ITF Taekwondo Theory Quiz

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    ITF Taekwon-Do

    Vital Spots

    급소

    A vital spot in Taekwon-Do is any sensitive or breakable area on the body vulnerable to attack. Knowledge of these spots lets the student choose the proper attacking or blocking tool — indiscriminate attack is inefficient and wasteful of energy.

    Tap a marker

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    Tap any numbered marker to see its name and Korean term.

    High section (face & neck)
    Middle section (torso)
    Low section (pelvis & legs)
    Limbs / joints

    Stylised diagram — coordinates are approximate. Refer to Vol. 2 for the encyclopedia's anatomical illustrations.

    Major

    Injury can lead to death or permanent disability.

    Minor

    Injury is not life-threatening but will cause pain and temporary disability.

    How the body is divided

    High Section

    Nopun BoobunAbove the neck. Reference vital spot: philtrum (Injoong).

    Middle Section

    Kaundye BoobunBetween the shoulders and umbilicus. Reference vital spot: solar plexus (Myong Chi).

    Low Section

    Najun BoobunBelow the umbilicus. Reference vital spot: groin (Sataguni).

    Extremities & joints

    —Arm and leg joints not strictly within high/middle/low — but valid targets for joint locks and disabling strikes.

    Front view(34)

    Spots visible from the front of the body.

    1. 1

      Skull

      high

    2. 2

      Temple

      high

    3. 3

      Bridge of the nose

      high

    4. 4

      Eyeball

      high

    5. 5

      Mastoid

      high

      Hoo-i-boo

    6. 6

      Mandibula

      high

      Tok Gwanjol

    7. 7

      Philtrum

      high

    8. 8

      Jaw

      high

      Yop Tok

    9. 9

      Point of the chin

      high

    10. 10

      Lips

      high

      Ipsul

    11. 11

      Angle of the mandible

      high

      Wii Tok

    12. 12

      Upper neck

      high

      Witmok

    13. 13

      Adam's apple

      high

    14. 14

      Windpipe

      high

    15. 15

      Clavicle

      middle

      Swe Gol

    16. 16

      Thenar

      limb

      Umjigoo

    17. 17

      Radial artery

      limb

      Mackbak Sonmok Dongmaek

    18. 18

      Back wrist artery

      limb

      Dung Sonmok Dongmaek

    19. 19

      Wrist joint

      limb

    20. 20

      Shoulder joint

      limb

      Eukke Gwanjol

    21. 21

      Nose

      high

      Kotdung

    22. 22

      Neck artery

      high

      Mok Dongmaek

    23. 23

      Sternum

      middle

    24. 24

      Heart

      middle

    25. 25

      Solar plexus

      middle

      Myong Chi

    26. 26

      Spleen

      middle

    27. 27

      Liver

      middle

    28. 28

      Epigastrium

      middle

      Sang Bokboo

    29. 29

      Umbilicus

      middle

      Baekkob

    30. 30

      Lower abdomen

      low

      Ha Bokboo

    31. 31

      Pubic region

      low

      Chiboo

    32. 32

      Groin

      low

    33. 33

      Scrotum

      low

      Nang Shim

    34. 34

      Instep

      limb

    Back view(9)

    Spots accessible from behind.

    1. 35

      Occiput

      high

      Hoodoo

    2. 36

      Cervix

      high

      Gyong Boo

    3. 37

      Upper back

      middle

      Gyou Gap

    4. 38

      Small of the back

      low

      Gyong Chu

    5. 39

      Kidney

      low

    6. 40

      Coccyx

      low

    7. 41

      Fossa

      limb

      Ogum

    8. 42

      Achilles tendon

      limb

    9. 43

      Ankle joint

      limb

    Side / joint detail(6)

    Joints and side-view spots.

    1. 44

      Elbow joint

      limb

    2. 45

      Armpit

      middle

    3. 46

      Floating ribs

      middle

    4. 47

      Knee joint

      limb

    5. 48

      Inner thigh

      limb

    6. 49

      Tibia

      limb

    Source: Encyclopedia of Taekwon-Do, Gen. Choi Hong Hi, Vol. 2, p. 88. The encyclopedia's anatomical diagrams (front, back, side views with numbered spots) are not reproduced here — refer to Vol. 2 directly for visual context.

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