Sonnal Makgi
손날막기
Literally: knife-hand block
A block with the knife-edge of the hand, in WT taekwondo performed by default from inside out; it appears often in the poomsae Taegeuk.
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Katas containing this technique
About
Sonnal makgi (손날막기), literally knife-hand block, blocks with the little-finger edge of the palm, between its base and the wrist, thumb tucked to the palm. Its default direction runs inside to outside; other directions are named separately — downward, upward, inward, each also supported by the other hand. Kukkiwon terminology likewise lists sonnal geodeureo makgi, a knife-hand block supported by the other arm, as its own technique. Unlike arae makgi or eolgul makgi, which block with the forearm's outer side, sonnal makgi uses the edge of the hand. In poomsae the elbow opens a bit past a hundred and twenty degrees during the block, and the edge of the hand often appears in the poomsae Taegeuk both as a block and a strike. In self-defence the lead hand presses its edge to the attacker's throat while the other pulls his wrist; the same motion frees a grip.