition to being a block ( 막기 makgi ) in itself, the block ( 막기 makgi ) is an exercise used by many instructors to teach the principle of focusing, stretching, relaxing the muscles, increasing the range of motion and flexibility, something which is considered important in taekwondo. The result is a feeling of increased muscle control, flexibility and range of motion.

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Taekwondo Blocks ( 막기 makgi )

This book is available for download with Apple Books on your Mac or iOS device, and with iTunes on your computer. Book can be read with Apple Books on your Mac or iOS device.

In taekwondo and other martial arts, blocking ( 막기 makgi ) is the act of stopping or deflecting an opponent's attack for the purpose of preventing injurious contact with the body. A block ( 막기 makgi ) usually consists of placing a limb across the line of the attack. Blocks ( 막기 makgi ) are considered by some to be the most direct and least subtle of defensive techniques.
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In martial arts, blocking ( 막기 makgi ) is the act of stopping or deflecting an opponent's attack for the purpose of preventing injurious contact with the body. A block ( 막기 makgi ) usually consists of placing a limb across the line of the attack. Blocks ( 막기 makgi ) are considered by some to be the most direct and least subtle of defensive techniques. Other ways of avoiding attack include evasion, trapping, slipping and deflection of the oncoming attack; this approach is often referred to as the application of 'soft' techniques.

View all taekwondo blocks on the Blocks ( 막기 makgi ) Main Section »