Technique identity
| Item | Technical reference |
|---|---|
| Technique name | Walking Stance Inner Forearm Middle Block |
| Korean terminology | Gunnun So An Palmok Kaunde Makgi |
| Technique family | Blocking technique, or Makgi |
| Stance | Walking Stance |
| Blocking tool | Inner forearm |
| Target area protected | Middle section |
| Body facing | Half facing at the moment of the block |
Walking stance base
| Stance point | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Length | 1.5 shoulder widths, measured from big toe to big toe |
| Width | 1 shoulder width, measured from the centers of the insteps |
| Weight distribution | 50% on the front leg and 50% on the rear leg |
| Front foot | Points straight forward |
| Rear foot | Turns 25 degrees outward |
| Front knee | Bent so the kneecap drops in a vertical line with the heel |
General blocking principles
| Principle | Technical requirement |
|---|---|
| Blocking angle | Keep the blocking arm controlled so the attacking tool is intercepted obliquely. |
| Point of focus | Never extend the blocking tool beyond the point of focus. |
| Shoulder | Lower the shoulder of the blocking arm slightly at the moment of blocking. |
| Withdrawal | With few exceptions, withdraw the blocking tool immediately after contact. |
| Triangle structure | The blocking tool should form a triangle from the contact point upward to the shoulders. |
| Readiness | Maintain a flexible ready posture and remain aware for an immediate counterattack. |
Specific technical points
| Check | Correct standard |
|---|---|
| Blocking tool | Use the inner forearm. |
| Blocking level | Protect the middle section. |
| Shoulders | Keep the shoulders half facing at the moment of the block. |
| Hips | Coordinate the hips with the half-facing shoulder line. |
| Other fist | Withdraw the opposite fist to the hip in the basic single-arm version. |
| Body posture | Keep the body upright and controlled, without leaning into the block. |
How to execute the block
Begin from a correct Walking Stance. The stance must be stable before the block is judged. The front knee is bent, the rear foot is grounded, the stance keeps its correct width and length, and the body weight remains equally distributed between the front and rear legs.
The block is delivered with the inner forearm. The purpose is to intercept an opponent's attacking tool directed toward the middle section. The blocking tool must not be replaced by the fist, wrist, outer forearm, or upper arm. The name of the technique identifies the required tool: An Palmok, or inner forearm.
At the moment of the block, keep the shoulders in half facing. The shoulder line should not become fully square to the opponent. The hips and shoulders should work together so the body presents a narrower target while the blocking arm protects the middle line.
The opposite fist is withdrawn to the hip in the basic single-arm version. This withdrawal should happen as part of the whole body action, not as an isolated movement. The blocking arm, pulling hand, stance, hips, and shoulders must arrive together at the moment of focus.
Half-facing shoulders
The half-facing shoulder position is a key part of this technique. The student should not finish with the chest square and both shoulders fully facing the opponent. A full-facing finish can expose more of the body and weaken the defensive structure.
Half-facing shoulders mean the shoulder line is angled while the blocking tool still covers the correct middle-section line. The movement should not be made by turning only the shoulders. The hips, stance, and shoulders should coordinate together so the body remains balanced and the block stays connected to the floor.
The common correction is simple: keep the Walking Stance measured, keep the body upright, angle the shoulders into half facing, and let the inner forearm protect the middle section without overreaching.
Obverse and reverse use
In Walking Stance, Inner Forearm Middle Block may be practiced as an obverse block or a reverse block, depending on the required movement. In an obverse block, the blocking arm is on the same side as the fully bent front leg. In a reverse block, the blocking arm is on the opposite side of the fully bent front leg.
The same technical standards apply to both versions. The stance remains Walking Stance, the blocking tool remains the inner forearm, the block protects the middle section, and the shoulders remain half facing at the moment of the block.
Middle-section protection
The block must protect the middle section, not drift too high or drop into a low-block position. The blocking line should match the level of the attack being intercepted. If the arm finishes too low, the middle section remains open. If the arm finishes too high, the block no longer matches the intended target area.
The block should also avoid unnecessary extension. Extending the arm beyond the point of focus weakens the structure and makes recovery slower. The correct finish should feel controlled, compact, and ready for the next movement.
After contact, the practitioner should be ready to withdraw, recover, or counterattack. Defence in Taekwon-Do is not passive. The block protects the body while creating the opportunity to respond immediately.
Reference checklist
| Check | Correct standard |
|---|---|
| Technique | Walking Stance Inner Forearm Middle Block (Gunnun So An Palmok Kaunde Makgi) |
| Technique family | Blocking technique, or Makgi |
| Stance | Walking Stance |
| Blocking tool | Inner forearm |
| Target level | Middle section |
| Facing | Half facing at the moment of the block |
| Shoulders | Shoulder line angled in half facing, not fully square |
| Opposite fist | Withdrawn to the hip in the basic single-arm version |
| Focus | Do not extend beyond the point of focus |
| Posture | Upright, stable, and ready to counterattack |
Common technical errors
A common error is using the wrong blocking surface. This technique requires the inner forearm. If the student makes contact with the fist, wrist, outer forearm, or upper arm, the block no longer matches the required tool.
Another common error is finishing with full-facing shoulders. The shoulders should be half facing at the moment of the block. When the shoulders become too square, the body presents a larger target and the defensive structure becomes weaker.
Students also often overextend the blocking arm. The blocking tool should not travel beyond the point of focus. Overextension exposes the body, slows recovery, and can make the arm vulnerable after contact.
Another error is allowing the block to drift away from the middle section. A middle block must protect the middle line. If it finishes too low, it becomes closer to a low-line movement. If it finishes too high, it no longer covers the intended target level.
The final error is disconnecting the block from the stance. Walking Stance must remain measured, stable, and equally weighted. The block should be supported by the stance, hips, and half-facing shoulders, not performed as an isolated arm movement.
Key principle
The inner forearm middle block protects the middle section by intercepting the attack with the correct tool while the shoulders remain half facing and the stance stays stable.
Technical purpose
Walking Stance Inner Forearm Middle Block, called Gunnun So An Palmok Kaunde Makgi in Korean terminology, is an ITF Taekwon-Do defensive technique used to intercept an attack directed toward the middle section. It is performed from Walking Stance using the inner forearm as the blocking tool.
Middle Block, or Kaunde Makgi, protects the middle line of the body. In this technique, the block must be supported by a stable Walking Stance, correct body facing, and a controlled blocking arm. The movement should not be treated as a loose arm swing; it is a structured defensive action that prepares the practitioner to recover or counterattack immediately.
This article is a technical reference. It focuses on the Walking Stance base, inner forearm tool, middle-section protection, half-facing shoulders, opposite-fist withdrawal, and common technical errors.
