| Jegichagi | |
.jpg) U.S. Navy crew playingjegichagi with Korean students | |
| Korean name | |
|---|---|
| Hangul | 제기차기 |
| Revised Romanization | Jegichagi |
| McCune–Reischauer | Chegich'agi |
Jegichagi is aKorean traditional outdoorgame in which players kick a paperjegi into the air and attempt to keep it aloft. Ajegi is similar to ashuttlecock, and is made from paper wrapped around a smallcoin.
In Korea, children usually play alone or with friends in winter seasons, especially onKorean New Year. Briefly explaining the rules, the player kicks ajegi 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 consecutive kicks wins. In a group game, the players stand in a circle, and take turns kicking thejegi. Players who fail to kick thejegi upon receiving it and let it drop to the ground lose. As a penalty, the loser tosses thejegi at the winner so that he can kick it as he wishes. When the loser catches thejegi back with his hands, the penalty ends and he can rejoin the game.[1] This has developed, and people combined two or three materials and made new ways of playingjegichagi. Though the game was traditionally mostly played inwinter, it has become a year-round game.
Although there is no written record about the origin ofjegichagi, historical legends states that the game was developed from young martial artists’ training which involved kicking a small leather pouch.Jegichagi has been developed in a different way.[2]
According toSamguk Yusa, the ancient Korean record, the people ofGoguryeo were skilled at playingCuju, the Chinese game of kicking a ball.Jegichagi evolved with the influence fromCuju that was widely played in Korea at this time.Kim Yushin ofSilla stepped on and tore offKim Chunchu's otgoreum, two long ribbon ties in Korean traditional costume, under the mask of playingjegichagi and had his sister sew it back on. Through that event, Kim Yushin's sister eventually married and became wife ofKim Chunchu, laterMuyeol of Silla.[3]
In 2000, Korean Jegichagi Association was founded to make new rules in order to fit this traditional game well into today’s generation. Althoughjegichagi is well known as many of other famous traditional games in Korea, the game is losing its popularity. In effort to keep traditionaljegichagi alive within children’s mind, the Board of Education inSouth Korea orderedjegichagi as one of the required activities inphysical education courses in school, usually 3rd or 4th grade.
In August 2011, an American company released a children's toy called Kikbo based onjegichagi.[4]
Traditionally, ajegi is made by taking a coin with a hole through the middle, and a sheet ofhanji paper.[5] The paper is folded in half, the coin is placed in the middle of the folded paper, and the paper is folded several times again with the coin still inside the paper. A sharp object is then used to pierce a hole through the paper, also passing through the hole in the coin. Each end of the folded paper is then inserted into the hole, and the ends of the paper are unfolded and torn into strands.
A simpler method is to place a small pile or two or three coins in the centre of a 25 cm square cut from aplastic bag ortissue paper. The paper is bunched around the coins, and the coins are tied in place with string or arubber band. The loose part of the bag or paper is then cut into strands.[6]
The most important factor of goodjegi is its weight, which should be around 10 grams (0.35 oz). If it is too light, it is very hard to controljegi since it falls to the ground before the next kick is ready. However, if it is too heavy, it is hard to kick thejegi high enough.
Players kick thejegi into the air using inner side of the foot. The winner of the game is the player who kicksjegi the most times without letting it fall to the ground.
Other ways to play include:
A way to practicejegichagi is to use a tiedjegi, where a length of string ties thejegi to a fixed point such that it hangs in the air. In this way, a player can continue hitting it without having to pick up thejegi every time it falls to the ground.
Beginners have a habit of placing the arm towards the front while kickingjegi with the thought that the arm helps balancing the body. However, it does not. When using the right foot to kickjegi, it is better for the right hand to be held at the hip.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
