Head strike
In kumdo, meori chigi is the strike to the head target, delivered with the bamboo sword. It includes the frontal strike (jeongmyeon meori chigi) and the left and right strikes (jwau meori chigi).
How to say it
- Korean
- 머리치기meori chigi
- Spanish
- Corte a la cabeza
- English
- Head strike
- Japanese
- 面打ちめんうちmen-uchi
Meori chigi (머리치기), the «head strike», is the strike aimed at the opponent's head in kumdo. The Korea Kumdo Association (대한검도회) technique page lists it among the practised strikes: the frontal head strike (jeongmyeon meori chigi), the left and right head strike (jwau meori chigi), the wrist strike (sonmok chigi), the waist strike (heori chigi) and the thrust (jjireum). An English reference calls it the first and most practised strike, and describes it as a long slashing stroke that falls on the centre-line of the head.
- Frontal strike (jeongmyeon meori chigi): the jukdo is raised above the head, the left foot pushes off and the right foot steps in as the strike lands.
- Hands: the left fist must not leave the body's centre line (jeongjungseon), and the jukdo should travel the shortest path.
- Step-by-step practice: the frontal strike is taught in three, two and one movements (3, 2, 1 dongjak). It is also repeated while advancing and retreating.
- Continuous drill (yeongyeok): it joins a frontal strike with alternating left and right strikes, four going forward and five going back.
- Variants: they include naoneun meori chigi (striking as the opponent advances), ppaeeo meori chigi (stepping the left foot back as the opponent attacks the wrist, then striking) and sonmok nulleo meori chigi.
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