Terminology Used in Taekwon-Do

Various arts are often performed using the words from the place where they originated, and the martial arts are no exception. Just as you might use French words when cooking "(“sauté”, for example) or Italian terms when studying music (“coda”, “libretto”, or “crescendo”), you will hear many Korean words in a Taekwon-Do class. This provides two benefits: it recognizes and pays respect to the origin of Taekwon-Do, and it provides a common language that classes use. Taekwon-Do classes from Argentina to New Zealand all use the same Korean words — you could travel to a country where you did not speak the native language, drop into a Taekwon-Do class, and know exactly what to do.

Below are some of the most common terms used during training.

Commands

  • Baro — Return to Starting Position

  • Charyot — Attention

  • Dobok — Uniform

  • Dojang — Training hall or school

  • Hosinsool — Self-defense

  • Junbi — Ready

  • Kamsa Hamnae Da (sounds like Kamsa-ham-ni-da) — Thank you

  • Kihap (sounds like Kee-yah-p) — Yell

  • Kyong Ye — Bow

  • Mooknyum — Meditate

  • Sejak — Start (Begin)

Counting

  • One — Hana (“Ha-na”)

  • Two — Dul (“Dhool”)

  • Three — Set (“Set”)

  • Four — Net (“Net”)

  • Five — Dasot (“Da-sut”)

  • Six — Yasot (“Yo-sut”)

  • Seven — Ilgup (“Eel-gope”)

  • Eight — Yodol (“Yo-dull”)

  • Nine — Ahop (“Ah-hope”)

  • Ten — Yeol (“Yull”)

For 11 through 19, add the Korean word for 10 in front of the last number. For example, eleven is Yeol Hana (“Yull Ha-na”) – the Korean words for 10 and 1.

  • Eleven — Yeol Hana (“Yull Ha-na”)

  • Twelve — Yeol Dul (“Yull Dhool”)

  • Thirteen — Yeol Set (“Yull Set”)

  • Fourteen — Yeol Net (“Yull Net”)

  • Fifteen — Yeol Dasot (“Yull Da-sut”)

  • Sixteen — Yeol Yasot (“Yull Yo-Sut”)

  • Seventeen — Yeol Ilgup (“Yull Eel-gope”)

  • Eighteen — Yeol Yodol (“Yull Yo-dull”)

  • Nineteen — Yeol Ahop (“Yull Ah-hope”)

  • Twenty — Seu-Mool (“Sew-mool”)