Il Jang | Ee Jang | Sam Jang | Sa Jang | O Jang | Yook Jang | Chil Jang | Pal Jang
Tae-geuk Il Jang | 태극 일장
The Sky! Light and power reigning down from heaven enlivening earth. Timeless creative forces, the origin of all things, the inspiration to achieve greatness.
New Techniques
- Poom 0 | parallel stance | na-ran-hi suh-gi
- Poom 0 | ready stance | joon-bi suh-gi
- Poom 1 | walking (forward) stance | ap-suh-gi
- Poom 1 | low block | ah-rae mak-ki
- Poom 2 | middle opposite punch | mom-tong ban-dae ji-reu-gi
- Poom 5 | front (forward inflection) stance | ap-kubi
- Poom 6 | middle punch | mom-tong ba-ro ji-reu-gi
- Poom 7 | inside (middle) opposite block | mom-tong an-mak-ki
- An-mak-ki refers to an opposite block; blocking over the back leg as opposed to over the front leg.
- Poom 13 | face (high) block | ul-guel mak-ki
- Poom 14 | front kick | ap-cha-gi
Pattern Notes
- Total of 18 pooms
- All moves East and West are in walking stance.
- All moves North and South are in front stance.
- Just two front kicks
- Punches alternate… 2 opposite, 4 proper, 3 opposite
Poom Notes
- Ready: Joon-bi is a 5 second move.
- Pooms 5 & 12: Nail your front stance!
- Pooms 14 & 16: On the front kick, chamber for the punch. Land in walking stance as you punch.
- Pooms 18: Ki-Hap!
- Return to ready: Ba-ro is a 5 second move. Pivot on left foot turning 180 degrees counterclockwise.
Top → | White Belt → | Yellow Belt →
Tae-geuk Ee Jang | 태극 이장
The primordial Lake… serene, enticing, joyful. Softness on the surface resting upon resolute character and great strength in the depths; the exhilaration of training!
New Techniques
- Poom 8 | High (face) opposite punch | ul-guel bandae ji-reu-gi
Pattern Notes
- Total of 18 pooms
- 14 of 18 pooms use walking stance.
- Front stances occur only in lines 1 and 2, while facing East or West, and when attacking.
- All punches are opposite (over the forward leg).
- Two consecutive inside blocks occurs twice; pooms 5 & 6 and 13 & 14)
Poom Notes
- Pooms 8 & 10 use the high (face) punch.
- Poom 13: Practice the 270 degree, reverse turn.
- Pooms 16, 17, 18 all use opposite punches. Ending this way may feel awkward at first.
- 18: Ki-hap!
Top → | High White Belt → | High Yellow Belt →
Tae-geuk Sam Jang | 태극 삼장
Fire flickering, ever changing, always consuming. Smoldering, fire is hope. Burning, it is hearth and home. Raging, it is love of life and desire for training!
New Techniques
- Poom 2 | trunk double-punch | moem-tong du-beon ji-reu-gi
- Poom 5 | one knifehand inward neck hit | han-son-nal mok-chi-gi
- Poom 7 | back (backward inflection) stance | dwit-kubi
- Poom 7 | one knifehand outside block | han-son-nal moem-tong ba-kat mak-ki
Pattern Notes
- Total of 20 pooms
- Line 3 (pooms 13-16) is a reflection of line 1 (pooms 1-4).
- All punches are proper (over the back leg) except for the first of the double-punches.
- All moves to the North and South use walking stance.
- On the return (pooms 17-20) there is symmetry. Think 2+2. Contrast this with the last four pooms in the previous poomsae.
Poom Notes
- Pooms 2: Double punch… Chamber over back leg. First punch is opposite (over forward, kicking leg as it sets down). Second punch is proper (over back leg).
- Pooms 8 to 9: Practice this dramatic back stance to front stance adjustment. You’ll see this again.
- Poom13: 270 degree reverse turn
- 20: Ki-hap!
Tae-geuk Sa Jang | 태극 사장
The air is heavy. Thunder rumbles in the distance. Arousing. fearsome, bringing change. Courage! Finding calm in the face of danger, the will to attempt the impossible.
New Techniques
- Poom 1 | handblade trunk blocking (2 knifehand outside block) | son-nal moem-tong mak-ki
- Poom 2.1 | palmhand trunk pressing (downward) blocking | batangson moem-tong nullo mak-ki
- Poom 2.2 | spearhand (flat-hand fingertips erect) punch | pyon-sonk-keut sewotzi-reu-gi
- Poom 5 | swallow-form one hand neck hit | je-bi-poom mok-chi-gi
- Poom 7 | side kick | yop cha-gi
- Poom 9 | trunk outer blocking (outside block) | moem-tong ba-kat mak-ki
- Poom 14 | backfist face front hit | deung ju-muk ul-guel ap-chi-gi
- Poom 15 | trunk blocking (inside block) | moem-tong mak-ki
Pattern Notes
- Total of 20 pooms
- New pattern. The first North to South line is long.
- All knifehand blocks are double.
- Pooms 9-12 (the third line) are a signature moment. Learn these four pooms as a unit.
- All moves to the South (toward home) are in front stance.
Poom Notes
- Pooms 2 & 4: Spearhand is supported at the elbow by a palmheel pressing block moving down to deflect and ending palm down. Timing of this is tricky.
- Pooms 5 & 13: Swallow-form combines a one knifehand inward neck hit (see Sam Jang) with a one knifehand high (face) block.
- Pooms 9&10: Practice retrieving kicking foot into a solid back stance as you chamber for and execute the inside block.
- Pooms 15, 17, 19, ad 20 use a proper (not opposite) inside block for the first time. This can feel awkward at first.
- Poom 20: Ki-hap!
Tae-geuk O Jang | 태극 오장
There is a time for calm and a time to strike. The breath of the world is an invisible force. At once absent, then the gentle breeze, next the Wind, then the hurricane! Ferocity!
New Techniques
- Poom 2 | hammerfist downward (windmill) hit | me-ju-muk naeryo chi-gi
- Poom 2 | left stance | wen suh-gi
- Poom 4 | right stance | o-reun suh-gi
- Poom 10 | elbow turning hit | pal-kup dol-lyeo chi-gi
- Poom 16 | trunk (middle) side punch | moem-tong yop ji-reu-gi
- Poom 16 | elbow target hit | pal-kup pyojeok chi-gi
- Poom 20 | cross stance behind | dwik-koa suh-gi
- Poom 20 | elbow side hit | pal-kup yop chi-gi
Pattern Notes
- Total of 20 pooms
- No walking stance.
- All moves North and South are in front front stance except the very last poom which uses a cross stance.
- When moving North or South, ‘low block + opp inside block’ is a good bet.
Poom Notes
- Pooms 2 & 4
- This is the only taegeuk poomsae in which you will see left stance and right stance.
- The hammerfist strike in windmill motion moves close to the body, inside the hand moving to standby. Rule: Strikes differ from blocks in this way.
- Poom 6: This backfist hit is to the face (ul-gul) and therefore higher than the inside (trunk) block that follows.
- Poom 10: Right fist slaps into left palm at shoulder. Left elbow is down.
- Poom 16: Side punch: Hold until kick is retrieved.
- Poom 16: Elbow target hit: Hitting elbow forward. Palm of punching hand on top.
- Poom 20: With front foot still off the ground, jump ahead, stomp front foot, execute cross stance behind. Add Ki-hap!
Tae-geuk Yook Jang | 태극 육장
At once most and least forgiving, Water is ever adapting. Resting in low places, it is yielding. Gathering, it grows deep, dark, dangerous. Flowing, it is unrelenting, unstoppable, overcoming all obstacles in its path.
New Techniques
- Poom 5.1 | turning (roundhouse) kick | dol-lyeo cha-gi
- Poom 5.2 | one handblade face twist blocking | han-son-nal ul-guel bi-tu-reo mak-ki
- Poom 6 | face outer blocking (outside block, high) | ul-guel ba-kat mak-ki
- Poom 10 | underneath push blocking | ah-rae he-cho mak-ki
- Poom 18 | palmhand trunk inner blocking | ba-tang-son moem-tong mak-ki
Pattern Notes
- Total of 19 pooms
- Line 1 (pooms 1-4) and line 3 (pooms 12-15) are mirror images of one another.
- All punches are proper.
- Pooms 5 & 11: The twist block to roundhouse kick\ are signature moments.
- On the return to home, your gaze and direction movement diverge for the very first time as you move backwards toward home.
Poom Notes
- Pooms 5&11: Coil then uncoil to execute the twisting knifehand block protecting your face (ul-gul).
- 10: Slow low push block
- Poom 12: Ki-hap!
- Poom 17: Step back to back stance
- Poom18 & 19: Step back to front stance.
- Baro: Simply step back with right foot.
Tae-geuk Chil Jang | 태극 칠장
The Mountain, majestic, immovable, dangerous, unyielding. Great resolve! The ambition to touch heaven through the pursuit of excellence. The wisdom to know when to move forward and when to pause.
New Techniques
- Poom 1.1 | tiger stance | bum suh-gi
- Poom 1.2 | palmhand trunk inner blocking, opposite | ba-tang-son moem-tong an-mak-ki
- Poom 5 | two knifehand low block | sonnal ah-rae mak-ki
- Poom 7 | palmhand assist trunk inner blocking, opposite | ba-tang-son moem-tong kodureo an-mak-ki
- Poom 8 | backfist face front hit, assisted | deung ju-muk ul-guel kodureo ap-chi-gi
- Poom 11 | close stance | mo-ah suh-gi
- Poom 11 | covered fist | boju-muk
- Poom 12 | scissors blocking (outer + low) | kawi mak-ki
- Poom 14 | trunk push blocking | moem-tong hecho mak-ki
- Poom 15 | knee hit (hit using knee) | mue-rup chi-gi
- Poom 15 | double uppercut (push away punch) | du-ju-muk jeocho ji-reu-gi
- Poom 16 | cross underneath blocking (cross low block) | ah-rae otgoreo mak-ki
- Poom 20 | backfist outward (outer) hit | deung ju-muk ba-kat-chi-gi
- Poom 21 | target kick | pyojeok cha-gi
- Poom 21 | riding stance | ju-choom suh-gi
Pattern Notes
- Total of 25 pooms
- Pooms 12 & 13: The double scissor blocks are signature moments.
Poom Notes
- Pooms 7, 9: Supporting fist is below elbow.
- Pooms 7, 9:8, 10: Twist and uncoil. Backfist is to the face.
- 11: covered fist
- Pooms 12 & 13: Chambering is reversed from the common low block which you have performed thousands of times. This is very challenging to relearn. Knowing this helps.
- Pooms 20 & 22: These pooms use walking stance. Point feet forward.
- Pooms 21 & 23: With these target kicks, open your fist as you kick and strike your open palm.
- Poom 25: Ki-hap!
Tae-geuk Pal Jang | 태극 팔장
Receptive, patient, gestating; absorbing the power of heaven, Earth gives shape and substance to all things; bringing forth life; making dreams a reality. Everything worth achieving comes with great commitment and sacrifice.
New Techniques
- Poom 1 | outside assisted block | moem-tong kodureo ba-kat mak-ki
- Poom 3 | double jumping front (snap) kick | dangseong ap-cha-gi
- Poom 5 | single mountain block | wesanteul mak-ki
- Poom 6 | slow pulling uppercut | dangkyo teok ji-reu-gi
- Poom 7 | cross stance front | apkkoasuh-gi
- Poom 18 | cutter wrist underneath blocking (low block, assisted) | kodureo ah-rae mak-ki
- Poom 19 | jumping front kick | twio ap-cha-gi
Pattern Notes
- Total of 27 pooms
- Poom 3 uses a double front kick whereas poom 19 involves two separate front kicks the second being a jumping kick. Take care not to confuse these.
Poom Notes
- Poom 3: Double front kick with Ki-hap!
- Poom 5: Right front stance as if facing West with your gaze and your single mountain looking block East.
- Poom 6: Switch from right front stance to left front stance and perform slow pulling uppercut.
- Poom 6: Slow pulling uppercut. The left hand pulls the opponent’s jaw while the right fist delivers an uppercut punch. Punching fist begins knuckles down. Punching arm is bent to be ‘stuck’ to the body while delivering. Perform as an 8 count.
- 18: Back stance with assisted low block.
- 19: Front kick + a jumping front kick + Ki-hap!.