Knife-Hand Low Block - Sonkal Najunde Makgi
When your child practices the knife-hand low block in walking stance (gunnun so sonkal najunde makgi), first check the stance. One foot should be forward, the knees slightly bent, and the body stable without leaning. The shoulders must be half facing, meaning the body is slightly turned, not fully square and not completely sideways. Next, check the hand shape: the blocking hand must form a proper knife-hand, with the fingers straight and together and the thumb relaxed and naturally bent, not stiff or tense. As the block is performed, ensure the knife-hand travels downward in a controlled motion to defend against a low attack, rather than swinging loosely. The block should finish just above the knee, with the arm slightly bent to show control and correct structure. At the same time, the opposite hand must pull back firmly to the hip, helping balance and coordination. Parents can remind their child to stay relaxed, breathe naturally, and maintain good posture throughout the movement. By checking the stance, shoulder position, hand shape, thumb relaxation, and finishing height, parents can confidently help their child perform this technique safely, accurately, and with confidence.
Walking Stance (Kids)
Practice At Home
To practice at home, parents should give clear and simple instructions, just like in class. Begin by saying “Junbi”, which means “ready.” The child should adopt a ready position with the feet parallel and one shoulder width apart, standing upright, and the fists held in front of the belt, slightly apart, showing readiness and control. Next, the parent counts “hana”, then waits patiently until the child completes one correct movement. After the technique is finished, the parent counts “dul”, waits again, and then “set”, allowing the child to perform one movement per count. Once the child has completed three steps forward, repeat the same process moving backward, again counting “hana, dul, set” and waiting for each movement to be completed. Practice this sequence a few times, calmly correcting posture, balance, and control using the instructions learned above if needed. When the child is ready for the next stage, instead of counting each movement, the parent gives the command “Si-jak” (the Taekwon-Do command for “begin”). The child should then perform three movements forward and three movements backward independently. At this stage, parents should focus on steady pace, making sure the child breathes correctly and includes a small pause between movements, encouraging calm control rather than rushing.