Beollyeo geotgi (open step)

Beollyeo geotgi (벌려걷기) is one of the four ways of walking (걷기 방법) in kumdo listed in the textbook of the Korea Kumdo Association (대한검도회). The other three are mireo geotgi (밀어걷기), ieo geotgi (이어걷기) and botong geotgi (보통걷기).

The Association defines it as the footwork used to strike (격자, gyeokja) or defend while turning the body aside, and says it is often used when delivering a strike from close range. The textbook describes it as a walk that opens the body to the left or right and moves it in a curve, like an arc.

• Execution: when moving to the right, the right foot goes first diagonally forward or back and the left foot follows.
• Response techniques: in bada-chigi (받아치기, receive and counter-strike), the practitioner steps diagonally with this footwork, receives the cut with the jukdo (죽도) to one side, turns the body and strikes the opposite side of the head.
• Sideways evasion: in ppaeo-chigi (빼어치기), moving aside is done with this step.
• Principle: a Korean glossary page says the movement comes from the hips and the practitioner stays squarely facing the opponent.

English-language kendo guides describe the same step as a diagonal movement that sidesteps an onrushing opponent so as to deliver a counter-strike. They also describe it as a change of body direction by pivoting on one foot.