Hello. What is the difference between momtong makki and momtong yop makki? Are they the same technique?
I understand that momtong ahn makki means middle inward block. Dissecting the words based on a one-to-one relation, I think:
momtong = middle
ahn = inward
makki = block
Am I correct? If so, momtong makki would mean middle block. But why is there no direction specifier, like ahn? Are they the same?
Hi Callandor!
You are correct on what you have thus far. Many times, direction identifiers are left out because they are understood as being an outward movement. "An Makgi" for inward block is more often specified. Let me break it down a little further for you.
Spelling may vary on these terms because they are translated phonetically, and many of the earlier attempts at English translations of Korean Taekwondo Terms were done by ear rather than actually reading the text, thus there were many "guesses." Dialects also play a part.
The letter "K" and "G" are interchangeable, but (in South Korea) the initial consonant of most words beginning with this sound, and each syllable within the word that begins it, will use the harder "G." This same sound at the end of a syllable, will usually be the softer "K" even though both are written the same.
막기 = Mak Gi or Makgi (mahk gee) - which means "block"
아래 = A Rae or Arae (ah rae - like "rat" without the "t") - means "low"
아래 막기 = Arae makgi (ah rae mahk gee) - "low block."
The torso of the body (waist to shoulders) is called "momtong," thus middle section blocks are referred to as "momtong makgi." Momtong does not really translate as "middle" but rather "torso."
몸 = Mom (mome) - which means "body"
몸통 = Mom Tong or Momtong (mome tong - long "o") - "torso"
몸통 막기 = Momtong Makgi - "Body Block"
Since any of the middle section blocks between the waist and the shoulders can be called a "Body Block," the term Momtong Makgi fits them all.
A face block is either to the side of the head, or above the head (which is often called a "high block").
얼굴 = Eol Gul or Eolgul (uhl gul - long "u" sound like in "tool") - means "face"
As to direction of the block, most blocks move from inside to out (low block, outer forearm middle block, inner forearm middle block). These blocks can be distinguished by the term "bakkeot" which means "outward" or "outside."
바깥 = Ba kkeot or bakkeot (bah kuht) - "outside"
바깥 막기 = bakkeot makgi - any block that moves in an outward direction.
The middle section block that moves in an inward direction (outside to inside) is called an "An Makgi" Since this is a unique movement, "Momtong An makgi" (body [level] inward block: "inward body block") is used to denote the inward movement, whereas outward body blocks are often just labeled as "momtong makgi," even though they should be "momtong bakkeot makgi" (body [level] outward block: "outward body block").
안 = An (ahn) - which means "inside"
로 = Ro (roe) - "toward"
안로 = Anro (ahn roe) - "inward" or "toward the inside"
안 막기 = An Makgi - "inward block"
Now, the use of the term "yeop" (pronounced "yawp" or "yuhp") means "to the side," thus it is applied when blocking to your left or right, rather than in front of you. This is usually used in a horse stance blocking directly to your left or right with a low block (arae yeop makgi), and middle section body blocks (momtong yeop makgi). You could do a body level inward block which stops at your side in a horse stance (momtong an yeop makgi) or an outward block moving to the side (momtong bakkeot yeop makgi).
옆 = Yeop (yawp or yuhp) - means "side"
옆 막기 = Yeop Makgi - "side block"
The "side block" is also applied when the lead hand in a back stance blocks outward with either the inner forearm, outer forearm, or knife-hand. The same block done in a walking stance (ap seogi) or a front stance (ap gubi) is simply called a Momtong Bakkeot Makgi (or Bakkeot Momtong Makgi) meaning "outward body block." Simply by turning the body sideways in a defensive back stance (dwi gubi) the block becomes a "side block" (yeop makgi).
Although, the side face block (Eolgul Yeop Makgi) is a high section side block no matter which stance you are in.
Therefore, "An" (inside), and "Bakkeot" (outside) refer more to the direction of movement, whereas "yeop" (side) refers to the location of a block relative to the position of your torso or the direction your chest is facing.
I hope this helps to answer your question.
CM D.J. Eisenhart
