Patterns

Definition of a Pattern

A pattern is a selection of attacking and defending movements versus one or more make-believe opponents.

The explanation why there are 24 patterns in Tae Kwon DoLife expectancy of a human being, approximately 100 years, can be measured as a day when compared with eternity. Therefore, we mortals are no more than simple travellers who pass by the everlasting years of an eon in a day.

It is apparent that no one can live more than a restricted amount of time. Yet, most people stupidly enchain themselves to greed as if they could live for thousands of years.

And some people attempt to bestow a good spiritual legacy for coming generations, in this way, gaining immortality. Clearly, the spirit is everlasting while material is not; hence, what we can do to leave behind something for the welfare of mankind is, maybe, the most important thing in our lives.

Here I leave Tae kwon-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.

The following points should be considered while performing patterns:

1.To indicate performer’s accuracy, pattern should begin and end at exactly the same spot

2. The posture and facing must be maintained correctly at all times.

4. The exercise should be displayed in a rhythmic movement with an absence of stiffness.

3. Muscles of the body should be either tensed or relaxed at the proper decisive moments in the exercise.

4. Movement should be accelerated or decelerated according to the information.

5. Each pattern should be performed accurately before moving to the next.

6. Students should know the principle of each movement.

7. Students should display each movement with realism.

8. Offensive and defensive techniques should be equally distributed among right and left hands and feet.

In total, there are twenty-four patterns in Tae kwon Do. The name of the pattern, the number of movements, and the illustrative symbol of each pattern symbolize either heroic figures in Korean history or instances relating to historical events.

Patterns

CHON-JI
Accurately means heaven and earth. It is in the orient interpreted as the creation of the world or the creation of human history, therefore it is the initial pattern played by the beginner. This pattern consists of two related parts; one to symbolize the Heaven and the other the Earth.

DAN-GUN
Dan Gun is named after the Holy Dan Gun, the renowned creator of Korea in the year 2333 B.C.
 
DO-SAN
Do-San is an alias of the patriot Ahn Chang-Ho (1876 - 1938). The 24 movements represent his entire life which he dedicated to furthering education in Korea and the Korean independence movement.

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

YUL-GOK
Yul-Gok is an alias 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.

JOONG-GUN
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 in 1910.

TOI-GYE
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
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
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 pioneer of the present day submarine. This pattern ends with a left hand attack, to represent his regrettable death. He was noted for his unrestrained loyalty to the King.

KWANG-GAE
Kwang-Gae is named after the renowned Kwang-Gae-Toh-Wang, the 19th king of the Koguryo Dynasty, who regained all the lost territories including the greater part of Manchuria. The figure 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.

PO-EUN
Po-Eun is the pseudonym of a loyal subject Chong-Mong-Chu (1400) who was a well-known 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 also led the way in the field of physics. The illustration represents his unerring loyalty to the king and country towards the end of the Koryo Dynasty.

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

EUI-AM
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 illustration represents his strong spirit, displayed while devoting himself to the prosperity of his nation.

CHOONG-JANG
Choong-Jang is an alias given to General Kim Duk Ryang who lived during the Yi Dynasty, 14th century. This pattern ends with a left hand attack to represent the tragedy of his death at 27 in prison before he was able to reach full maturity.

JUCHE
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
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
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
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.

YONG-GAE
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
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
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 find 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
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
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
Tong Il denotes the resolution of the unification of Korea which has been divided since 1945. The diagram symbolises the homogenous race.