One
Il (일, 一) is the Sino-Korean numeral “one”. In kumdo it appears in iljogildo (일족일도, “one step, one sword”), the basic striking distance: one step in to hit, one step back to avoid a strike.
How to say it
- Korean
- 일il
- Spanish
- Uno (sino-coreano)
- English
- One
- Japanese
- 一いちichi
Il (일, hanja 一) is the Sino-Korean numeral meaning “one”. Korean also has a native series (하나, hana), but 일 is the Chinese-derived form: 일, 이, 삼, 사, 오…
In kumdo the character 一 appears in terms such as iljogildo (일족일도, 一足一刀, “one step, one sword”). According to the Korea Kumdo Association (대한검도회) textbook, it is the special distance of kumdo: the distance from which one step forward lets you strike the opponent and one step back lets you avoid their attack.
- It is a relative concept, not an absolute measurement as if taken with a ruler. It varies with the ability of the practitioner.
- Another kumdo glossary describes it as the basic distance of the art.
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