Patterns & terminology

Patterns (Poomse, Tul)

These are pre-arranged sequences of attack and defence movements against imaginary opponents. They are designed to improve power, accuracy and speed and to make techniques reflex actions rather than the result of (slow) conscious thought. The names of the patterns for coloured belt grade (kup) students is from the Tae guek (Tai Chi in Chinese) the ultimate principle in oriental philosophy. Tae means "great" and guek means "ultimate" or "eternal". Each pattern represents one of the eight Trigrams of the I Ching.

Coloured belt patterns

  • SAJU CHIEUGI: Four directional exercise; 14 movements; for 9th kup
  • KIBON POOMSE: Basic pattern; 20 movements; for 8th kup
  • TAE GEUK IL JANG: Represents HEAVEN and LIGHT (keon); 18 movements; for 7th kup; perform clearly and methodically, but fluidly.
  • TAE GEUK EE JANG: Represents JOYFULNESS (Toe); 18 movements; for 6th kup; perform gently but forcefully.
  • TAE GEUK SAM JANG: Represents FIRE and SUN (Ri); 20 movements:for 5th kup; perform with vitality and passion.
  • TAE GEUK SA JANG: Represents THUNDER (Jin); 20 movements; for 4th kup perform with strength and power.
  • TAE GEUK O JANG: Represents WIND (Seon) : 20 movements: for 3rd kup: perform alternately as slow/graceful and strong/fast.
  • TAE GEUK RYUK JANG: Represents WATER (Gain) : 23 movements: for 2nd kup; perform with fluidly and steadily.
  • TAE GEUK CHIL JANG: Represents MOUNTAIN (Gan); 25 movements; for 1st kup; perform with stability but with free movement.
  • TAE GEUK PAL JANG: Represents EARTH (Gon); 24 movements: for 1st Dan: perform with strength and unbending force.
Black belt patterns
  • KORYO: Taken after name of Korean dynasty; 27 movements.
  • KEIJM GANG: Represents diamond, suggesting great strength; 27 movements.
  • TAE BAEK: Old name of Baek Doo, highest mountain in Korea and site of mythical founding of Korea by Dan Gun; 26 movements.
  • PYONG WON: Plain; 31 movements.
  • SIP JIM: Decimal; 31 movements.
  • JI TAE: Earth ; 28 movements
  • CHON KWON: Sky ; 27 movements.
  • HAN SOO: Water ; 27 movements
  • I LYO: Oneness ; 27 movements.

Numbers

Number Command Naming
One Hana Il
Two Tul Ea
Three Seyt Sam
Four Neyt Sa
Five Tasut O
Six Yosut Ryuk
Seven Ilkop Chil
Eight Yudol Pal
Nine Ahop Ku
Ten Yul Sip

The Korean command numbers are used when calling out movements or techniques to be performed, or when counting out a fallen contestant in a tournament. The second set of numbers, derived from the Chinese, are used when numbering things such as patterns or kup (grades).

Glossary of Korean Terminology

AN PALMOK MAKGI Inner forearm block
AP Front
AP CHAGI Front kick
AP CHA-OLLIGI Front raising kick
AP CHUK Ball of foot
AP DOLLYO CHAGI Front turning kick
AP JOOMUK Forefist
AP KOOBI Long walking stance
AP SOGI Short walking stance
ARAE MAKGI Low block
BAL Foot
BALNAL Foot-knife (-sword)
BANDAE CHIRUGI Reverse punch
BANDAE DOLLYO CHAGI Reverse turning kick
BANDAL CHAGI Crescent kick
BAN JAYOO KYORUKI Semi-free sparring
BARO CHIRUGI Obverse punch
BIT CHAGI 45 degree turning kick
BITURO CHAGI Twisting kick
BOM SOGI Tiger (cat) stance
CHAGI Kicking
CHA-RYUT (SOGI) Attention (stance)
CHIGI Striking
CHIKO CHAGI Axe kick
CHIRUGI Thrusting, stabbing
CHOONBI (SOBI) Ready (stance)
DARI Leg
DO BOK Training suit; uniform
DO JANG Training hall
DOLLYO CHAGI Turning kick; roundhouse kick
DOLLYO CHIREUGI Turning punch
DOO CHIRUGI Double punch
DUNG JOOMUK Back fist
DWI Back
DWICHUK Bottom of heel
DWIJIBO CHIREUGI Upset punch
DWIKUMCHI Back of heel
DWIRO DORA About turn
DWIT CHAGI Back kick
DWIT KOOBI L stance
EEBON KYORUKI Two-step sparring
GAMSA HAMNIDA Thank you
GOJUNG SOGI Fixed stance
GOLCHO CHAGI Hooking kick
GUMAN Stop
HANBAL SOGI One-leg stance
HANBON KYORUKI One-step sparring
HECHYO MAKGI Wedging block
HO GOO Trunk protector (body armour)
ILGO MAKGI Rising block
JAYOO KYORUKI Free sparring
JIRUGI Hitting
JEBI POOM MOKCHIKI Rising knife-hand block with inward knife-hand strike
JOOMUK Fist
JUCHUM SOGI Sitting stance
KIBON POOMSE Basic pattern
KIHAP Shout
KOA SOGI X Stance
KURYONG OPSHE In your own time
KYONG RE Bow
KYORUKI Sparring
KYUK PA Breaking
MAKGI Block(ing)
MOM Body
MOMTONG Middle
MOMTONG MAKGI Middle section block
NARANI SOGI Parallel stance
PAKAT PALMOK MAKGI Outer forearm block
PAL Arm
PALKUP Elbow
PALMOK Wrist
PALMOK DAEBI MAKGI Forearm guarding block
PARO Return (to start position)
POOM SE Pattern (-TUL) (pron. "poom say")
PYONGI SOGI Parallel stance
SABUM NIM (KAE) (School) Instructor; "SIR!"
SAJU CHIREUGI Four-directional punching
SANBON KYORUKI Three-step sparring
SAN MAKGI W-shaped block; mountain block
SHIJAK Begin
SOGI Stance(s)
SON Hand
SONKUT Spearfinger; fingertips
SON-NAL Knife-hand
SON-NAL DAEBI MAKGI Knife-hand guarding block
SON-NAL DUNG Reverse knife-hand; ridgehand
TUL Pattern (-TUL)
TWIMYO CHAGI Jumping kick
TWIYO CHAGI Jumping kick
YOLGUL Face
YOP Side
YOP CHAGI Side kick
YOP CHIREUGI Side punch