Preemptive attack
In kumdo, seonje gonggyeok (선제공격) means attacking before the opponent moves, so as to take control of the exchange. The Korea Kumdo Association (대한검도회) manual lists it among the attack techniques (공격기술).
How to say it
- Korean
- 선제공격seonje gonggyeok
- Spanish
- Técnicas de ataque por iniciativa
- English
- Preemptive attack
- Japanese
- 仕掛け技しかけわざshikake-waza
Seonje gonggyeok (선제공격) is, in kumdo, attacking before the opponent moves, so as to take control of the flow of the exchange. A Korean dojo explanation stresses that initiative (seon, 先) is not just moving first: it means reading the opponent's intention and leading the flow. The same explanation names the preemptive form (seonje, 先制) as one of two kinds; the other is the later counterattack (hu-ui seon).
In the manual of the Korea Kumdo Association (대한검도회), chapter 3 (Applied movements of kumdo) has a section on attack techniques (gonggyeok gisul, 공격기술). That section has three parts:
- strikes to the head (meori), wrist (sonmok) and side (heori), and the thrust (jjireum);
- two-strike movements (2dan dongjak): wrist-head and wrist-side;
- attack technique (seonje gonggyeok).
It is followed by response techniques (daeung gisul, 대응기술) and other applied techniques.
The Association's glossary defines seon (先) as confirming the opponent's intent to attack, meaning the first sign of movement of the jukdo (죽도, bamboo sword), and getting ahead of it. It distinguishes three forms:
- seon-ui seon (선의 선), getting ahead of the opponent;
- dae-ui seon (대의 선), anticipating the opponent's attack and winning before it takes effect;
- hu-ui seon (후의 선), attacking after the opponent has attacked, by making them strike empty air or by evading.
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