Front head strike
In kumdo, jeongmyeon meorichigi is the strike to the front of the head: the jukdo (bamboo sword) is raised overhead and the strike lands as the practitioner leaps in with the right foot, pushing off the left.
How to say it
- Korean
- 정면 머리jeongmyeon meori
- Spanish
- Golpe frontal a la cabeza
- English
- Front head strike
- Japanese
- 正面打ちしょうめんうちshōmen-uchi
In kumdo, jeongmyeon meorichigi (정면 머리치기, "front head strike") is the strike to the front of the head. According to the Korea Kumdo Association, the jukdo (죽도, bamboo sword) is raised overhead and the practitioner pushes off the left foot and leaps in with the right foot to strike. It is distinguished from jwau meorichigi (좌우 머리치기), the strike to the left and right sides of the head, which is done with the same raising of the jukdo.
- It is learned at the beginner stage. One source calls it a basic technique and also the height of technique.
- The association's textbook teaches variants by count: sam dongjak (3동작, three-count), i dongjak (2동작, two-count) and il dongjak (1동작, one-count), as well as the large-motion strike (큰 동작). It also includes a drill of advancing and retreating while repeating the strike.
- Points of care given by the association: both fists must not leave the body's centerline, the back should be straight, and the kihap (기합, shout) should coincide with the moment of the strike and the drawing up of the left foot.
- The head is the farthest of the target areas, and the textbook says the meorichigi (머리치기) is the strike to practice most thoroughly.
- It is part of yeongyeok (연격), the exercise that combines the jeongmyeon meorichigi with alternating strikes to the left and right sides of the head.
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