Wrist strike

Sonmok (손목, «wrist») is one of the target areas in kumdo and, by extension, the strike to the opponent's wrist (sonmok chigi, 손목치기).

• Valid targets: the sources list four scoring areas: the head (meori), the wrist (sonmok), the torso or waist (heori) and a thrust to the throat (jjireum).
• Valid hit: the strike must land with the striking part of the bamboo sword (jukdo), which is the third of the blade nearest the tip. The competitor calls out the name of the target area, for example «sonmok».
• Execution: the Korea Kumdo Association manual says to move in horizontally at the opponent's eye level. The tip of the sword should land on the wrist first, and the sword should be about level with the target. After the hit, the left fist ends about a hand-span from the navel and the tip points at the opponent's navel.
• Target wrist: an English-language training text says the right wrist of the opponent is the target. Japanese-language sources, citing the Japanese federation's rules, say the left wrist is also valid when the opponent is not in the middle guard.
• Combinations: the manual teaches combinations such as sonmok → meori and sonmok → heori. Against a head attack, one steps back diagonally, deflects to the left and strikes the opponent's right wrist.