One-motion strike

Ildongjak (일동작, 1동작) means "one motion". In kumdo it is one of three stages in which striking is taught. According to the Korea Kumdo Association (대한검도회) manual, the striking method (격자법, gyeokjabeop) is trained by stages in 3, 2 and 1 motions (동작, dongjak). This applies to the head strike, the side-head strikes, the wrist strike and the waist strike. The thrust (찌름, jjireum) is not divided this way.

• 3동작 (samdongjak): the Association describes it as a method for the basic stage or warm-up. It separates the lift, the strike and the middle guard (중단세, jungdanse) so the posture can be checked. A practice blog gives the count as "하나" (hana, one): lift; "둘" (dul, two): strike; "셋" (set, three): return to the middle guard.
• 2동작 (idongjak): according to that blog, the bamboo sword (죽도, jukdo) is raised without pausing above the head and the strike follows at once; then the practitioner returns to the middle guard.
• 1동작 (ildongjak): the Association defines it, for the head strike (머리치기, meorichigi), as a serious training exercise. The practitioner strikes continuously, one strike for each step. The same blog says the "하나" count and the middle guard are left out and head strikes are chained.

In the 1동작 waist strike (허리치기, heorichigi), the manual says to strike the right waist while advancing and the left waist while retreating. A popular-writing text on the fast head strike (빠른 동작 머리치기, ppareun dongjak meorichigi) says it is simply the 1동작 head strike done "quickly".

The Association's points of attention for this stage: use the feet correctly so the weight is shared on both and the centre of the body moves correctly. At the moment of impact the strike must land exactly on the intended target and coincide with the unity of spirit, sword and body (기검체일치, gigeomcheilchi). The blog adds that after striking the sword must not be raised at once; the strike is checked first.