Chigi (치기) Striking


Geodeureo-chigi (거들어치기) Supporting Strike

A striking technique with the support of the other hand. It is a striking skill of one hand with the support of the other which adds additional mass and speed to the striking hand, thus generating a greater rotational force of the body. It can also be used as a preparatory motion for follow?ups in sequence.

Dollyeo-chigi (돌려치기) Turning Strike

A striking technique of using the rotational force of the body moving horizontally against the target. This is a striking skill of delivering a blow to the opponent’s temple or solar plexus with the bent elbow. The performer may use his or her knee to attack the opponent in the solar plexus or the ribs.

Biteureo-chigi (비틀어치기) Twisting Strike

A striking technique of twisting the body of the performer. This is a striking skill of twisting one’s trunk with the advancing leg and striking arm facing and traveling against each other.

Yeop-chigi (옆치기) Side Strike

A striking technique of delivering a blow to the target standing at the side. This is a skill of delivering a blow in the head or trunk of the opponent standing at the side with deungjumeok, mejumeok, sonnal, palgup, etc.

Pyojeok-chigi (표적치기) Target Strike

After making an imaginary target with one hand, it is a technique of striking it with the other hand. Especially, when performing poomsae, the performer may picture an imaginary opponent by making a target with his or her own hand open and facing toward him or her and drive a blow into the imaginary target with the other hand in the form of mejumeok or palgeup.


    All kinds of offensive techniques delivered by the                hand excluding fist, fingertips and foot.



Naeyeo-chigi (내려치기) Downward Strike

A striking technique delivered from a higher to a lower level. This refers to a vertical strike with the bent elbow delivered to a target by using the Back Knuckle, Hammer Hand, Hand Blade, Elbow, etc. When striking with the Ridge Hand, the arm should be completely extended to avoid injury to the joint.

Dwi-chigi (뒤치기) Elbow Strike to the rear

A technique of striking the target behind with the elbow. This is a skill of striking the ribs of the assailant backward with the elbow when the performer is grabbed by the assailant from behind.

An-chigi (안치기) Inward Strike

A technique of striking the opponent from the outside to the inside. This is a turning striking skill that travels from the outside to the inside of the performer using gomson (Curled Hand), sonnal (Hand Blade), sonnaldeung (Ridge Hand), mejumeok (Hammer Hand) or batangson (Palm Heel).

Ollyeo-chigi (올려치기) Upward Strike

A striking technique vertically delivered from a lower to a higher level. This is a striking skill to deliver a blow to the opponent’s jaw with batangson or gupin-sonmok (Bent Wrist) or his or her solar plexus with the elbow. When grabbing the opponent, the performer may strike the solar plexus or stomach of the opponent with his or her knee.


They are the techniques of striking targets by using the rotational force of the body while the elbow is being bent and extended or just in a state of being bent. These techniques include all offensive strikes executed with hands except jireugi (punching), jjirueugi (thrusting), and jjikgi (chopping).


Danggyeo-chigi (당겨치기) Pulling Strike

A technique of pulling the opponent and delivering a strike with deungjumeok, mejumeok, palkkumchi (elbow), etc. This is a striking skill of pulling the opponent with one hand, making him or her immobilized or inescapable and delivering a blow with the other hand using deungjumeok, mejumeok, palkkumchi and so forth.

Bakkat-chigi (바깥치기) Outward Strike

A technique of striking the outside of a target. This is a skill of striking the outside of the opponent using deungjumeok (Back Knuckle), mejumeok (Hammer Hand), sonnal (Hand Blade), etc. with his or her elbow bent. This skill is an outward traveling strike carried out from the inside of the performer and can be executed with the support of the other hand.

Ap-chigi (앞치기) Forward Strike

A technique of striking a target with deungjumeok (Back Knuckle) or ageumson (Arc Hand). This is a skill to strike the opponent’s nose or philtrum by bending one’s elbow and striking from the inside to the front or from the outside to the inside in a circular motion with back knuckle. Also, one may strike the opponent’s throat or chest in a linear motion with batangson or ageumson.

Jebipum-chigi (제비품치기) Swallow Strike

A technique of striking inward or forward with one hand while blocking upward with the other hand. This is a skill of bringing defense and offense together in one movement. The performer can execute olryeo-makgi (Upward Block) using one hand in the form of the Hand Blade while striking the opponent’s jaw or neck with batangson-apchigi (Palm Heel Forward Strike) or sonnal-anchigi (Hand Blade Inward Strike) with the other hand.

                                                                             *Photographs and description courtesy of Kukkiwon (World Taekwondo Headquarters)