Forms, or Poomses in Korean language, are a
series of defending and attacking movements
performed against imaginary opponents in a
set pattern. Through the practice of forms,
students come to learn the applications of
various techniques of Taekwondo. Forms serve
a multi-dimensional role, aiding in
development and refinement of coordination,
balance, timing, breath control and rhythm,
all of which are essential skills to the
Taekwondo student.
Poomse's
W.T.F. uses Poomses for patterns. Poomses
originate from the book 'I Ching', a Chinese
oracle. The I Ching has 64 hexagrams, a
combination of two sets of three lines,
closed or broken. The sets of three lines
are called trigrams. The closed lines
represent Yang, the open lines Yin. In the
chinese language, the unity of Yin and Yang
is called 'taich'i'. In the Korean language,
the unity is called T'ae-guk. This
explains the term Poomse Taeguk. The eight
trigrams together are called Pal-gwe
as in Poomse Palgwe...
Poomse Taeguk/Palgwe Il
Jang -- Heaven
(South, Father) The first
Taeguk/Palgwe is the beginning of all
Poomses. The associated trigram represents
Yang (heaven, light), therefore, this
Poomse should be performed with the
greatness of Heaven.
Poomse Taeguk/Palgwe Ee
Jang -- Lake
(South East, Youngest daughter) In
the depths of the lake are treasures and
mysteries. The movements of this
Taeguk/Palgwe should be performed knowing
that man has limitations, but that we can
overcome these limitations. This should
lead to a feeling of joy, knowing that we
can control our future.
Poomse Taeguk/Palgwe
Sam Jang -- Fire
(East, Second daughter) Fire
contains a lot of energy. Fire helped man
to survive, but on the other hand had some
catastrophical results. This form should
be performed rhythmically, with some
outbursts of energy.
Poomse Taeguk/Palgwe Sa
Jang -- Thunder
(North East, Eldest son) Thunder
comes from the sky and is absorbed by the
earth. Thunder is one of the most powerful
natural forces, circling, gyrating. This
Taeguk/Palgwe should be performed with
this in mind.
Poomse Taeguk/Palgwe Oh
Jang -- Wind
(South West, Eldest daughter) Wind
is a gently force, but can sometimes be
furious, destroying everything in it's
path. Poomse Taeguk/Palgwe Oh Jang should
be performed like the wind: gently, but
knowing the ability of mass destruction
with a single movement.
Poomse Taeguk/Palgwe
Yook Jang -- Water
(West, Second son) Water can move a
mountain. The movements of this Poomse
should be performed like water. Sometimes
standing still like water in a lake,
sometimes thriving as a river.
Poomse Taeguk/Palgwe
Chil Jang -- Mountain
(North West, Youngest son)
Mountains will always look majestic, no
matter the size. This Poomse should be
performed with the feeling that all
movements are this majestic and deserved
to be praised.
Poomse Taeguk/Palgwe
Pal Jang -- Earth
(North, Mother) The associated
trigram of this Poomse is Yin: the end of
the beginning, the evil part of all that
is good. Even in this darkness, there is
still some light. Performing this
Taeguk/Palgwe, one should be aware that
this is the last Taeguk/Palgwe to be
learned, it also is the end of a circle,
and therefore it is also the first, the
second etc...
Both Palgwe's and Taeguk's are numbered
from one to eight. After this point, there
is no longer a difference between the
patterns. The patterns below follow the
Poomse Taeguks as well as the Poomse
Palgwes.
Poomse Koryo
Koryo (Korea) is the name of an old
Korean Dynasty. The people from the
Koryo-period defeated the Mongolian
aggressors. Their spirit is reflected in
the movements of the Poomse Koryo. Each
movement of this Poomse represents the
strength and energy needed to control the
Mongols.
Poomse Keumgang
The definition of Keumgang is "Too
h3 to be broken", or
"diamond". The movements of the
Poomse Keumgang are as beautiful as the
Keumgang-san (a Korean mountain) and as h3
as Keumgang-seok (diamond).
Poomse TaeBaek
The legendary 'Dangoon' founded a
nation in Taebaek, near Korea's biggest
mountain Baekdoo. Baekdoo is a symbol for
Korea. The definition of Taebaek is
"lightness". Every movement in
this Poomse must not only be exact en
fast, but with determination and hardness.
Poomse Pyongwon
The definition of Pyongwon is
"stretch, vast plain": big,
majestic.
Poomse Sipjin
Sipjin stands for decimal. This Poomse
represents the orderliness of the decimal
system. It also means the endless
development and growth in a systematic
order: stability.
Poomse Jitae
Jitae is derived from the meaning of
the earth. All things evolve from and
return to the earth, the earth is the
beginning and the end of life.
Poomse Cheonkwon
Cheonkwon means 'sky'. The sky should
be seen as ruler of the universe. It is
both mysterious, infinite and profound.
The motions of Cheonkwon are full of piety
and vitality.
Poomse Hansoo
This poomse is derived from the
fluidity of water which easily adapts
within nature.
Poomse Ilyo
The state of spiritual cultivation in
Buddhism is called 'Ilyo' which means more
or less 'oneness'. In Ilyo, body and mind,
spirit and substance, I and you are
unified. The ultimate ideal of taekwondo
can be found in this state. It is a
discipline in which we concentrate on
every movement leaving all materialistics
thoughts, obsessions and extermal
influences behind.
Tul's
I.T.F. has 24 patterns (or Tul)
representing the 24 hours of the day, or the
whole of a man's life. There are 10 patterns
for the first black belt, at which point the
member moves from being a 'beginner' to a
'novice'.
The primary difference between I.T.F. and
W.T.F. (from looking to the two) is that
I.T.F. uses a 'stepping' movement for all
hand techniques.
Contributed by John Browne.
This 'stepping motion' that the I.T.F.
utilizes is referred to by I.T.F.
practioners as "Sinewave",
"Knee Spring" or "up/down
Motion". It causes the body to move in
a "sine wave" resulting in the
whole body being involved at the moment of
impact, blocking or attacking.
This techniques us not just used for
hand-techniques. It is used in I.T.F.
kicking techniques as well.
Chon-Ji Tul (19
movements)
Literally means heaven and 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 Tul (21
movements)
Dan Gun is named after the Holy Dan
Gun, the legendary founder of Korea in the
year 2333 B.C..
Do-San Tul (24
movements)
Do-San is a pseudonym of the patriot
Ahn Chang-Ho (1876 - 1938). The 24
movements represent his entire life which
he devoted to furthering education in
Korea and the Korean independence
movement.
Won-Hyo Tul (28
movements)
Won-Hyo was the noted monk who
introduced Buddhism to the Silla Dynasty
in the year 686 AD.
Yul-Gok Tul (38
movements)
Yul-Gok is a 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
degree latitude and the diagram of the
pattern represents scholar.
Joon-Gun Tul (32
movements)
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 patter to
represent Mr Ahn's age when he was
executed at Lui-Shung in 1910.
Toi-Gye Tul (37
movements)
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 degree latitude, the
diagram represent "scholar".
Hwa-Rang Tul (29
movements)
Hwa Rang is named after the Haw Rang
youth group which originated in the Silla
Dynasty in the early 7th century. The 29
movements refer to the 29th infantry
Division, where Taekwondo developed into
maturity.
Choong-Moo Tul (30
movements)
Choong-Moo was the name given to the
great Admiral Yi Soon-Sin of the Yi
Dynasty. He was reputed to have invented
the first armored battleship (Kobukson) in
1592, which is said to be the precursor of
the present day submarine. This pattern
ends with a left hand attack, to symbolize
his regrettable death. He was noted for
his unrestrained loyalty to the King.
Kwang-Gae Tul (39
movements)
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 represent the
expansion and recovery of lost territory.
The 39 movements refer to the first two
figures of 391 AD, the year he came to the
throne.
Po-Eun Tul (36
movements)
Po-Eun is the pseudonym of a loyal
subject Chong-Mong-Chu (1400) who was a
famous poet and who's poem "I would
not serve a second master though I might
be crucified a hundred time" is know
to every Korean. He was also a pioneer in
the field of physics. The diagram
represent his unerring loyalty to the king
and country towards the end of the Koryo
Dynasty.
Ge-Baek Tul (44
Movements)
Ge-Baek is named after Ge-Baek, a great
general in the Baek-Je Dynasty (660AD).
The diagram represents his severe and
strict military discipline.
Eui-Am Tul (45
Movements)
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
his 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 prosperity of
his nation.
Choong-Jang Tul (52
Movements)
Choong-Jang is the pseudonym given to
General Kim Duk Ryang who lived during the
Yi 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 Tul (45
Movements)
Juche is a philosophical idea that man
is the master of everything and decides
everything, in other words, the idea that
man is that master of the world and his
own destiny. It is said that this idea was
rooted in Baekdu Mount which symbolise the
spirit of the Korean people. The diagram
represents Baekdu Mountain.
Sam Il Tul (33
Movements)
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 Tul (68
Movements)
Yoo Sin is named after General Kin Yoo
Sin, a commanding general during the Silla
Dynasty. The 68 movements refer to the
last two figures of 668 AD the year Korea
was unified. The ready posture signifies a
sword drawn to the right rather than the
left side, symbolizing Yoo sin's mistake
of following his king's orders to fight
with foreign force against his own nation.
Choi Yong Tul (46
Movements)
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. He was executed by subordinate
commanders headed by General Yi Sung Gae,
who later became the first king of the Yi
Dynasty.
Yon Gae Tul (49
Movements)
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 AD the year he forced
the Tang Dynasty to quit Korea after
destroying nearly 300,000 of their troops
at Ansi Sung.
UL-JI Tul (42
Movements)
UL-JI is named after general UL-JI Moon
Dok who successfully defended Korea
against a Tang's invasion force of nearly
one million soldiers led by Yang Je in 612
AD, 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 author's age when he
designed the pattern.
Moon-Moo Tul (61
Movements)
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 symbolize the last two
figures of 6612 AS when Moon Moo came to
the throne.
So-San Tul (72
Movements)
So San is the pseudonym of the great
monk Choi Hyong Ung (1520 - 1604) during
the Lae 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 Tul (24
Movements)
Se-Jong is named after the greatest
Korean King, Se-Jong, who invented the
Korean alphabets 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 Tul
Tong Il denotes the resolution of the
unification of Korea which has been
divided since 1945. The diagram symbolises
the homogenous race
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