How to teach terminology (without overwhelming people)

Students learn terms best when the word is attached to a repeated action. Use a simple rule: English first → Korean second → repeat for weeks.

• Use both: “Walking stance (Gunnun sogi).”
• Teach 3–5 new terms per month, not 30 in one day.
• Correct the movement first; terminology comes after.
• Be consistent: one school, one vocabulary set.

Tip: the fastest way to build terminology is to use it during the same drill every week.

Common dojang commands

These are the commands most students hear in every class. Schools vary slightly — pick a set and stay consistent.

Attention / readiness / respect

• Charyeot — Attention
• Kyong-ye — Bow
• Junbi — Ready
• Baro — Return / back to ready position
• Sijak — Begin / Start
• Goman — Stop

Counting

• Hana (1), Dul (2), Set (3), Net (4), Dasot (5)
• Yosot (6), Ilgop (7), Yodol (8), Ahop (9), Yol (10)

Teaching shortcut: count in English first, then repeat the same set in Korean.

Core stance terminology (sogi)

These are common stances you’ll reference constantly in teaching. If you teach these terms, everything else becomes easier to name.

• Narani sogi — Parallel stance
• Gunnun sogi — Walking stance
• Niunja sogi — L-stance
• Annun sogi — Sitting stance
• Gojung sogi — Fixed stance
• Soojik sogi — Vertical stance
• Moa sogi — Close stance
• Dwitbal sogi — Rear foot stance
• Guburyo junbi sogi — Bending ready stance
• Sasun sogi — Diagonal stance
• Waebal sogi — One-leg stance
• Nachuo sogi — Low stance

Deep dive: Foundations → Stances

Basic technique naming structure

ITF technique names usually follow a predictable pattern:

[height] + [tool] + [technique] (+ target/direction)

• Height: najunde (low), kaunde (middle), nopunde (high)
• Tool examples: ap joomuk (front fist), sonkal (knifehand), palmok (forearm), bal (foot)
• Technique examples: jirugi (punch), makgi (block), taerigi (strike), chagi (kick), tulgi (thrust)

Teaching shortcut: students learn faster when they can “decode” the name.

Common fundamentals terms (you’ll use weekly)

Heights

• Najunde — Low
• Kaunde — Middle
• Nopunde — High

Directions / movement

• Ap — Front
• Dwi — Back
• Yop — Side
• An — Inner
• Bakkat — Outer
• Dollyo — Turning
• Bandae — Reverse / opposite

Common actions

• Makgi — Block
• Jirugi — Punch
• Taerigi — Strike
• Chigi — Strike (often with hand tool)
• Chagi — Kick
• Tulgi — Thrust
• Joomuk — Fist
• Sonkal — Knifehand
• Palmok — Forearm

Teaching terms by rank (simple approach)

This is a practical “minimum set” approach. Add more as students progress, but don’t overload early.

Beginner (White → Yellow/Green)

• Charyeot, Kyong-ye, Junbi, Sijak, Goman
• Najunde/Kaunde/Nopunde
• Gunnun sogi, Niunja sogi, Narani sogi
• Makgi, Jirugi, Chagi

Intermediate (Green → Blue/Red)

• Annun sogi, Gojung sogi, Dwitbal sogi
• Bakkat/An, Dollyo, Bandae
• More blocks/strikes by tool (sonkal, palmok)

Advanced / Black belt

• Full pattern technique naming
• Deeper theory vocabulary (timing, breath, relaxation/tension)
• Leadership commands and teaching terminology

Common mistakes (and fixes)

Mistake: Teaching terminology before movement

• Result: students memorize words but can’t execute.
• Fix: teach the motion first, then name it consistently.

Mistake: Inconsistent vocabulary

• Result: confusion (“Is this the same as that?”)
• Fix: define your school’s preferred terms and stick with them.

Mistake: Correcting pronunciation mid-drill

• Result: breaks flow and increases anxiety.
• Fix: correct pronunciation during cooldown or knowledge time.

Quick drills for terminology

1) Call-and-response (30 seconds)

• Instructor says English + Korean, class repeats.
• Then instructor says Korean only, class performs.
• Goal: connect word to action.

2) “Name it after you do it”

• Students perform a technique.
• Then they say the name (English or Korean) together.
• Goal: learning stays grounded in movement.

Next

Teaching becomes easier when you have resources and repeatable templates. Go to Instructor Resources.