Pattern Interpretations

Chon-Ji

Chon-Ji translates literally as the Heaven and the Earth. It is in the orient interpreted as the creation of the world or the beginning of human history. It is therefore the first pattern performed by the beginner. The pattern is performed in two similar halves, the first representing heaven and the other the Earth. There are nineteen movements and the diagram is a cross.

Dan-Gun

Dan-Gun was named after the holy Dan-Gun the legendary founder of Korea in the year 2333 BC. There are twenty one movements and the diagram is an I.

Do-San

Do-San was the pseudonym of the patriot Ahn Chang-Ho (1876-1938) who devoted his entire life to furthering the education of Korea and it's independence movement. The twenty four movements in the pattern represent his life.

Won-Hyo

Won-Hyo was the noted monk who introduced Buddhism to the Silla Dynasty in 686AD. There are twenty eight movements in the pattern.

Yul-Gok

Yul-Gok was the penname of the Scholar and philosopher Yi-I (1536-1584) who was known as the Confucius of Korea. There are thirty eight movements in the pattern which represents the position of his birthplace on the thirty eighth degree latitude. The diagram 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 a leading part in the Japan-Korea merger. The thirty two movements represent Mr. Ahn's age when he was executed in 1910.

Toi-Gye

Toi-Gye was the penname of the great scholar Yi-Hwang (sixteenth century), an expert in Neo-Confucianism. The thirty seven movements refer to the position of his birthplace on the thirty seventh degree latitude and the diagram represents scholar.

Hwa-Rang

Hwa-Rang is named after the Hwa-Rang (Flowering Youth) youth group which originated in the Silla Dynasty in the early seventh century and became the driving force behind the unification of the Three Kingdoms of Korea (Silla, Kogoryo and Paekche). The twenty nine movements refer to the Twenty Ninth Infantry Division, where Tae Kwon Do grew to maturity.

Choong-Moo

Choong-Moo was the name given to the great Admiral Yi Sun-Sin of the Yi Dynasty. He was reputed to have invented the first armoured battleship (Kobukson) in 1592 which was the precursor of the modern day submarine. The reason that this pattern ends with a left handed attack is to symbolise his regrettable death having had no chance to show his unrestrained potential which was checked by his forced loyalty to the King. There are thirty movements.

Lake Chon-Ji sits atop Mount Paektu, an extinct volcano in Korea. It is said that this is where Heaven and Earth meet.

Won-Hyo the noted monk.

A statue depicting the great Admiral Yi Sun-Sin.