Middle punch with kihap

Setup

1. Teach the fist first: roll the fingers in tight and wrap the thumb across the outside, never tucked inside. The two big knuckles (index and middle finger) do the hitting.
2. Students in rows in juchum seogi (horse-riding stance): feet wider than the shoulders, toes forward, knees bent and pushed out over the toes, back upright.
3. Both fists at the hips, palms up. To begin, one arm reaches out to the centre of the chest, ready to pull back.

How it runs

1. Momtong jireugi (middle punch) on count: punch at the height of the centre of the chest, turning the fist palm-down only at the end, while the other fist pulls back to the hip, palm up. Count in Korean: hana, dul, set, net, daseot.
2. Ten punches on count. The tenth gets a kihap: a short, loud shout from the stomach as the punch lands.
3. Pairs: the holder grips the mitt firmly at arm's length in front of their stomach, wrist straight, mitt facing the puncher and away from the face. The puncher says 'Ready?' and waits for 'Ready!'
4. The puncher stands in walking stance and punches the mitt with the arm on the same side as the front leg, with a kihap on every punch. Five on each side.
5. Then step in: the holder takes a small step back, the puncher steps forward into walking stance and punches with a kihap as the foot lands. Five steps, then swap roles.
6. Finish with a class kihap: everyone punches together on the sabeom's call, aiming for one voice.

Coaching points

• The fist turns over only at the very end of the punch.
• The punching hand and pulling hand move at the same time and the same speed.
• Kihap comes from the belly: tighten the stomach and breathe out hard. Short and sharp, not a long scream.
• Shoulders stay down and relaxed; the stance gives the punch its base.
• On the mitt, the wrist stays straight behind the two big knuckles.

Common mistakes

• Thumb tucked inside the fist.
• Wrist bending on contact with the mitt.
• Punching up at face height instead of chest height.
• Kihap arriving after the punch instead of with it.
• The pulling hand left hanging forward.