Taekwondo patterns: meanings, movements and ready stances

Sajo Jirugi No.1

Grade

10th Kup (White belt)

Movements

15

Ready stance

Parallel ready stance

Sajo Jirugi means "four directional punch". It is the first pattern learned, at 10th Kup.

Sajo Jirugi No.1 and No.2 both have 15 movements.

Sajo Jirugi No.2

Grade

10th Kup (White belt)

Movements

15

Ready stance

Parallel ready stance

Sajo Jirugi means "four directional punch". It is the first pattern learned, at 10th Kup.

Chon-Ji

Grade

9th Kup (White belt, yellow tag)

Movements

19

Ready stance

Parallel ready stance

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.

Chon-Ji has 19 movements. Chon-Ji means "the Heaven, the Earth" and is interpreted as the creation of the world or the beginning of human history.

Dan-Gun

Grade

8th Kup (Yellow belt)

Movements

21

Ready stance

Parallel ready stance

Dan-Gun is named after the holy Dan-Gun, the legendary founder of Korea in the year of 2,333 BC.

Dan-Gun has 21 movements. It is named after the holy Dan-Gun, the legendary founder of Korea in the year 2,333 BC.

Do-San

Grade

7th Kup (Yellow belt, green tag)

Movements

24

Ready stance

Parallel ready stance

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.

The 24 movements of Do-San represent the entire life of the patriot Ahn Chang-Ho (1876–1938), which he devoted to furthering the education of Korea and its independence movement.

Won-Hyo

Grade

6th Kup (Green belt)

Movements

28

Ready stance

Closed ready stance A

Won-Hyo was the noted monk who introduced Buddhism to the Silla Dynasty in the year of 686 AD.

Won-Hyo has 28 movements. It is named after the noted monk who introduced Buddhism to the Silla Dynasty in 686 AD.

Yul-Gok

Grade

5th Kup (Green belt, blue tag)

Movements

38

Ready stance

Parallel ready stance

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 latitude and the diagram represents "scholar".

The 38 movements of Yul-Gok refer to the birthplace of the philosopher and scholar Yi I on the 38th degree latitude.

Joong-Gun

Grade

4th Kup (Blue belt)

Movements

32

Ready stance

Closed ready stance B

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).

The 32 movements of Joong-Gun represent Ahn Joong-Gun's age when he was executed at Lui-Shung prison in 1910.

Toi-Gye

Grade

3rd Kup (Blue belt, red tag)

Movements

37

Ready stance

Closed ready stance B

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 latitude, and the diagram represents "scholar".

The 37 movements of Toi-Gye refer to the birthplace of the scholar Yi Hwang on the 37th degree latitude.

Hwa-Rang

Grade

2nd Kup (Red belt)

Movements

29

Ready stance

Closed ready stance C

Hwa-Rang is named after the Hwa-Rang youth group which originated in the Silla Dynasty about 600 AD. This group eventually became the actual driving force for the unification of the three Kingdoms of Korea. The 29 movements refer to the 29th Infantry Division, where Tae Kwon-Do developed into maturity.

The 29 movements of Hwa-Rang refer to the 29th Infantry Division, where Tae Kwon-Do developed into maturity.

Choong-Moo

Grade

1st Kup (Red belt, black tag)

Movements

30

Ready stance

Parallel ready stance

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 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.

Choong-Moo has 30 movements. It is named after Admiral Yi Soon-Sin, reputed to have invented the first armoured battleship, the turtle ship, in 1592.

Kwang-Gae

Grade

1st Dan (Black belt)

Movements

39

Ready stance

Parallel stance with a heaven hand

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 AD, the year he came to the throne.

The 39 movements of Kwang-Gae refer to the first two figures of 391 AD, the year King Kwang-Gae-Toh-Wang came to the throne.

Po-Eun

Grade

1st Dan (Black belt)

Movements

36

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 might 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.

Po-Eun has 36 movements. It is named after the loyal subject and poet Chong Mong-Chu.

Ge-Baek

Grade

1st Dan (Black belt)

Movements

44

Ready stance

Parallel ready stance

Ge-Baek is named after Ge-Baek, a great general in the Baek Je Dynasty (660 AD). The diagram represents his severe and strict military discipline.

Ge-Baek has 44 movements. It is named after Ge-Baek, a great general of the Baek Je Dynasty in 660 AD.