Being a traditional martial art, instruction in Kuk Sool is given in Korean as well as the native tongue of the Student. Below is some of the terminology used in Kuk Sool. Because Korean (Han Gul, the great language) uses a different alphabet than English, the spellings below are only phonetic approximations. Please consult with a native Korean speaker for proper pronunciation.
Basic Terms
| Ye Ui; Etiquette | Ui Bok; Clothing | |
| Gyeong Rye; Salute, Bow | Su Ryeon; Practice | |
| Cha Ryeo; Attention | Geuman; Stop | |
| Jeong Jwa; Proper Sitting (Kneeling) | Swi-eo; Rest | |
| Junbi; Ready | Ki; Internal Life Force | |
| Si Jak; Begin | Gi Cho Jja gi; Breathing Exercises that Wring Out Ki | |
| Kkeut; Finish (Completion) | Gihap; Special Yell utilizing Ki Energy | |
| Baro; Straight Alignment (Used for Signaling a Return to Upright Posture After Bowing) | Sumswigi; Breathing | |
| Do Jang; Practice Hall | Mompulgi; Body Conditioning Exercises | |
| Do Bok; Uniform | Guk Gi; National Flag | |
| Tti; Belt | Won Gi; Kuk Sool Association Flag |
Names and Titles
| Kuk Sa Nim; Grandmaster (10th degree Black Belt) {literally: National Teacher} | ||
| Chong Kwan Jang Nim; Chiefmaster (9th degree Black Belt) | Je Ja; Martial Arts Apprentice, Disciple | |
| Kwan Jang Nim; Master (5th, 6th, 7th, 8th degree Black Belt) |
Dan Bo Nim; Black Belt Candidate (Black-Brown Belt) | |
| Sa Beom Nim; Instructor (4th degree Black Belt) | Ja Tti; Brown Belt | |
| Bu Sa Beom Nim; Deputy Instructor (3rd degree Black Belt) | Hong Tti; Red Belt | |
| Gyo Sa Nim; Assistant Instructor (2nd degree Black Belt) | Cheong Tti; Blue Belt | |
| Jo Gyo Nim; Instructor-in-Training (1st degree Black Belt) | No-Ran Tti; Yellow Belt | |
| Yu Dan Ja; Black Belt Holder | Huin Tti; White Belt | |
Counting
| Il; First | Ha-Na; One | Seu Mul; Twenty | ||
| Ee ; Second | Dul ; Two | Seo Reun ; Thirty | ||
| Sam ; Third | Set ; Three | Ma Heun ; Forty | ||
| Sa ; Fourth | Net ; Four | Swin ; Fifty | ||
| O ; Fifth | Da Seot ; Five | Ye Soon ; Sixty | ||
| Yuk ; Sixth | Yeo Seot ; Six | Il Heun ; Seventy | ||
| Chil ; Seventh | Il Gop ; Seven | Yue Deun ; Eighty | ||
| Pal ; Eighth | Yeo Deol ; Eight | A-Heun ; Ninety | ||
| Gu ; Ninth | A-Hop ; Nine | Baek ; One Hundred | ||
| Sip ; Tenth | Yeol ; Ten |
Parts of the Body
| Son; Hand | Pal Kkum Chi; Elbow | |
| Bal; Foot | Eo Kkae; Shoulder | |
| Da-Ri; Leg | An Son Mok; Inside of Wrist | |
| Mu-Reup; Knee | Bal Deung; Ridge on Top of Foot | |
| Son Mok; Wrist (Hands Neck) | Maek; Vital Point | |
| Bal Kkum Chi; Heel | Hyeol; Acupuncture/Acupressure Point |
Directions and Movements
| Ap; Front | Ban-Dae-Ro; The Other Way, Other Side | |
| Yeop; Side | Yeok; Reverse, Inverted | |
| Dwi; Back, Rear | Dol Ah; Spinning, Turning | |
| Ahn; Inside | Dwi Ro Dol Ah; Turn Around, About Face | |
| Ttwi-Eo; Jumping | Sang; High | |
| Hoe Jeon; Rolling, Rotating | Jung; Middle | |
| Yang; Both | Ha; Low | |
| Ssang; Double, Twin |
Historical Martial Arts
| Sa Do Mu Sool; Tribal or Family Martial Art |
| Bul Gyo Mu Sool; Martial Art practiced in the Buddhist Temples |
| Gung Jung Mu Sool; Martial Art of the Royal Court |
Martial Art Animals
| Ho-Rang-I; Tiger | Sa Ma Gwi; Praying Mantis | |
| Dok-Su-Ri; Eagle | Yong; Dragon | |
| Baem; Snake | Hak; Crane |
Ja Se (Stances)
| Gong Kyeok Ja Se; Offensive Position | Gi Ma Ja Se; Horse-Riding Stance | |
| Bang Eo Ja Se; Defensive Position | Jeon Gul Ja Se; Long Stance with Bent Front-Leg | |
| Gul Gok Ja Se; Crouching Stance (a.k.a. Back Stance or Cat Stance) | ||
Soo Gi (Hand Techniques)
| Jeong Gwon; Straight Fist (Punch) | Soo Do; Knife Hand | |
| Yeok Gwon; Inverted Fist (Uppercut) | Yeok Soo Do; Inverted Knife Hand | |
| Gak Gwon; Back Fist | Ssang Soo Do; Double Knife Hand | |
| Il Ji Gwon; 1-Finger (i.e. Knuckle) Fist | Hoe Jeon Soo Do; Rolling Knife Hand | |
| Sa Ji Gwon; 4-Knuckle Fist | Pyeong Soo; Palm Strike | |
| Jung Ji Gwon; Middle-Knuckle Fist | Ssang Pyeong Soo; Double Palm Strike | |
| Sa Ma Gwi Gwon; Praying Mantis Fist | Son Deung Pyeong Soo; Backhand Strike | |
| Sa Ma Gwi Mak-Gi; Praying Mantis Block | Gwan Soo; Spear Hand | |
| Sip Ja Mak-Gi; Four-Direction Block | Pal Kkum Chi Chi-Gi; Elbow Strike | |
| Gam-A Mak-Gi; Entangling Block | Ho Gwon; Tiger Claw Strike | |
| Ap Dwi Soo Gi; Front & Rear Punching Drill | Ho Gu Gwon; Tiger’s Mouth Grip | |
| Jwa Woo Jeong Gwon Dwi Soo Do; 1-2 Punch, Spinning Knife Hand (Combination) | ||
Jok Sool (Leg Techniques or Kicking)
| Ap Cha Gi; Front Kick | Ap Cha Ol Ri Gi; Projection Kick (using Straight Leg) | |
| Yeop Cha Gi; Side Kick | Hoo Ri Gi; Foot Sweep | |
| Dwi Cha Gi; Back Kick | Jjik Eo Cha Gi; Axe Kick | |
| An Da Ri Cha Gi; Inner Leg Kick | Bal Deung Cha Gi; Round Kick (Striking with Top of Foot) | |
| Ba Kkat Da Ri Cha Gi; Outer Leg Kick | Bal Kkum Chi Cha Gi; Hook Kick (Striking with Point of Heel) | |
| Dol-A Cha Gi; Spin Kick | Dwi Dol-A Yeop Cha Gi; Backward Turning Side Kick | |
| Sang Dan Dol-A Cha Gi; High Spin Kick | Yeok Bal Deung Cha Gi; Inverted Round Kick | |
| Ha Dan Dol-A Cha Gi; Low Spin Kick | An Kkum Chi Dol Ri Gi; Inside HeelKick (Toes Turned Outward) | |
| Mu Reup Cha Gi; Knee Kick | Ttwi Eo Cha Gi; Jumping Kicks |
Nak Beop (Falling Principles)
| Ap Nak Beop; Front Fall | Hoe Jeon Nak Beop; Rolling Fall | |
| Dwi Nak Beop; Back Fall | Go Yang I Nak Beop; Cat Roll | |
| Yeop Nak Beop; Side Fall | Du Son Pung Cha; 2-Hand Cartwheel | |
| Ah Yeop Nak Beop; Twisting Fall (Sideways Front Fall) | Han Son Pung Cha; 1-Hand Cartwheel | |
| Pung Cha; Windmill (Cartwheel) | Pal Kkum Chi Pung Cha; Elbow Cartwheel | |
| Gong Jung Nak Beop; High Fall (in Mid-Air) | Gong Jung Pung Cha; Aerial Cartwheel |
Moo Gi (Weapons)
| Gum; Sword | Chang; Spear | |
| Dan Gum; Short Sword | Do Kki; Battle Axe | |
| Kal Gum; Knife | Gung Sool; Archery | |
| Dan Do; Knife or Short Sword | Jul Bong; Flail (Jointed Staff) | |
| Wol Do; Halberd (Moon Knife) | Sam Jul Bong; Three Sectioned Staff | |
| Gung Si; Bow & Arrow | Dan Bong; Short Staff | |
| Bu Chae; Fan | Jung Bong; Middle Staff | |
| Ji Pang I; Walking Cane | Jang Bong; Long Staff | |
| Po Bak; Rope | Kuk (Sool) Gung; Traditional Korean Archery (utilizing a thumb draw) |
Greetings and Phrases
| An Nyoung Ha Sim Ni Kka; Hello / Hi / How Are You |
| An Nyoung Hee Ga Sip Si Yo; Goodbye / Go Safely |
| Su Go Haet Seum Ni Da; You Worked Hard |
| Gam Sa Ham Ni Da; Thank You |
| Cheon Man Eh Yo; You’re Welcome |
| Su Ryeon Kkeut; Practice Finished |