The Patterns Of ITF Tae Kwon Do

Patterns are a pre-set series of movements used in nearly all of the martial arts. They improve technique, allow a student to practise without a partner and provide a physical encyclopaedia of movements and technique on which a student can draw. Every movement and technique of Tae Kwon Do is contained within the patterns and any technique not contained in a pattern, although it may be valid, is not a Tae Kwon Do technique. In this way the founder has protected the purity of the art.

Initially the beginner will learn very simple patterns. The patterns are arranged in a specific order and they follow a sequence which progresses in difficulty as the students ability increases and generally form the basis of grading and instruction criteria.

All Tae Kwon Do patterns are based upon major events or important figures in Korean history and many aspects of the patterns reflect this. The use of specific techniques within the pattern, the spirit in which the pattern is performed, the diagram (the  'map' of the pattern as it would be drawn on the floor: for example the pattern Chon-Ji involves movements forward, backward, left and right so the diagram is a +), the number of movements performed and many other aspects of the pattern are significant. For this reason students must learn and apply the interpretation of each pattern as well as the movements themselves.

Initially the student is taught the basic execution of the pattern i.e. the techniques to perform and the order in which to perform them. Once this task is complete the student is encourages to study the pattern, paying attention to the various combinations within the pattern, rather than simply looking at each move in isolation. By doing this the student will learn how to effectively combine techniques and also various different ways of using the same technique within the sequence.