Taekwon-Do Patterns
Patterns are various fundamental movements, most of which represent either attack or defence techniques, set to a fixed and logical sequence. There are a total of twenty-four patterns in Taekwon-Do, they represent the twenty-four hours of the day. The name of the pattern, the number of movements, and the diagrammatic symbol of each pattern symbolises either heroic figures in Korean history or instances relating to historical events.
Saju Jirugi 10th Kup White Belt
Saju Makgi 10th Kup White Belt
Chon-Ji Tul 9th Kup Yellow Tag
Dan-Gun Tul 8th Kup Yellow Belt
Do-San Tul 7th Kup Green Tag
Won-Hyo Tul 6th Kup Green Belt
Yul-Gok Tul 5th Kup Blue Tag
Joong-Gun Tul 4th Kup Blue Belt
Toi-Gye Tul 3rd Kup Red Tag
Hwa-Rang Tul 2nd Kup Red Belt
Choong-Moo Tul 1st Kup Black Tag
I
Kwang-Gae Tul 1st Degree Black Belt
Po-Eun Tul 1st Degree Black Belt
Ge-Baek Tul 1st Degree Black Belt
II
Juche Tul 2nd Degree Black Belt
Ko-Dang Tul 2nd Degree Black Belt (veterans)
Eui-Am Tul 2nd Degree Black Belt
Choong-Jang Tul 2nd Degree Black Belt
III
Sam-Il Tul 3rd Degree Black Belt
Yoo-Sin Tul 3rd Degree Black Belt
Choi-Yong Tul 3rd Degree Black Belt
IV
Yong-Ge Tul 4th Degree Black Belt
Ul-Ji Tul 4th Degree Black Belt
Moon-Moo Tul 4th Degree Black Belt
V
So-San Tul 5th Degree Black Belt
Se-Jong Tul 5th Degree Black Belt
VI
Tong-Il Tul 6th Degree Black Belt
Rules to be applied when performing patterns:
1: Patterns should begin and end at exactly the same spot. This will indicate the performers accuracy.
2: Correct posture and facing must be maintained at all times.
3: Muscles of the body should be either tensed or relaxed at the proper critical moments in the exercise.
4: The exercise should be performed in a rhythmic movement with an absence of stiffness.
5: Movement should be accelerated or decelerated according to instruction from your Instructor.
6: Each pattern should be perfected before moving to the next.
7: Students should know the purpose of each movement.
8: Students should perform each movement with realism.
9: Attack and defence techniques should be equally distributed among right and left hands and feet.
. . . more Tul history
The ancient law in the Orient was similar to the law of Hamurabi, “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”, and was rigorously enforced even if death was caused accidentally.
In this type of environment, and since the present system of free sparring had not yet been developed, it was impossible for a student of the martial arts to practice or test their individual skill of attack and defence against actual moving opponents.
Individual advancement was certainly hindered untill an imaginative practitioner created the first patterns.
Patterns are various fundamental movements, most of which represent either attack or defence techniques, set to a fixed and logical sequence.
The student systematically deals with several imaginary opponents under various assumptions using every available attacking and blocking tools from different directions. Thus pattern practice enables the student to go through many fundamental movements in series, to develop sparring techniques, improve flexibility of movements, master body shifting, build muscles and breath control, develop fluid and smooth motions, and gain rythmical movements.
It also enables a student to acquire certain special techniques which cannot be obtained from either fundamental exercises or sparring. In short, pattern can be compared with a unit tactic or a word if fundamental movement is an individual soldier’s training or alphabet. Accordingly pattern, the ledger of every movement, is a series of sparring, power test, feats and characteristic beauty.
Though sparring may merely indicate that an opponent is more or less advanced, patterns are a more critical barometer in evaluating an individuals technique.
The Reason for 24 Patterns
The life of a human being, perhaps 100 years, can be considered as a day when compared with eternity. Therefore, we mortals are no more than simple travelers who pass by the eternal years of an eon in a day. It is evident that no one can live more than a limited amount of time. Nevertheless, most people foolishly enslave themselves to materialism as if they could live for thousands of years.
And some people strive to bequeath a good spiritual legacy for coming generations, in this way, gaining immortality. Obviously, the spirit is perpetual while material is not; therefore, what we can do to leave behind something for the welfare of mankind is, perhaps, the most important thing in our lives.
Here I leave Taekwon-Do for mankind as a trace of man of the late 20th century. The 24 patterns represent 24 hours, one day, or all my life. The name of the pattern, the number of movements, and the diagrammatic symbol of each pattern symbolizes either heroic figures in Korean history or instances relating to historical events.
General Choi, Hong Hi
Reproduced, with permission, from “Taekwon-Do (The Korean Art of Self Defense)” also known as “The Condensed Encyclopedia.”
Fifth Edition 1999, All rights reserved
Copyright 1988, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1999 General Choi, Hong Hi