ahnjoe (ahn-JOE): sit down
annyeon hashimnikka (ahn-young hahs-im-nee-ka): formal hello
ap chagi (OP cha-gee; the G is hard, like the word go): front kick
charyut (cha-RYUT): attention
cheonman-eyo (CHON-ma-nae-yo): you’re welcome
choonbi (chun-BEE): ready position
dan (don): black belt
dee (DEE): belt
dobok (doe-BOK): uniform
dojang (doe-JAHNG): training hall. It means “House of Discipline.”
hae sahn (hay SAHN): dismissed
juchum-seogi jireugi (CHU-shum so-GEE ja-ROO-gee; the G is hard like the word go): riding-horse stance with a punch
kamsahhamida (gam-sah-hahm-mee-da): thank you very much
kicho il bo (ki-CHEW ill boo): basic form number one. Il means first.
kihap (KEE-hahp): yell
koomahn (khoo-MAHN): stop
kyoonyae (kyoon-YEY): bow
mushin (moo-SHIN): having no mind. Mushin is not a Korean word; it’s Japanese.
poom (POOM): junior black belt
poomsae (poom-SAY): form
sabumnim (SAH-bahm-nim): master instructor
shijak (shee-JAHK): begin
taeguk il jang (Tae-GUK ill JAHNG): form representing the great principle of Heaven
taekwondo (tie-KWON-doe): the South Korean art of hand and foot fighting. Tae means to use the foot. Kwon means to use the hand. Do means art or way of life.
yup chagi (YUP cha-GEE: the G is hard, like the word go): side kick
yursit (yur-SIT): stand up
How to count to ten in Korean
hana (HAH-na): one
dool (DOOL): two
set (SET): three
net (NET): four
dasut (DAS-it): five
yasut (YAS-it): six
ilgop (ill-GOP): seven
yuldol (yul-DOL): eight
ahop (AH-hop): nine
yul (YOOL): ten
In traditional taekwondo, you have to be fifteen years old to become a black belt, also called a dan. Anyone younger than fifteen is called a junior black belt, or poom.
Some people think having a black belt is the highest rank you can reach, and once you get it, you’re an expert. But that’s not true. A black belt is just a new beginning. There are different levels, or degrees, of black belt. Each school has its own rules about testing, but in general, it takes three to five years of studying and training to become a black belt. In order to be called a “master” in taekwondo, you have to be a fourth degree black belt. Very few people who do taekwondo stick with it long enough to reach this rank or higher.