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Fundamental exercise

Saju Maki 사주 막기

Four Direction Block
8 × 2 sides Narani junbi sogi 10th Gup · White belt

Meaning

The counterpart of Saju Jirugi, built around defence. Each direction is covered twice: first with a knife-hand low block while stepping back, then with a middle side inner-forearm block while stepping in. It is likewise practised to both sides.

Structure

  • 1–2Direction D: knife-hand low block, then middle side inner-forearm block.
  • 3–8The same pair repeated toward B, toward C and toward A.

What it is for

The knife-hand low block cuts a low kick with a narrower, more penetrating surface than the forearm.

The inner forearm block deflects a middle attack outward, opening the opponent's flank.

Common mistakes

  • Blocking with an open but soft hand: the fingers must be together and the wrist firm.
  • Turning the whole body on the side block instead of keeping it slightly sideways.

Movement by movement

The left-hand column shows where you face and which stance you form, seen from above; the red foot carries the greater weight. See the direction chart in the Encyclopedia if you cannot remember where each letter falls.

Right-foot version

1
D
Gunnun So Sonkal Najunde Maki
Knife-hand low block to D
right foot → C Left walking stance
2
D
Gunnun So An Palmok Kaunde Maki
Middle side block with the inner forearm to D
right foot → D Right walking stance
3
B
Gunnun So Sonkal Najunde Maki
Knife-hand low block to B
right foot → A Left walking stance
4
B
Gunnun So An Palmok Kaunde Maki
Middle side block with the inner forearm to B
right foot → B Right walking stance
5
C
Gunnun So Sonkal Najunde Maki
Knife-hand low block to C
right foot → D Left walking stance
6
C
Gunnun So An Palmok Kaunde Maki
Middle side block with the inner forearm to C
right foot → C Right walking stance
7
A
Gunnun So Sonkal Najunde Maki
Knife-hand low block to A
right foot → B Left walking stance
8
A
Gunnun So An Palmok Kaunde Maki
Middle side block with the inner forearm to A
right foot → A Right walking stance
End: bring the left foot back to return to Narani junbi sogi

Left-foot version

1
D
Gunnun So Sonkal Najunde Maki
Knife-hand low block to D
left foot → C Right walking stance
2
D
Gunnun So An Palmok Kaunde Maki
Middle side block with the inner forearm to D
left foot → D Left walking stance
3
A
Gunnun So Sonkal Najunde Maki
Knife-hand low block to A
left foot → B Right walking stance
4
A
Gunnun So An Palmok Kaunde Maki
Middle side block with the inner forearm to A
left foot → A Left walking stance
5
C
Gunnun So Sonkal Najunde Maki
Knife-hand low block to C
left foot → D Right walking stance
6
C
Gunnun So An Palmok Kaunde Maki
Middle side block with the inner forearm to C
left foot → C Left walking stance
7
B
Gunnun So Sonkal Najunde Maki
Knife-hand low block to B
left foot → A Right walking stance
8
B
Gunnun So An Palmok Kaunde Maki
Middle side block with the inner forearm to B
left foot → B Left walking stance
End: bring the left foot back to return to Narani junbi sogi
Source

Summarised from Choi Hong Hi, Encyclopedia of Taekwon-Do, volume VIII. The order of movements and the diagram follow the book; the explanatory texts and the footwork schematics are our own work.