|
|
Patterns
Patterns are a very important and necessary aspect of
Tae Kwon-Do training. They constitute a major part of the students grading
requirement as they are tested for promotion through the belt ranks of Tae
Kwon-Do.
Patterns consist of a collection of various fundamental movements set in a
specific order.
During the pattern, the practitioner systematically deals with multiple
opponents using an array of different attacking and blocking tools.
Patterns helps a student to practice many of the fundamental movements
required for their grade in series, developing sparring techniques,
improving flexibility, improving balance, mastering body shifting,
strengthening muscles, developing breath control and fluid, smooth,
rhythmical movements.
There are twenty-four patterns in the ITF or Chang-Hon style of Tae Kwon-Do.
There is a very specific reason for there being this number of patterns, as
explained by General Choi Hong Hi in his book "Tae Kwon-Do":
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 aeon in a day.
It is evedent 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 Tae Kwon-Do for mankind as a trace if man in the late 20th
century.
The 24 patterns represent 24 hours, one day, or all my life.
The name of each 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. The meaning of each pattern is as
follows:
|
CHON-JI: |
means
literally "the Heaven the Earth". It is, in the Orient, interpreted as
the creation of the world or the beginning of human history, therefore,
it is the initial pattern played by the beginner. This pattern consists
of two similar parts; one to represent the Heaven and the other the
Earth. |
|
DAN-GUN: |
is
named after the holy Dan-Gun, legendary founder of Korea in the year of
2333 B.C. |
|
DO-SAN: |
is the
pseudonym of the patriot Ahn Chang-Ho (1876-1938). The 24 movements
represent his entire life which he devoted to furthering the education
of Korea and its independence movement. |
|
WON-HYO: |
was the
noted monk who introduced Buddhism to the Silla Dynasty in the year of
686 A.D. |
|
YUL-GOK: |
is the
pseudonym of a great philosopher and scholar Yi I (1536-1584) nicknamed
the "Confucius of Korea". The 38 movements of this pattern refer to his
birthplace on 38 degrees latitude and the diagram represents "scholar".
|
|
JOONG-GUN: |
is
named after the patriot Ahn Joong-Gun who assassinated Hiro-Bumi Ito,
the first Japanese governor-general of Korea, known as the man who
played the leading part in the Korea-Japan merger. There are 32
movements in this pattern to represent Mr Ahn's age when he was executed
at Lui-Shung prison (1910). |
|
TOI-GYE: |
is the
pen name of the noted scholar Yi Hwang (16th century), an authority on
neo-Confucianism. The 37 movements of the pattern refer to his
birthplace on 37 degrees latitude, the diagram represents "scholar" |
|
HWA-RANG: |
is
named after the Hwa-Rang youth group which originated in the Silla
Dynasty in the early 7th century. The 29 movements refer to the 29th
Infanty Division, where Tae Kwon-Do developed into maturity. |
|
CHOONG-MOO: |
was the
name given to the great Admiral Yi Soon-Sin of the Lee Dynasty. He was
reputed to have invented the first armoured battleship (Kobukson) in
1592, which is said to be the precursor of the present day submarine.
The reason why this pattern ends with a left hand attack is to symbolise
his regrettable death, having no chance to show his unrestrained
potentiality checked by the forced reservation of his loyalty to the
king. |
|
KWANG-GAE: |
is
named after the famous Kwang-Gae-Toh-Wang, the 19th King of the Koguryo
Dynasty, who regained all the lost territories including the greater
part of Manchuria. The diagram represents the expansion and recovery of
lost territory. The 39 movements refer to the first two figures of 391
A.D., the year he came to the throne. |
|
PO-EUN: |
is the
pseudonym of a loyal subject Chong Mong-Chu (1400) who was a famous poet
and whose poem "I would not serve a second master though I may be
crucified a hundred times" is known to every Korean. He was also a
pioneer in the field of physics. The diagram represents his unerring
loyalty to the king and country towards the end of the Koryo Dynasty |
|
GE-BAEK: |
is
named after Ge-Baek, a great general in the Baek Je Dynasty (660 A.D.).
The diagram represents his severe and strict military discipline. |
|
EUI-AM: |
is the
pseudonym of Son Byong Hi, leader of the Korean independence movement on
March 1, 1919. The 45 movements refer to his age when he changed the
name of Dong Hak (Oriental Culture) to Chondo Kyo (Heavenly Way
Religion) in 1905. The diagram represents his indomitable spirit,
displayed while dedicating himself to the properity of his nation. |
|
CHOONG-JANG: |
is the
pseudonym given to General Kim Duk Ryang who lived during the Lee
Dynasty, 14th century. This pattern ends with a left-hand attack to
symbolise the tragedy of his death at 27 in prison before he was able to
reach full maturity. |
|
JUCHE: |
is a
philosophical idea that man is the master of everything and decides
everything, in other words, the idea that man is the master of the world
and his own destiny. It is said that this idea was rooted in the Baekdu
Mountain which symbolises the spirit of the Korean people. The diagram
represents Baekdu Mountain |
|
SAM-IL: |
denotes
the historical date of the independence movement of Korea which began
throughout the country on March 1, 1919. The 33 movements in the pattern
stand for the 33 patriots who planned the movement. |
|
YOO-SIN: |
is
named after General Kim Yoo Sin, a commanding general during the Silla
Dynasty. The 68 movements refer to the last two figures of 668 A.D., the
year Korea was united. The ready posture signifies a sword drawn on the
right rather than the left side, symbolising Yoo Sin's mistake of
following his king's orders to fight with foreign forces against his own
nation. |
|
CHOI-YONG: |
is
named after General Choi Yong, Premier and Commander-in-Chief of the
Armed forces during the 14th century Koryo Dynasty. Choi Yong was
greatly respected for his loyalty, patriotism, and humility. His
subordinate commanders headed by General Yi Sung Gae, who later became
the first king of the Lee Dynasty, executed him. |
|
YON-GAE: |
is
named after a famous general during the Koguryo Dynasty, Yon Gae Somoon.
The 49 movements refer to the last two figures of 649 A.D., the year he
forced the Tang Dynasty to quit Korea after destroying nearly 300,000 of
their troops at Ansi Sung. |
|
UL-JI: |
is
named after general Ul-Ji Moon Dok whi successfully defended Korea
against a Tang's invasion force of nearly one million soldiers led by
Yang Je in 612 A.D., Ul-Ji employing hit and run guerilla tactics, was
able to decimate a large percentage of the force. The diagram represents
his surname. The 42 movements represent the authors’ age when he
designed this pattern. |
|
MOON-MOO: |
honors
the 30th king of the Silla Dynasty. His body was buried near Dae Wang Am
(Great King's Rock). According to his will, the body was placed in the
sea "Where my soul shall forever defend my land against the Japanese".
It is said that the Sok Gul Am (Stone Cave) was built to guard his tomb.
The Sok Gul Am is a fine example of the culture of the Silla Dynasty.
The 61 movements in this pattern symbolise the figures of 661 A.D. when
Moon Moo came to the throne. |
|
SO-SAN: |
is the
pseudonym of the great monk Choi Hyong Ung (1520-1604) during the Lee
Dynasty. The 72 movements refer to his age when he organised a corps of
monk soldiers with the assistance of his pupil Sa Myung Dang. The monk
soldiers helped repulse the Japanese pirates who overran most of the
Korean peninsula in 1592. |
|
SE-JONG: |
is
named after the greatest Korean king, Se-Jong, who invented the Korean
alphabet in 1443, and was also a noted meteorologist. The diagram
represents the king, while the 24 movements refer to the 24 letters of
the Korean alphabet. |
|
TONG-IL: |
denotes
the resolution of the unification of Korea which has been divided since
1945. The diagram symbolises the homogenous race. |
|
