Terminology Project

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Korean Terminology Project

 for Hapkido

with special thanks to the people at the Hapkido In-fo Forum

Korea and its Flag

The Korean name for Korea is "Hangeuk" and its people are called "Hangeuksaram". The ancient name for Korea is "Choson", which means literally "the land of morning calm" and comes from the "Choson" dynasty of Korea's history (1392-1905). The name "Korea" comes from the "Koryu" dynasty of Korea's history (935-1392) during which westerners had their first contact with Korea.

The national anthem of Korea is "Aeguk Ka" ("Love of Country"). It was written during the Japanese occupation of Korea (circa 1905-1945) and was later set to music by Ahn Eak Tai.

The Korean flag is called "Taeguk-ki" and was adopted in August of 1882, not long after the "Hermit Kingdom" opened its front and back doors to foreign aggressive powers. The central theme of the flag is that although there is constant movement within the sphere of infinity, there is also balance and harmony. The flag consists of three parts: a white field (or background), a red and blue circle in the center of the flag (containing a "yin-yang" like symbol), and four black tri-grams surrounding the circle in each of the four corners of the flag.

The circle in the center is called "Taeguk" and means the origin of all things in the universe. The red and blue paisleys within the circle represent eternal duality (heaven-earth, fire-water, good-evil, male- female, dark-light, life-death). The blue portion of the circle is called "um" and represents the negative aspects of this duality; the red portion of the circle is called "yang" and represents the positive aspects. "Um-yang" is the Korean equivalent of "yin-yang".

The four black trigrams come from the Chinese book of "I Ch'ing". The trigrams also carry the idea of opposites and of balance. Each trigram (or "gye") consists of three parallel lines, some of which are broken (split), and some of which are unbroken (solid). Each gye has a specific name and represents one or more concepts: In the upper left-hand corner is "K'un" which consists of all solid lines and represents heaven, east, and spring; In the lower right-hand corner is "K'on" which consists of all broken lines and represents earth, west, and summer; In the upper right-hand corner is "Kam" which consists of one solid line surrounded by two broken lines and represents water, north, and winter; In the lower left-hand corner is "I" which consists of one broken line surrounded by two solid lines and represents fire, south, and autumn.

Definition of Hapkido

The term “hapkido” is an amalgam of three syllables. “hap” suggests a coordination among parts, while “ki” is a term universally recognized as referring to power or energy. The syllable “-do” is used almost universal in Asian culture to identify a “way” or a choice of lifestyle. Putting these three syllables together produces the term “hapkido” or “Way of Coordinated Energy”.  Thought by some to be a contraction of the longer “hapkiyukwonsul” or “coordinated pliant hand techniques” there is also a line of thought that “hapkido” was as much a political or social effort to keep the adherents of the “Kido” arts separate and distinct from the “Hapkido arts.  In most cases though, this latter is a distinction without a real difference. While originally held by many to identify a single specific tradition, with time, the term “hapkido” has come to be a more general term to identify a family of arts which have been accepted from other cultures but structured in such a way as to reflect the culture and purpose of the Korean people.

 

Five Tenets  (“O-Gae”) of Hapkido

Ch’ung

:

Loyalty to One’s Country

Hyo

:

Fealty to One’s Parents

Shim

:

Fidelity to One’s Friends

Yong

:

Courage in the face of Injustice

Im 

:

Benevolence to all.    

Three Principles of Hapkido

Won

:

 

Hwa

:

 

Hyo

:

 

 

Concepts and Attributes

Kan kyok     

Interval: optimal space between combatants at which to either execute offensive techniques or maintain defenses. 

( 간격 [間隔] )  also: kan hap (간합 )

Himm 

:

Power: physical energy, force, might. ( )

Jip  joong 

:

Concentration; concentrate one's attention [mind] on (one's work).

( 주의를  집중  하다 )

Sok  ryok

:

Velocity: Rate at which a specific body part, a weapon or an item moves.  ( 속력 [速力] )

Sok do

:

Speed: rate at which an individual moves their body as a unit to cover distance. (속도 [速度] )

Jan shim

:

Sustained Focus: concentration maintained after the execution of a technique where the connection to the attacker or the situation is preserved. On a physical level this suggests a readiness for further action while on an emotional and intellectual level it suggests that balance and clarity are maintained. 

{lit: “lingering mind      ( 残心 ) }

Pŏm wee

:

Sphere, or Range, of Influence: “dynamic sphere” 

{ 세력 범위 (範圍) }

Jo hwa

:

Balance: ability to execute an identified technique or action while maintaining ones’ physical relationship with the environment relates also to being able to maintain ones’ emotional and psychological relationship as well. { }

T’aedo  

:

Bearing: demeanor or manner

{ 태 도 ( 態度 ) }

Shi Son

:

Focus of eyes; eye contact

{ 시선 ( 視線 ) } 

Cho jŏm

:

Focus: point at which the maximum physical and mental energy is applied for optimal result. { }

Ch’im ch’ak  

:

Composure: self-control, self-possession; presence of mind; calmness; coolness, unflappable { }

Haeng dong

:

Execution: action of the body and its techniques

( )

Dan ryon 

:

Conditioning: Ability of the body to sustain performance in resistance to shock. {   단련 ( 鍛鍊 )

( Lit: ~하다improve; cultivate; school; harden; steel ((one's courage)); exercise; subject to discipline.)

Bunseok

:

“analysis”; to consider the practical functions of a form 

 

Eung yong

:

“application”; the result of analyzing the functions of a form

Baekja

:

“timing”; Coordination of ones’ own motion with that of ones’ opponents in order to produce a desired effect. (柏子/백자 )

Includes: 

Pre-emptive strike:   공격;  to take the initiative in the attack. seon eui seon선의 /

Retaliatory strike:  hu eui seon후의 /

Qualities

Jong Euye  

:

Justice: righteousness; a just cause

{   ( ) } 

In

:

Benevolence: humanity; philanthropy; charity.

{ (仁愛)}

Yae jŏl 

:

Courtesy:  etiquette; decorum; propriety; politeness; civility.

{ ;  예의(禮儀) }

Ji

:

Wisdom: sense. 

{   (  )}

Yong-gi

:

Courage: courage; valor; bravery; boldness;

{ 용기 (勇氣 ) }

Shin-yo

:

Trust: confidence; reliance; faith; credence;

{ 신용 ( 信用 )} 

Sŏn

:

Goodness: a good deed. 

{ ( ) } 

k 

:

Virtue: moral excellence; the power of commanding love and respect.

{   ( ) } 

Dong  jŏng

:

Compassion: sympathy; pity. 

{ 동정 ( 同情 ) }  also: Shi  ( )

Jon  jung 

:

Respect: esteem, regard; deference or Chon Kyung

{ 존중 ( 尊重 ) }

In Neh

:

Perseverance:  Endurance; Patience 

{ 인내 ( 忍耐 ) } 

Kyum Son

:

Humility: modesty 

{ 겸손 ( 謙遜 ) } 

Jŏng  jik

:

Honesty: veracity;

{ 정직 ( 正直 ) } 

Pum  haeng

:

Morals: moral conduct; moral character; morals.
{ 품행 ( 品行 ) } 

Chŏn  ryum 

:

Integrity

{ 청렴 ( ) } 

Maeum  

:

Spirit: mind; soul

{ (mauem-ssi: “heart”) }

Also: mind; spirit;  { 정신 ( 精神 ) }   

Chung Shim

:

Faithfulness: devotion; sincerity; wholeheartedness.

{ 충심 ( 忠心 ) }  

Also: One’s true heart; one's inmost feelings[heart]. 

{ 충심 ( 衷心 ) } 

Chung Shin

:

Fidelity; loyalty; dedication.(lit: “center mind” )

{  충신  ( 忠信 ) }  

Titles

do joo nim

:

 Keeper of the Art

kwan jang nim

:

 Director or “mentor”

Saengsanim

:

Respectful form of "saengsa” which means “teacher” but is likewise a general term of address not unlike “mister”.

sun bae nim

:

Senior student  

hu bae nim

:

junior student

hak saeng

:

student

suryun saeng

:

trainee

 

:

pupil

Commands

cha ryuht

:

attention

choon bi

:

ready

bah ro

:

return to starting position

dwi uro dorah

:

about face

dorah

:

turn

elosoh

:

stand

gomahn

:

stop (also "mum cho")

geuk gi hyang ha yoh

:

face the flag

jwa woo hyang woo

:

face each other

sah bum nim keh

:

face instructor/master

sun bae nim keh

:

face senior student

simsa kwan nim keh

:

face examiner/tester

dobok dahnjung

:

fix your uniform

dhee dahnjung

:

fix your belt

hai sahn

:

class dismissed (also "hae cho")

jonglee

:

line up (also "ji hap" and "jung yul")

kyung nae

:

bow

ahnjoe

:

sit

kool o angi

:

kneel (kneeling)

bah ro angi

:

sit in lotus position (yoga posture)

bahl bah kwah

:

switch your stance (switch your feet)

koo ryung op see

:

in your own time

seijak

:

begin

shiuh

:

relax

kalyeo

:

break (or stop)

kae sok

:

continue

 

Korean Counting

There are two different numbering systems that are used by Koreans. The first numbering system comes from the Native Korean language, and is used when counting, or when only speaking of the numbers themselves. The first ten numbers in this system are as follows:

1

:

hanah

2

:

dool

3

:

set

4

:

net

5

:

dasot

6

:

yasot

7

:

ilgop

8

:

yadol

9

:

ahop

10

:

yool

The stress in "hanah", "dasot", and "yasot" is on the first syllable, in "ilgop", "yadol", and "ahop" on the second. In counting cadence in TaeKwonDo, this is so emphasized that the other syllable frequently almost disappears (e.g., "han", "das", "yos", "lgop", "hop", etc.).

The other numbering system (which is of Chinese origin) is used in most other cases and is often used where Americans would use ordinal numbers (such as "first", "second", etc ...) and is designated as the Sino-Korean system. For example, this second numbering system is used when describing a person's rank: a first degree black belt would be an "il dan". The first ten numbers in this numbering system are as follows:

1

:

il

2

:

ee

3

:

sahm

4

:

sah

5

:

oh

6

:

ryook

7

:

chil

8

:

pal

9

:

koo

10

:

ship

The final `l' in "chil" and "pal" isn't rounded, like an American `l' .... It's a much shorter sound, sort of like the initial `l' in "let", but even shorter. It's not like the `l' in "ball".

When pronouncing the word "ship", you must not emphasize the "sh" sound. It's almost more like "sip" with a sort of a lisp. If you pronounce it like "sh" in "shell", then you are referring to sexual intercourse.

Even though this second numbering system may correspond to ordinal numbers in English in some cases, these are not ordinal numbers. Koreans use a separate set of words for ordinal numbers.

Directions

oo

:

right (also "oh-ruen")

joa

:

left (also "wen")

ahp

: