Head

Head (머리, meori) is, in kumdo, one of the valid striking targets (gyeokja buwi, 격자 부위) and also the name of the strike aimed at it (meori chigi, 머리치기). The striking targets are the head, the wrist (sonmok), the waist or flank (heori) and the throat with the thrust (jjireum).

• Valid area: the front and the left and right sides, from the temple area upward. This means the padded part of the mask; the metal grille is not included, unless the opponent lifts it.
• Front strike (jeongmyeon meori chigi, 정면머리치기): the jukdo is raised above the head and the strike is made by kicking off the left foot and leaping in with the right. At the moment of the strike the fists stay on the body's centre line. The left fist is at solar-plexus height or higher and the right fist a little below shoulder height, with the tip of the sword pointing at the opponent's nose.
• Side strikes (jwau-myeon meori chigi, 좌우면 머리치기): a straight cut on a diagonal of about 45 degrees, forming the angle from the temple to the philtrum. The left hand must not leave the centre line.
• Shout: the struck target is named aloud as the strike lands: «meori!» (머리).

The head is the target farthest from the attacker. Korean texts say that head striking is the technique to practise most deeply and that, once it is mastered, the other techniques are learned relatively easily. The front strike is called the basis of all strikes because the middle guard (jungdanse), eyes, breathing, timing, hand use, footwork and striking method are all contained in it.

Variants named in the sources include the head strike as the opponent advances, the head strike after pressing the opponent's jukdo down, the sidestepping head strike (bikyeo meori chigi) and the leaping head strike. The head is also the core of the continuous drill yeongyeok (연격): a front strike, alternating left and right strikes, and a front strike.