Wrist strike

Sonmokchigi (손목치기) is one of the striking techniques of kumdo. An English-language source lists the head strike (meorichigi), the wrist strike (sonmokchigi) and the waist strike (heorichigi) as the three legitimate slashing strikes. It says the wrist strike is the same as the head strike except that the target is the opponent's right wrist.

According to the technique page of the Korea Kumdo Association (대한검도회):

• Method: raise the jukdo (bamboo sword) between both arms until the opponent's right wrist can be seen. Then push off the left foot and leap in with the right foot to strike.
• Points to note: do not strike with the hands alone, but as if striking with the hips. Quickly draw the left foot up to the right so the hips do not lag behind. Practise the strike from various distances.
• After the strike: the left fist is about a hand-span from the navel and the tip of the sword points at the opponent's navel.

Applications described in Korean sources:

• Naoleul ttae sonmokchigi (나올 때 손목치기): both in the jungdanse stance, strike the wrist immediately when the opponent lifts the right fist to raise the sword.
• Toegyeok sonmokchigi (퇴격 손목치기): strike the opponent's right wrist while retreating diagonally to the left rear, during body contact.
• Eokkaemeo sonmokchigi (어깨메어 손목치기): carry the jukdo on the left shoulder and strike the wrist if the opponent raises the sword to protect the head or does not move.
• Sonmok badaseo sonmokchigi (손목받아 손목치기): receive the opponent's wrist strike and answer by striking the right wrist.
• Combinations such as wrist → head and wrist → waist.

From the high guard (sangdan), Korean sources distinguish a one-handed wrist strike from a two-handed one.