Jegichagi
Encyclopedia
Jegichagi is a Korea
n traditional outdoor game
. It requires the use of people's foot and Jegi, an object used to play jegichagi. Jegi looks like a badminton
shuttlecock
, which is made of a small coin
(quarter size), paper, or cloth.
In Korea, children usually play alone or with friends in winter seasons, especially on Lunar New Year
. Briefly explaining the rules, the player kicks a jegi up in the air and keeps on kicking to prevent from falling to the ground. In a one-to-one game, a player with the most number of consecutive kicks wins. In a group game, the players stand in a circle, and take turns kicking the Jegi. Players who fail to kick the Jegi upon receiving it and let it drop to the ground lose. As a penalty, the loser tosses the jegi at the winner so that he can kick it as he wishes. When the loser catches the jegi back with his hands, the penalty ends and he can rejoin the game. This has developed, and people combined two or three materials and made new ways of playing jegichagi. Though Jegichagi used to be a game mostly played in winter
, it has become a year-round game.
Samguk Yusa
, a collection of Korean historical legends, states that Goguryeo
people was good at Cuju
, which was eventually developed to be jegichagi in Korea. Also, it says that Kim Yushin
of Silla
stepped on and tore off Kim Chunchu's otgoreum, two long ribbon ties in Korean traditional costume, under the mask of playing jegichagi and had his sister sew it back on. Through that event, Kim Yushin's sister eventually married and became wife of Kim Chunchu, later Muyeol of Silla
.
1. Fold the paper in half (Horizontally)
2. Place the coin in the middle of the folded paper
3. Fold the paper several times again with the coin still inside the paper
4. Use something pointy to make a hole through the paper (match it with the coin's hole)
5. Insert each end of the folded paper into the hole
6. Unfold the ends and tear it into thinner strands
1. Pile the coins and tape them together
2. Prepare the plastic bag by cutting into a square about ~25 cm wide
3. Place the coin at the middle of the plastic bag
4. Hold the coin inside the plastic bag and tie it using a string
5. Cut the untied part of the plastic bag into thinner strands(~1.5 cm) using scissors.
) into the air using instep of the foot. The winner of the game is the player who kicks jegi the most times without letting it fall.
.
1. Putting into the target: On a 1.6m diameter circle on the ground, draw four smaller circles 20 cm each like archery
target.
Keep distance from the target at least 5m. Within 30 seconds, the player kicks the jegi into the air at least 3 times, then hit the target with the jegi.
From the center, the score is given 120, 90, 60, 30 and if the jegi is not hitting the target, 5 points is given. Players try 3 times with switching the foot each time, the winner is the one who scored the most.
2. Kicking far: Kick the jegi into the air 3 or more times within 30 seconds, then kick the jegi as far as the player can to the front. Repeating 3 times with switching the foot each time, the winner goes to the player with the most score in sum.
3. Putting in a basket: On a pillar with height of 150 cm, set a 20 cm x 20 cm x 20 cm basket. The player kicks the jegi into the air 3 or more times and then kick the jegi into the basket.
4. Running while kicking: 40m single or round trip can be played. For each 10m player runs, the player should switch his foot. If the player drops the jegi, he should go back to the last 10meter-line and continue playing.
5. Jegichagi with performance: In a 5m x 5m square on the ground, each player kicks the jegi with performance. At least 3 judges should watch and the score is given in average of them.
6. Jegi volleyball: 3 to 5 players make a team. Set a net with 120 cm height. Each team players should kick the jegi upon the net to the opposite side. For 3 players' game, the squre should be 5m by 5m, (7m x 7m for 5 players) The rule is very similar to common volleyball. When the player is in defence position, he can use any part of his/her body except hands.
The first team who earn 7 points wins each set, and there are 5 rounds in a game.
2. Ddangganghji(땅강아지): Similar to #1; however, the foot kicking jegi touches the ground each time before kicking again.
3. Left-right foot(우지좌지): Similar to #2, but both feet are used to kick Jegi alternatively with either the inner surface of both feet (or one inner and the other outer)
4. Appchagi(앞차기): Use of the top of the foot to kick jegi.
5. Ditbalchagi(뒷발차기): Use of the top lateral
side of the foot to kick jegi.
6. Kigeegi(키지기): Each lift of Jegi must be higher than one's own height.
7. Mulgeegi(물지기): Continuously kicking jegi and catching it with your mouth.
2. Improves agility
.
3. Improves concentration.
4. Prevents obesity
.
5. Improves patience and stamina
.
The fact that Jegichagi uses muscles you rarely use stimulates the brain coordinated to those rarely used parts. Especially, the movement of right and left side of the body equally uses the right and left brain. Also, which side of the foot you use to kick jegi gives various health benefits to your body. When you use the inner part of your foot, it benefits your kidney
, liver
, and spleen
. Further, when you use the outer part of foot, it benefits your bladder and stomach.
ordered Jegichagi as one of the required activities in physical education
courses in school, usually 3rd or 4th grade.
In August 2011, an American company released a children's toy called Kikbo based on the Jegichagi.
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
n traditional outdoor game
Game
A game is structured playing, usually undertaken for enjoyment and sometimes used as an educational tool. Games are distinct from work, which is usually carried out for remuneration, and from art, which is more often an expression of aesthetic or ideological elements...
. It requires the use of people's foot and Jegi, an object used to play jegichagi. Jegi looks like a badminton
Badminton
Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
shuttlecock
Shuttlecock
A shuttlecock, sometimes called a bird or birdie, is a high-drag projectile used in the sport of badminton. It has an open conical shape: the cone is formed from sixteen or so overlapping feathers, usually goose or duck and from the left wing only, embedded into a rounded cork base...
, which is made of a small coin
Coin
A coin is a piece of hard material that is standardized in weight, is produced in large quantities in order to facilitate trade, and primarily can be used as a legal tender token for commerce in the designated country, region, or territory....
(quarter size), paper, or cloth.
In Korea, children usually play alone or with friends in winter seasons, especially on Lunar New Year
Korean New Year
Korean New Year, commonly known as Seollal , is the first day of the lunar calendar. It is the most important of the traditional Korean holidays. It consists of a period of celebrations, starting on New Year's Day. Koreans also celebrate solar New Year's Day on January 1 each year, following the...
. Briefly explaining the rules, the player kicks a jegi up in the air and keeps on kicking to prevent from falling to the ground. In a one-to-one game, a player with the most number of consecutive kicks wins. In a group game, the players stand in a circle, and take turns kicking the Jegi. Players who fail to kick the Jegi upon receiving it and let it drop to the ground lose. As a penalty, the loser tosses the jegi at the winner so that he can kick it as he wishes. When the loser catches the jegi back with his hands, the penalty ends and he can rejoin the game. This has developed, and people combined two or three materials and made new ways of playing jegichagi. Though Jegichagi used to be a game mostly played in winter
Winter
Winter is the coldest season of the year in temperate climates, between autumn and spring. At the winter solstice, the days are shortest and the nights are longest, with days lengthening as the season progresses after the solstice.-Meteorology:...
, it has become a year-round game.
History
Although there is no written record about the origin of Jegichagi, historical legends states that the game was developed from young martial artists’ training which involved kicking a small leather pouche. Jegichagi has been developed in a different way.Samguk Yusa
Samguk Yusa
Samguk Yusa, or Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms, is a collection of legends, folktales, and historical accounts relating to the Three Kingdoms of Korea , as well as to other periods and states before, during, and after the Three Kingdoms period.The text was written in Classical Chinese, which was...
, a collection of Korean historical legends, states that Goguryeo
Goguryeo
Goguryeo or Koguryŏ was an ancient Korean kingdom located in present day northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula, southern Manchuria, and southern Russian Maritime province....
people was good at Cuju
Cuju
Cuju is an ancient code of football with similarities to association football. It is seen by some to be a forerunner of modern football and originated in China, and was also played in Korea, Japan and Vietnam.-History:...
, which was eventually developed to be jegichagi in Korea. Also, it says that Kim Yushin
Kim Yushin
Kim Yushin was a general in 7th-century Silla. He led the unification of the Korean peninsula by Silla under the reign of King Muyeol of Silla and King Munmu of Silla. He is said to have been the great-grandchild of King Guhae of Geumgwan Gaya, the last ruler of the Geumgwan Gaya state...
of Silla
Silla
Silla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...
stepped on and tore off Kim Chunchu's otgoreum, two long ribbon ties in Korean traditional costume, under the mask of playing jegichagi and had his sister sew it back on. Through that event, Kim Yushin's sister eventually married and became wife of Kim Chunchu, later Muyeol of Silla
Muyeol of Silla
King Taejong Muyeol , born Kim Chunchu, was the 29th monarch of the southern Korean kingdom of Silla and ruled from 654 to 661. He is credited for leading the unification of the Three Kingdoms of Korea...
.
How to Make Jegi
Traditional way to make Jegi
Things to prepare: 1 Korean traditional paper (Hanji), 1 Coin with a hole in the middle(Yeopjeon)1. Fold the paper in half (Horizontally)
2. Place the coin in the middle of the folded paper
3. Fold the paper several times again with the coin still inside the paper
4. Use something pointy to make a hole through the paper (match it with the coin's hole)
5. Insert each end of the folded paper into the hole
6. Unfold the ends and tear it into thinner strands
Easy way to make Jegi http://www.dynamic-korea.com/news/view_news.php?uid=200800239963&main=KTD&sub=HRT&keyword=jegichagi
Things to prepare: plastic bags or wrapping tissue paper, 2~3 coins, string, scissors, and scotch tape.1. Pile the coins and tape them together
2. Prepare the plastic bag by cutting into a square about ~25 cm wide
3. Place the coin at the middle of the plastic bag
4. Hold the coin inside the plastic bag and tie it using a string
5. Cut the untied part of the plastic bag into thinner strands(~1.5 cm) using scissors.
Basic Rule
Players kick the jegi (paper shuttlecockShuttlecock
A shuttlecock, sometimes called a bird or birdie, is a high-drag projectile used in the sport of badminton. It has an open conical shape: the cone is formed from sixteen or so overlapping feathers, usually goose or duck and from the left wing only, embedded into a rounded cork base...
) into the air using instep of the foot. The winner of the game is the player who kicks jegi the most times without letting it fall.
Kinds of Jegichagi
According to Korean Jegichagiai Association, there are 6 kinds of single or multiplayer jegichagi game: Putting into the target, kicking jegi farther, putting in a basket, running while kicking, jegichagi with performance, and jegi volleyballVolleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
.
1. Putting into the target: On a 1.6m diameter circle on the ground, draw four smaller circles 20 cm each like archery
Archery
Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
target.
Keep distance from the target at least 5m. Within 30 seconds, the player kicks the jegi into the air at least 3 times, then hit the target with the jegi.
From the center, the score is given 120, 90, 60, 30 and if the jegi is not hitting the target, 5 points is given. Players try 3 times with switching the foot each time, the winner is the one who scored the most.
2. Kicking far: Kick the jegi into the air 3 or more times within 30 seconds, then kick the jegi as far as the player can to the front. Repeating 3 times with switching the foot each time, the winner goes to the player with the most score in sum.
3. Putting in a basket: On a pillar with height of 150 cm, set a 20 cm x 20 cm x 20 cm basket. The player kicks the jegi into the air 3 or more times and then kick the jegi into the basket.
4. Running while kicking: 40m single or round trip can be played. For each 10m player runs, the player should switch his foot. If the player drops the jegi, he should go back to the last 10meter-line and continue playing.
5. Jegichagi with performance: In a 5m x 5m square on the ground, each player kicks the jegi with performance. At least 3 judges should watch and the score is given in average of them.
6. Jegi volleyball: 3 to 5 players make a team. Set a net with 120 cm height. Each team players should kick the jegi upon the net to the opposite side. For 3 players' game, the squre should be 5m by 5m, (7m x 7m for 5 players) The rule is very similar to common volleyball. When the player is in defence position, he can use any part of his/her body except hands.
The first team who earn 7 points wins each set, and there are 5 rounds in a game.
Different Ways to Play Jegichagi
1. Hullangyi(헐랭이): Use of the inner side of the foot to kick 'jegi' while the other foot balances the body. The foot used to kick jegi should remain in air without touching the ground.2. Ddangganghji(땅강아지): Similar to #1; however, the foot kicking jegi touches the ground each time before kicking again.
3. Left-right foot(우지좌지): Similar to #2, but both feet are used to kick Jegi alternatively with either the inner surface of both feet (or one inner and the other outer)
4. Appchagi(앞차기): Use of the top of the foot to kick jegi.
5. Ditbalchagi(뒷발차기): Use of the top lateral
Lateral
Lateral may refer to:*Lateral , an anatomical direction*Lateral canal, a canal built beside another stream*Lateral consonant, an ℓ-like consonant in which air flows along the sides of the tongue...
side of the foot to kick jegi.
6. Kigeegi(키지기): Each lift of Jegi must be higher than one's own height.
7. Mulgeegi(물지기): Continuously kicking jegi and catching it with your mouth.
What is a good Jegi?
The most important factor of good Jegi is its weight. If it is too light, it is very hard to control Jegi since it falls to the ground before the next kick is ready. However, if it is too heavy, it is hard to kick the jegi high enough. Thus, a good Jegi should be the one of proper weight. (About 10g)Practice using a tied Jegi.
Because it is difficult to do Jegichagi at a first try, it is very helpful to use a tied Jegi. Simply you tie one end of the string to a jegi and the other end to somewhere high enough to hold the jegi in the air. In this way, you can continue hitting it without having to pick up the jegi every time it falls to the ground. Although you fail to kick, the Jegi will always come back to the good position.Practice while holding your pants.
Beginners have a habit of placing the arm towards the front while kicking Jegi with the thought that the arm helps balancing the body. However, it does not. Thus, if you are using the right foot to kick jegi, it is better for your right hand to hold the right side of your pants when doing Jegichagi.Effects of Jegichagi.
1. Improves leg's muscular strength.2. Improves agility
Agility
* Agility is a physical trait of an animal or person, and a component of physical fitness. It is the ability to change the body's position and direction with speed and precision.Agility may also refer to:In Sport:...
.
3. Improves concentration.
4. Prevents obesity
Obesity
Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems...
.
5. Improves patience and stamina
Endurance
Endurance is the ability for a human or animal to exert itself and remain active for a long period of time, as well as its ability to resist, withstand, recover from, and have immunity to trauma, wounds, or fatigue. In humans, it is usually used in aerobic or anaerobic exercise...
.
The fact that Jegichagi uses muscles you rarely use stimulates the brain coordinated to those rarely used parts. Especially, the movement of right and left side of the body equally uses the right and left brain. Also, which side of the foot you use to kick jegi gives various health benefits to your body. When you use the inner part of your foot, it benefits your kidney
Kidney
The kidneys, organs with several functions, serve essential regulatory roles in most animals, including vertebrates and some invertebrates. They are essential in the urinary system and also serve homeostatic functions such as the regulation of electrolytes, maintenance of acid–base balance, and...
, liver
Liver
The liver is a vital organ present in vertebrates and some other animals. It has a wide range of functions, including detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemicals necessary for digestion...
, and spleen
Spleen
The spleen is an organ found in virtually all vertebrate animals with important roles in regard to red blood cells and the immune system. In humans, it is located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. It removes old red blood cells and holds a reserve of blood in case of hemorrhagic shock...
. Further, when you use the outer part of foot, it benefits your bladder and stomach.
Jegichagi Today
In 2000, Korean Jegichagi Association was founded to make new rules in order to fit this traditional game well into today’s generation. Although Jegichagi is well known as many of other famous traditional games in Korea, the game is losing its popularity. In effort to keep traditional Jegichagi alive within children’s mind, the Board of Education in South KoreaSouth Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
ordered Jegichagi as one of the required activities in physical education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
courses in school, usually 3rd or 4th grade.
In August 2011, an American company released a children's toy called Kikbo based on the Jegichagi.
External links
- Dynamic Korea, Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the United States of America.
- Official Seoul City Tourism, Seoul Metropolitan Government
- 엑스포과학공원- ExpoPark INC. "전통제기 만드는법- How to make Traditional Jegi". http://www.expopark.co.kr/. 2010-02-27