Meanings of Patterns | glanmiretaekwondo

Taekwon-Do Patterns

There are 24 patterns in ITF Taekwon-Do and are a series of movements, both attack and defence, against an imaginary opponent and make use of the techniques taught to the Taekwon-Do student. The 24 patterns represent 24 hours of the day and are the legacy of founder of Taekwon-Do, General Choi Hong Hi.

Saju Jirugi - White Belt (10th Kup)

14 movements and it translates into 4 directional punch.

Saju Makgi - White Belt with Yellow Tag (9th Kup)

14 movements and it translates into 4 directional block.

Chon-Ji - White Belt with Yellow Tag (9th Kup)

19 movements and means literally the heaven and earth.
It is interpreted as the creation of the world or the beginning of human history and is therefore the initial pattern played by the beginner. This pattern consists of two similar parts, the first part to represent heaven and the second, earth.

Dan-Gun - Yellow Belt (8th Kup)

21 movements and is named after the holy Dan-Gun, the legendary founder of Korea in the year of 2,333 B.C.

Do-San - Yellow Belt with Green Tag (7th Kup)

24 movements and 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 - Green Belt (6th Kup)

28 movements and was the noted monk who introduced Buddhism to the Silla Dynasty in the year of 686 A.D.

Yul-Gok - Green Belt with Blue Tag (5th Kup)

38 movements and 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".

Joong-Gun - Blue Belt (4th Kup)

32 movements and 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. The 32 movements in this pattern represent Mr. Ahn's age when he was executed in a Lui-Shung prison (1910).

Toi-Gye - Blue Belt with Red Tag (3rd Kup)

37 movements and 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, the diagram represents " scholar".

Hwa-Rang - Red Belt (2nd Kup)

29 movements and 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 Infantry Division, where Taekwon-Do developed into maturity.

Choong-Moo - Red Belt with Black Tag (1st Kup)

30 movements and 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 symbolize his regrettable death, having no chance to show his unrestrained potentiality checked by the forced reservation of his loyalty to the king.

1st Dan: Black belt, first degree

Kwang-Gae (39 movements) 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 (36 movements) 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 loyalty to the king and country towards the end of the Koryo Dynasty.

Ge-Baek (44 movements) is named after Ge-Baek, a great general in the Baek Je Dynasty (660 AD). The diagram represents his severe and strict military discipline.

2nd Dan: Second degree

Eui-Am (45 movements) 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 prosperity of his nation.

Choong-Jang (52 movements) 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 symbolize the tragedy of his death at 27 in prison before he was able to reach full maturity.

Juche (45 movements) 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 Baekdu Mountain which symbolizes the spirit of the Korean people. The diagram represents Baekdu mountain.

3rd Dan: Third Degree

Sam-il (33 movements) Sam-il denotes the historical date of the independence movement of Korea, which began throughout the country on 1st March 1919. The 33 movements in the pattern stand for the 33 patriots who planned the movement.

Yoo-Sin (68 movements) 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 AD, the year Korea was united. The ready posture signifies a sword being drawn from the right rather than the left, symbolising Yoo Sin’s mistake of following the kings orders to fight with foreign forces against his own nation.

Choi-Yong (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 his subordinate commanders headed by General Yi Sung Gae, who later became the first king of the Yi dynasty.

4th Dan: Fourth Degree

Yon-Gae (49 movements) Yon-Gae is named after General Yon Gae Somoon, a famous general during the Koguryo dynasty. The 49 movements refer to the last two figures of 649 AD, the year he forced the Tang dynasty to leave Korea after destroying nearly 300,000 of their troops at Ansi Sung.

Ul-Ji (42 movements) Ul Ji is named after General Ul Ji Moon Dok who successfully defended Korea against a Tang invasion force of nearly 1,000,000 soldiers led by Yang Je in 612 AD. General Ul Ji used hit and run tactics to destroy a large number of the opposing force. The diagram represents his surname. The 42 movements represent General Chois age when he designed this pattern.

Moon-Moo (61 movements) Honours the 30th King of the Silla Dynasty. His body was buried near Dae Wang Am (Great Kings 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 Sol Gul Am is a fine example of the culture of the Silla dynasty. The 61 movements represent the last two figures of 661 AD when Moon Moo came to the throne.

5th Dan: Fifth Degree

So-San (72 movements) So-San is the pseudonym of the great monk Choi Hyong Ung (1520 to 1604) during the Yi 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 repel the Japanese pirates who over ran most of the Korean peninsular in 1592.

Se-Jong (24 movements) Se Jong is named after the greatest Korean king Se Jong who invented the Korean alphabet in 1443, and was a noted meteorologist. The diagram represents the king, while the 24 movements refer to the 24 letters of the Korean alphabet.

6th Dan: Sixth Degree

Tong-Il (56 movements) Tong-Il denotes the resolution of the unification of Korea that has been divided since 1945. The diagram symbolises the homogenous race.