Front head strike

Jeongmyeon meorichigi (정면 머리치기) is the strike to the front of the opponent's head, the basic form of the head strike (머리치기) in kumdo.

According to the sources cited, the basic movement is to step in, starting with the right foot, and raise the jukdo (죽도, bamboo sword) overhead to strike the opponent's head. The Korea Kumdo Association (대한검도회) describes it as raising the jukdo overhead, pushing off the left foot and striking while springing in with the right foot.

• The left fist must not leave the body's centre line (정중선, jeongjungseon), and the path of the jukdo should be the shortest possible.
• At the moment of impact the left fist is at the height of the solar plexus (명치, myeongchi) or higher, and the right fist slightly below shoulder height. The tip of the jukdo points at the opponent's nose.
• One source says to raise the jukdo until the opponent's head can be seen between the two elbows. It also warns against throwing the head too far back or lifting the chin when striking.

Training. The association's manual divides the strike into three, two and one-beat versions (3동작, 2동작, 1동작). In the three-beat version, on the first count the jukdo is raised about 45 degrees above the head from the middle guard (중단, jungdan). In the two-beat version, the practitioner steps in with the right foot and strikes in a single rhythm. The strike is also repeated while moving forward and backward. The front strike is also part of continuous striking practice (연격, yeongyeok), which combines it with successive strikes to the sides of the head.

Importance. One source calls it the foundation of all strikes, because it contains the middle guard, the eyes, breathing, timing, hand work, footwork and striking method. Another notes that the head is the target farthest from the attacker.

Defence and risk. The association teaches receiving this strike by advancing slightly, raising both fists diagonally and tilting the jukdo to receive it on its left or right side. One source warns that if the opponent evades, deflects or presses at the moment of the strike, the attacker may end up in serious danger.