Sonkal Najunde Makgi
Literally: low knife-hand block
A low knife-hand block against attacks at the low level; in ITF Taekwon-Do already practised by white belts at 10th gup.
Quick Facts
⚠️ Common Mistakes
The arm forms too sharp an angle, the wrist is not aligned, or the blocking surface is not extended enough.
💡 Key Tip
In preparation bring the wrists together back to back roughly at chest to floating-rib height, and only from there lead the knife-hand down.
Katas containing this technique
About
Sonkal najunde makgi, literally low knife-hand block, is in ITF Taekwon-Do a block with the knife-hand (sonkal) at the low level (najunde). It protects the lower trunk, the lower abdomen, against descending or sweeping attacks. In the grading syllabus of the New Zealand club Tiger Taekwon-Do it is already placed at white belt level (10th gup). From the preparatory position, with the wrists together back to back roughly at chest to floating-rib height, the knife-hand travels down into the block. ITF terminology distinguishes from it the directional variants sonkal najunde bakuro makgi, outward block, and sonkal najunde anuro makgi, inward block, which are led as separate techniques. In the tul Ge-Baek (ITF) it is the 21st movement, a low block with the left knife-hand.