General Taekwondo Information
Taekwondo is one of the most systematic and scientific Korean traditional martial arts, that teaches more than physical fighting skills. It is a discipline that shows ways of enhancing our spirit and life through training our body and mind. Today, it has become a global sport that has gained an international reputation, and stands among the official games in the Olympics.
Let's take a closer look at the meaning of the word "Tae" "Kwon" "Do." It is composed of three parts as shown in the English spelling, though it is one word in Korean. "Tae" means "foot," "leg," or "to step on"; "Kwon" means "fist," or "fight"; and "Do" means the "way" or "discipline." If we put these three parts together, we can see two important concepts behind "Tae Kwon Do".
First, Taekwondo is the right way of using Tae and Kwon 'fists and feet,' or all the parts of the body that are represented by fists and feet. Second, it is a way to control or calm down fights and keep the peace. This concept comes from the meaning of Tae Kwon 'to put fists under control' [or 'to step on fists']. Thus Taekwondo means "the right way of using all parts of the body to stop fights and help to build a better and more peaceful world."
Taekwondo has been developing with the 5000-year long history of Korea, being called by several different names in the course. In Korea, Taekwondo began as a defense martial art called "Subak" or "Taekkyon," and developed as a way of training body and mind in the ancient kingdom of Koguryo, under the name of "Sunbae." In the Shilla period, it had become the backbone of Hwarangdo that aimed at producing leaders of the country.
Taekwondo today is similar to the martial arts in other Oriental countries and shares some features with them, because in the course of its evolution it has gained many different styles that existed in the martial arts of the countries surrounding Korea, like Japan and China.
But Taekwondo is very different from many such oriental martial arts. First, physically it is very dynamic with active movements that include a mirage of foot skills. Second, the principle physical movements are in simpatico with that of the mind and life as a whole. Third, it possesses dynamic poses from another perspective.
Taekwondo can be characterized by unity: the unity of body, mind, and life, and the unity of the pose ["poomsae"] and confrontation, and cracking down. When you do Taekwondo, you should make your mind peaceful and synchronize your mind with your movements, and extend this harmony to your life and society. This is how in Taekwondo the principle of physical movements, the principle of mind training, and the principle of life become one and the same. On the other hand, the right poomsae lead to the right confrontation, which will eventually produce great destructive power.
How come we reach such a unity in Taekwondo Taekwondo is a way of life, much like having a job, raising a family, fighting for a cause, or any one of numerous raison d'etre. What makes Taekwondo different from these is that it is an activity for survival in extremely antagonistic situations. One must always overcome the enemy that is trying to cause harm. But simply winning a fight is not enough to guarantee one's safety, because the enemy may recuperate and attack again. Moreover, there may be many other enemies than the one that was just defeated. One cannot ever feel safe unless one gains permanent peace. To attain this permanent or lasting peace, one needs unity. This is what Taekwondo aim for. Otherwise Taekwondo would be no different from any other street-fighting skills.
Taekwondo pursues harmonious growth and improvements of life through its unique activities. This is why one could say Taekwondo is a way of life. To ultimately enable ourselves to lead more valuable lives, we would do well by finding the guiding principles deeply hidden in Taekwondo.
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Patterns
The Origin of Poomsae
The Taekwondo poomsaes are so designed to cope collectively with the outside threats in that society has already developed into an organized group, weakening the necessity of solitary individual defense measures. For the constituents of community, the practice and transmission of techniques should be convenient and less complicated. In that sense, the poomsae has been gradually systematized through practical experiences togther with the help of philosophical and medical sciences.
It is believed that in ancient times the poomsae was practiced among the ruling class and the first poomsae pattern appearing in the documents or monuments was around the first century, when Koguryo reined the Han (Korean) race.
Definition of Poomsae
Each poom of the poomsae has been inherited through a long history of about 5,000 years, finally as a product of scientific technique formulated on the basis of the traditional national spirit and practical experiments. From the technical viewpoint, the poomsae itself is Taekwondo, and the basic movements are no more than the preliminary actions to reach the poomsae. The Kyorugi is a practical application of the poomsae and the Taekwondo spirit is manifested not in an abstract mental philosophy expressed in the documents but in the actions of poomsae. Then, what is the Taekwondo poomsae? The poomsae is the style of conduct which expresses directly or indirectly mental and physical refinements as well as the principles of offense and defense resulting from cultivation of Taekwondo spirit and techniques.
Significance of Poomsae
The poomsae is a series of movements for offense and defense techniques which can be practiced and trained, even without presence of an instructor, in accordance with the fixed patterns. Therefore, the poomsae has the merits, by its practice, to make the trainee enhance the Kyorugi techniques and applied techniques including special techniques which can hardly be practiced by the training of each separate basic movement alone.
The poomsae can be trained along the imaginary or drawn poomsae line, which marks the position of foot and the line direction to move along.
Considerations for Training Poomsae
The poomsae is a series of alternate attack and defense actions : therefore, there are frequent changes of actions and connections of techniques. One must pay attention to the movement of body, eyes, respiration, etc. The steps of paying attention are as follow :
1)i A complete understanding of the significance of poomsae and the principles of its composition.
2) A perfect memorization of the poomsae line, movements and direction.
3) During the practice, the following must be taken into consideration :
(a) The eyes
(b) Movement of the center of balance
(c) Low or high speed
(d) Strong or weak force
(e) Respiration
Training of Poomsae
A completion of poomsae can be achieved through hard training following the 5 steps :
(1) Pattern
The first step of training poomsae is to learn the pattern. Concentration of spirit, eyes, angles of movements must be emphasized in addition to the accuracy of actions.
(2) Significance
In the next step, the emphasis must be laid on the balance, strength and weakness, low or high speed, respiration and poomsae line. The significance of movements, connection of pooms and the complete poomsae must be learned correctly.
(3) Practical Use
One must adapt what he has learned to his practical use, finding out the practicability.
(4) Self Style
One must evaluate his findings about the effectiveness of what he has learned, comparing with his bodily structure, speed, strength, muscle strength, impulsive power, points of emphasis in training, etc., and moderate the techniques into his own style.
(5) Completion
One achieves a synthetic accomplishment of poomsae training by mastering the art of Taekwondo techniques including Taekwondo spirit.
Categories of Poomsae
The poomsae are categorized by the technique, composition and points of stress, which are classified each into 3 minor breakdowns.
(1) Technique
The technique means the technical patterns of the entire poomsae. The essence of Taekwondo is the martial art ; therefore, the categorization of practicable patterns of techniques is important.
a. Poomsae containing various techniques : This contains more techniques of chagi and makki than are needed for practical use. Practicable techniques must be selected among them in the course of training.
b. Poomsae containing practicable techniques : This includes practically used techniques only, which are classified into a series of chigi techniques, a series of makki techniques and a balanced combination of chigi and makki techniques.
c. Poomsae containing simple techniques : This is classified into the basic course and the advanced course, in the advanced course, the training of cultivating the inner strength of body by means of controlling the respiration is included. The variations of techniques should be mastered through hard training.
(2) Composition
The composition of poomsae movements is differentiated according to the proportion of poom and technique, hand techniques and foot techniques, and seogi and its moving directions. Except for certain special cases, the poomsae movements are equally distributed among all parts of the body symmetrically between fore and back and between left and right. Therefore, the proportion of foot techniques and hand techniques is the criteria to decide the composition of poomsae movements.
a. Poomsae with the priority on hand techniques
b. Poomsae with the priority on foot techniques
c. Poomsae in which hand techniques and foot techniques are evenly distributed.
(3) Points of Stress
The poomsae is also classified by the extent of emphasis in favor of either strength or softness and of either a slow movement or a fast movement. Strong but slow movements and speedy but soft movements are included in the similar categories.
a. Strong but slow poomsae
b. Weak but speedy poomsae
c. Poomsae well balanced in strength and weakness as well as in slowness and speediness.
However, the above methods of categorization are not absolute for the advanced course of training.
Classification of Poomsae
Taegeuk poomsaes from 1(il) jang to 8(pal) jang are classified as Kup grader's poomsaes and the poomsaes from Koryo up to Ilyo as Dan-grader's, i.e., black-belter's poomsaes. The poomsaes consists of basic movements and poom and they are so arranged to fit the frame of movement direction, which is called the poomsae line. The poomsae lines are described after symbols or Chinese characters.
Types of Poomsae Lines
1) Taegeuk poomsae : This consists of 8 patterns symbolizing the 8 divination signs(bars) in the Oriental science of divination, and it is generally expressed by a Chinese character, meaning a king.
2) Koryo poomsae : the shape of a Chinese character, meaning a learned man.
3) Keumgang poomsae : a Chinese character, meaning a mountain (Mt. Diamond)
4) Taebaek poomsae : a Chinese character, meaning an artisan.
5) Pyongwon poomsae : a Chinese character, meaning one.
6) Sipjin poomsae : a Chinese character, meaning ten.
7) Jitae poomsae : the shape of a Korean vowel, sounding "oh"
8) Chonkwon poomsae : the shape of a Korean vowel, sounding "wu"
9) Hansu poomsae : a Chinese character, meaning water.
10) Ilyo poomsae : the shape of a reversed swastika sign.
Il Jang - Represents the symbol of "Keon", one of the 8 Kwaes (divination signs), which means the "heaven and yang". As the "Keon" symbolizes the beginning of the creation of all thing in the universe, do does the Taegeuk 1 Jang in the training of Taekwondo. This poomsae is characterized by its easiness in practicing, largely consisting of walking and basic actions, such as arae-makki, momtong-makki, momtong-jireugi, and ap-chagi. The 8th Kup-grade trainees practice this poomsae.
E Jang - Symbolizes the "Tae", one of the 8 divination signs, which signifies the inner firmness and the outer softness. An introduction of the olgul-makki is a new development of Taegeuk poomsae. The ap-chagi actions appear more frequently than in Taegeuk 1 Jang. The 7th Kup-grade trainees practice this poomsae.
Sam Jang - Symbolizes the "Ra", one of the 8 divination signs, which represent "hot and bright". This is to encourage the trainees to harbor a sense of justice and ardor for training. A successful accomplishment of this poomsae will give the trainees a promotion to a blue belt. New actions are sonnal-mok-chigi and sonnal -makki and dwit-kubi stance. This poomsae is characterized by successive makki and chigi, and continued jireugis. Emphasis is laid on the counterattacks against the opponent's chigi. The 6th Kup-grade trainees practice this poomsae.
Sa Jang - Symbolizes the "Jin", one of the 8 divination signs, which represent the thunder meaning great power and dignity. New techniques are sonnal-momtong-makki, pyon-son-kkeut-jireugi, jebipoom-mok-chigi, yop-chagi, momtong- bakkat-makki, deung-jumeok-olgul-apchigi and mikkeurombal [slipping foot] techniques. Various movements in preparation for the kyorugi and lot of dwit-kubi cases characterize it. The 5th Kup-grade trainees practice this poomsae.
Oh Jang - Symbolizes the "Son", one of the 8 divination signs, which represent the wind, meaning both mighty force and calmness according to its strength and weakness. New movements are me-jumeok-maeryo-chigi, palkup-dollyo-chigi, yop-chagi & yop-jireugi, palkup-pyo-jeok-chigi and such stances as kkoa-seogi, wen-seogi and oreun-seogi. This is characterized by the successive makkis such as area-makki and momtong-makki and also the chigi by thumbling after running. The 4th Kup-grade trainees practice this poomsae.
Yuk Jang - Symbolizes the "Kam", one of the 8 divination signs, which represents water, meaning incessant flow and softness. New movements are han-sonnal-olgul-bakkat-makki, dollyo-chagi, olgul-bakkat-makki and batang-son- momtong-makki in addition to pyonhi-seogi [at-ease stance]. One should be careful to make the kicking foot land on the ground correctly after dyollyo-chagi and to lower the hand by a palm's length at the time of delivering a batang-son momtong-makki lower than in the palmok-makki. This is practiced by the 3rd Kup-graders.
Chil Jang - Symbolizes the "Kan", one of the 8 divination signs, which represents the mountain, meaning ponder and firmness. New movements are sonnal-arae-makkki, batangson-kodureo-makki, bo-jumeok-kawi-makki, mureup-chigi, momtong-hecho-makki, jechin-du-jumeok-momtong-jireugi, otkoreo-arae-makki, pyojeok-chigi, yop-jireugi and such stances as beom-seogi and juchum-seogi. Smooth connection of movements is important for training. The 2nd Kup-graders practice this poomsae.
Pal Jang - Symbolizes the "Kon", one of the 8 divination signs, which represents "Yin" and earth, meaning the root and settlement and also the beginning and the end. This is the last of the 8 Taegeuk poomsaes, which may enable the trainees to undergo the Dan [black belt] promotion test. New movements are dubal-dangsong-bakkat-palmok-momtong-kodureo-bakkat-makki, twio-chagi, and palkup-dollyo-chigi. Emphasis must be laid on the accuracy of stepping and the difference between jumping-over kick and dubal-dangsong [alternate jumping kick in the air]. The 1st Kup-graders practice this poomsae.
Koryo poomsae symbolizes "seonbae", which means a learned man, who is characterized by a strong martial spirit as well as a righteous learned man's spirit. The spirit had been inherited through the ages of Koguryo, Palhae and down to Koryo, which is the background of organizing the Koryo poomsae. The new techniques appearing in this poomsae are kodeup-chagi, sonnal bakkat-chigi, hansonnal arae-makki, khaljaebi, mureup kkukki, momtong hecho-makki, jumeok pyojeok-jireugi, pyonsonkkeut jeocho-tzireugi, batangson nullo-makki, palkup yop-chagi, mejumeok arae pyojeok-chigi, etc, which only black-belters can practice. The junbi-seogi is the tongmilgi which requires mental concentration by positioning the hand in between the upper abdomen and the lower abdomen where "sin"(divine) and "jeong"(spirit) converge. The line of poomsae represents the Chinese letter which means "seonbae" or "seonbi", a learned man or a man of virtue in the Korean language.
Keumgang (meaning diamond) has the significance of "hardness" and "ponderosity". The Mt. Keumgang on the Korean peninsula, which is regraded as the center of national spirit, and the "Keumgang yoksa" (Kumgang warrior) as named by Buddha, who represents a mightiest warrior, are the background of denominating this poomsae. New techniques introduced in this poomsae are batangson teokchigi, hansonnal momtong anmakki, Keumgangmakki, santeulmakki, kheun doltzeogi (large hinge), etc., and the hakdariseogi. The poomsae line symbolizes a mountain displayed by the Chinese letter. The movements should be powerful and well-balanced so as to befit black-belter's dignity.
Taebaek is the name of a mountain with the meaning of "bright mountain", where Tangun, the founder of the nation of Korean people, and the bright mountain symbolizes sacredness of soul and Tangun's thought of "hongik ingan"(humanitarian ideal). There are numerous sites known as Taeback, but Mt. Paektu, which has been typically known as the cradle of Korean people, is the background of naming the Taebaek poomsae. New technigues introduced in this poomsae are sonnal arae hechomakki, sonnal opeojapki (grabbing), japhin sonmokppaegi (pulling out the caught wrist), Keumgang momtong-makki, doltzeogi(hinge), etc. The line of poomsae is like a Chinese letter, which symbolizes the bridge between the Heaven and the earth, signifying human beings founded a nation by the Heaven's order. The poomsae movements are largely composed of momtongmakki and chigi,
“Pyongwon” means a plain which is a vast stretched-out land. It is the source of life for all the creatures and the field where the human beings live their life. The poomsae Pyongwon was based on the idea of peace and struggle resulting from the principles of origin and use. The new techniques introduced in this poomsae are palkup ollyochigi, olgul kodureo yop-makki, dangkyo teokchigi, meongyechigi, hechosanteulmakki, etc. The junbiseogi is the moaseogi wenkyopson (left overlapping hands), which requires concentration of force in the lower abdomen, the source of body strength, as the land is the begining and source of human life. The line of poomsae means the origin and transformation of the plain.
The word “Sipjin” was derived from the thought of 10 longevity, which advocates there are ten creatures of long life, namely, sun, moon, mountain, water, stone, pine tree, herb of eternal youth, tortoise, deer, and crane. They are two heavenly bodies, 3 natural resources, two plants and 3 animals, all giving human beings faith, hope and love. The poomsae Sipjin symbolizes those things. The new techniques introduced in this poomsae are hwangso-makki, sonbadak kodureo makki, bawimilgi (rock pushing), sonnaldeung momtong hechomakki, kklyeolligi (lifting up), chetdarijireugi (fork shape jireugi), sonnal otkoreo araemakki, sonnaldeung momtongmakki, which counts 10. The Chinese letter meaning ten is form of the poomsae line, which signifies an infinite numbering of the decimal system and ceaseless development.
The word “Jitae” means a man standing on the ground with the two feet, looking over the sky. A man on the earth represents the way of struggling for human life, such as kicking, treading and jumping on the ground. Therefore, the poomsae symbolizes various aspects occurring in the course of human being’s struggle for existence. The new techniques introduced in this poomsae are hansonnal olgul-makki, keumgang momtong-jireugi, anpalmok kodureo makki and mejumeok yop pyojeok-chigi only, and the poomsae line signifies a man standing on the earth to spring up toward the heaven.
The word “Chonkwon” means the Heaven's Great Mighty, which is the origin of all the creature and itself the cosmos. Its infinite competence signifies the creation, change and completion. Human beings have used the name of Heaven for all principal earthly shapes and meanings because they felt afraid of the Heaven's mighty. Over 9,000 years ago, the founder of the Korean people, “Chonkwon”, was meant by the heavenly king. He settled down in the heavenly town as the capital near the heavenly sea and heavenly mountain, where the Han people as the heavenly race gave birth to the proper thought and actions from which Taekwondo was originated. The new techniques introduced in this poomsae are nalgae pyogi (wing opening), sosumjumeok sosumchigi (knuckle protruding fist springing chigi), hwidullomakki (swinging-makki), hwidullo jabadangkigi (swing and drawing), sonnaldeung wesanteul makki, keumgang yopjireugi, taesan-milgi, etc., and a crouched walking manner.
The characteristics of movements are large actions and arm actions forming gentle curves, thus symbolizing the greatness of Chonkwon thought. The poomsae line "T" symbolizes a man coming down from the heaven, submitting to the will of Heaven, being endowed power by the Heaven and worshipping the Heaven, which means the oneness between the Heaven and a human being.
The word “hansu” means water which is the source of substance preserving the life and growing all the creatures. Hansu symbolizes birth of a life and growth, strongness and weakness, magnanimity, harmony, and adaptablity. Especially, “han” has the various meanings, namely, the name of a country, numerousness, largeness, evenness, longness, even the heaven, and the root of everyting among others. Above all, the nature of water characterized by unbreakability and flexibility, in addition to all of the above significances, is the background of organizing this poomsae.
The new techiniques introduced in this poomsae are sonnaldeung momtong hecho-makki, mejumeok yangyopkuri (both flanks) chigi, kodureo khaljaebi, anpalmok arae pyojeok-makki, sonnal keumgang-makki, etc., and also modumbal as a stance. Actions should be practiced softly like water but continuously like a drop of water gathering to make the ocean. The poomsae line symbolizes the Chinese letter which means water.
“Ilyeo” means the thought of a great Buddhist priest of Silla Dynasty, Saint Wonhyo, which is characterized by the philosophy of oneness of mind (spirit) and body (material). It teaches that a point, a line or a circle ends up after all in one. Therefore, the poomsae Ilyeo represents the harmonization of spirit and body, which is the essence of martial art, after a long training of various types of techniques and spiritual cultivation for completion of Taekwondo practice.
The new techniques introduced in this poomsae are sonnal (olgul) makki, wesanteul yopchagi, dusonpyo (two opened hands) bitureo jabadangkigi(twisting and pulling), tiwo yopchagi and the first stance of ogeum (knee back) hakdariseogi. Junbiseogi is the bojumeok moaseogi (wrapped-up fist moa-seogi), in which, as the last step of poomsae training, two wrapped-up fists are placed in front of the chin, which has the significance of unification and moderation, so that the spiritual energy can flow freely into the body as well as the two hands. The line of poomsae symbolizes the Buddhist mark (swastika), in commemoration of Saint Wonhyo, which means a state of perfect selflessness in Buddhism where origin, substance and service come into congruity.
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restrictions. Protective pads are worn covering the shins, groin, trunk, forarms, hands, feet and head. This is to provide protection while particapating in this full contact sport. Valid target areas are the trunk, not including the spine and the head, not including the back of the head. W.T.F. sparring is now an accepted combat sport of the Olympic movement.
