Makgi (막기) Blocking

    

 Geodeureo-makgi (거들어막기) Supporting Block

A blocking technique of one hand with the support of the other. This is a supporting motion of the other hand to generate a stronger force when blocking the opponent’s attack. It is also used as a preparatory motion to follow up the next move.

         

Nulleo-makgi (눌러막기) Pressing Block

A blocking technique of pressing downward against the assailant’s attack. This is a skill of blocking the assailant's attack aimed at the stomach by pressing the defender's hand down from the chest level to the lower body. The Outside Wrist, Palm Heel, Hand Blade, etc. can be employed.

         

Bada-makgi (받아막기) Absorbing Block

A technique of alleviating the impact of the assailant’s attack by absorbing it with a hand or foot of the defender. This is a skill of reducing the shock and pain generated by the assailant’s attack by buffering its direct path of attack.

 

Oesanteul-makgi (외산틀막기) Single Mountain Block

 
A technique of combining anpalmok-bakkat-makgi (Inside Wrist Outward Block) and bakkatpalmok-naryeo-makgi (Outside Wrist Downward Block). This is a skill of blocking the attacks aimed at the ...face and the lower part of the body. The face is blocked with the Inside Wrist of one hand while the lower part of the body with the Outside Wrist of the other hand to the side. The defender may use a combination of the Hand Blade and Ridge Hand (the inside edge of the hand) instead.


 An-makgi (안막기) Inward Block

A technique of blocking from the outside to the inside of the defender’s body with the hand, foot, arm or leg. When the assailant attacks from the front, the blocking surfaces such as ‘Outside Wrist’ (outside edge of the wrist), ‘Knife Hand’ (the outside edge of hand), ‘Palm Heel’ (heel of the palm) and ‘Reverse Foot Blade’ (inside edge of the foot) are employed to block it from the outside of defender’s body to the inside.

Hecheo-makgi (헤쳐막기) Double (Outward) Block

A blocking technique by crossing both wrists and pulling them out to the sides. When the two opponents attack from two opposite sides, the defender crosses both wrists each other and pulls them away from each other in opposite directions. The blocking surfaces can be either the inside wrist or the outside wrists. 


Techniques of protecting the vital parts of the defender’s  body from the assailant’s attack by blocking it off with a  hand, arm, foot or leg.

  

Geumgang-makgi (금강막기) Geumgang Block

A technique of combining ollyeo-makgi (Upward Block) and naeryeo-yeom-makgi (Downward Side Block) or bakkat-makgi (Outward Block). This skill is named after the statue of Geumgangyeoksa (literally, Diamond Warrior). When the opponent attacks the face and trunk or the face and lower body simultaneously, the defender may block upward with one hand to protect the face and block downward or outward with the other hand to protect the trunk or lower body. The defender may use the Hand Blades as well.

  

Naeryeo-makgi (내려막기) Downward Block

A technique of blocking the assailant’s attack downward from top to bottom. This is a skill of blocking downward when the opponent attacks the defender’s stomach or genitals. One may use bakkatpalmok (Outside Wrist), batangson (Palm Heel), sonnal (Hand Blade), etc. to block from the chest level to the groin area.

 

Santeul-makgi (산틀막기) Mountain Block

A technique of blocking with both the inside and outside edges of the wrists simultaneously. This is a skill of blocking two simultaneous attacks aimed at the defender’s face with the inside edge of the wrist to the clockwise direction and with the outside edge of the wrist to the counterclockwise direction. This block is a skill of blocking both sides at the same time with one’s arms in the shape of a mountain. Also, the Hand Blade and the Ridge Hand can be used.

              

Hwangso-makgi (황소막기) Bull Block

A blocking technique of lifting the outside edges of both wrists over the head. This is a blocking skill employed when the assailant attacks over the head of the defender. The defender lifts both arms abruptly over the head at a sloping angle in the shape of bull’s horns so that the opponent’s power is weakened down along the diagonal lines of the lifted forearms.

Ollyeo-makgi (올려막기) Upward Block
 
A technique of blocking the opponent’s attack upward. When attacked, the defender can use the Outside Wrist, Hand Blade or Palm Heel to block upward from the lower to the upper position.


Cha-makgi (차막기) Kicking Block

A technique of blocking the assailant’s attack by striking it with the foot or leg. This blocking skill is to directly confront the opponent’s advance by striking it with the leg or foot, causing serious injury to the attacker. This skill makes defense and offense possible at the same time.

Cheo-makgi (Striking Block) is one of the conventional blocking skills frequently used in defensive taekwondo techniques. The defender confronts the assailant’s attack by matching force for force. Occasionally, bada-makgi (Absorbing Block) absorbing the impact of punching and kicking attacks, georeo-makgi (Tripping Block) obstructing the offense in advance, and geodeo-makgi (Deflecting Block) deflecting or pushing off the opponent’s attack are also employed.

      

Gawi-makgi (가위막기) Scissors Block

A technique of executing anpalmok-bakkat-makgi (Inside Wrist Outward Block) and naeryeo-makgi (Downward Block) simultaneously. This skill is named after a scissoring motion of crossing both arms each other at the front of the chest. One hand makes an outward block with the inside wrist while the other makes a downward block with the outside wrist simultaneously to block the attack of the assailant aimed at the trunk and lower body of the defender.

 

Bakkat-makgi (바깥막기) Outward Block

A technique of blocking the assailant’s attack from the inside to the outside of the defender’s body. This is a blocking skill with a motion from the inside to the outside of defender’s body using baggatpalmok (Outside Wrist), anpalmok (Inside Wrist), sonnal (Hand Blade), gupinsonmok (Bent Wrist), etc. when the assailant attacks from the outside or front side of the defender.

 

Biteureo-makgi (비틀어막기) Twisting Block

A technique of blocking with the opposite hand of the advancing foot with a twisting motion of the body. This is a blocking skill using the opposite arm and leg to block and advance simultaneously. When advancing the left foot, the defender twists his or her body from the right to the left side and uses the right hand as a blocking surface and vice versa.

                                             

Yeom-makgi (옆막기) Side Block

A technique of blocking the opponent’s strike from the side. This is a skill of blocking the opponent’s attack coming from the side by using the Outside Wrist, the Inside Wrist, the Hand Blade, the Ridge Hand and so forth. This skill is executed by swinging a hand from the inside to the side and occasionally, one may use both hands to block one hand blocks with the support of the other.

Chye-makgi (쳐막기) Striking Block

A technique of blocking the opponent’s attack by striking it with the hand or arm. This blocking skill is to directly confront the assailant's attack by strike it with the arm or hand, causing severe damage to the opponent. This skill makes defense and offense possible at the same time.

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