Pattern Meanings

COLOURED BELT PATTERNS:

Chon Ji literally means "heaven and earth" and refers to the creation of the world or the beginning of human history, and thus is the initial pattern learned by the beginner. Number of movements: 19 [Yellow Tag]

Dan Gun is named after the holy Dangun, the legendary founder of Korea in 2333 BC. Number of movements: 21 [Yellow Belt]

Do San is the patriot who devoted his entire life to furthering the education of Korea and its independence movement, thus showing indomitable spirit and loyalty to his country. Number of movements: 24 [Green Tag]

Won Hyo is named after the noted monk Wonhyo who introduced Buddhism to the Silla Dynasty in the year 686 AD. Number of movements: 28 [Green Belt]

Yul Gok is a pseudonym of a great philosopher and scholar Yi I nicknamed the "Confucius of Korea". The 38 movements of this pattern refer to his birthplace on 38-degree latitude and the diagram of the pattern represents scholar. Number of movements: 38 [Blue Tag]

Joong Gun is named after the patriot Ahn Joong-Gun who assassinated Ito Hirobumi, the first Japanese governor-general of Korea, known as the man who played the leading part in the Korea-Japan merger. There are 32 movements in this pattern to represent Mr Ahn's age when he was executed at Lui-Shung Prison in 1910. Number of movements: 32 [Blue Belt]

Toi Gye is the pen name of the noted scholar Yi Hwang (16 century AD), an authority on neo-Confucianism. The 37 movements of the pattern refer to his birthplace on 37-degree latitude, the diagram represents "scholar". Number of movements: 37 [Red Tag]

Hwa Rang is named after the Hwarang youth group which originated in the Silla Dynasty in the early 7th century. The group eventually became the actual driving force for the unification of the three Kingdoms of Korea. The 29 movements refer to the 29th infantry Division, where Taekwondo developed into maturity. Number of movements: 29 [Red Belt]

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 armored battleship (kobukson) in 1592, which is said to be the precursor of the present day submarine. The reason this pattern ends with a left hand attack is to symbolize his regrettable death having no chance to show his unrestrained potentiality checked by the forced reservation of his loyalty to the King. Number of movements: 30 [Black Tag]

BLACK BELT PATTERNS:

KWANG GAE is picked after the famous Gwang-Gae- T'o-Wang, the 19th King of the Koguryo Dynasty, who regained all the lost territories, including the greater part of Manchuria. The diagram represents the expansion and recovery of lost territory. The 39 movements refer to his reign of 39 years. Number of movements: 39

PO EUN is the pseudonym of a loyal subject Chong Mong-Chu (1400 A.D.) who was a famous poet and whose poem "I would not server a second master though I might be crucified a hundred times" is known to every Korean, He was also a pioneer in the field of physics. The diagram represents his unerring loyalty to the King and country towards the end of the Koryo Dynasty. Number of movements: 36

GE GAEK is named after Ge-Baek, a great General in the Baek Je Dynasty (600 A.D.). The diagram represents his severe and strict military discipline. Number of movements: 44

EUI AM is the pseudonym is Son Byong Hi, leader of the Korean independence movement on March 1st 1919. The 45 movements relate to his age when he changed the name of Dong Hak (Oriental Culture) to Chondo Kyo (Heavenly Way Religion) in 1905. The diagram represents his indomitable spirit displayed while dedicating himself to the prosperity of his nation. Number of movements: 45

CHOONG JANG is the pseudonym given to General Kim Duk Ryang who lived during the Yi Dynasty, fifteenth century. This pattern ends with a left hand attack to symbolize the tragedy of his death at 27 in prison before he was able to reach full maturity. Number of movements: 52

KO DANG is the pseudonym of the patriot Cho Man Sik who dedicated his life to the independence movement and education of his people. The 39 movements signify his times of imprisonment and his birthplace on the 39th parallel. Number of movements: 39

SAM IL denotes the historical date of the independence movement of Korea which began throughout the country on March 1st 1919. The 33 movements in the pattern stand for the 33 patriots who planned the movement. Number of movements: 33

YOO SIN is named after General Kim Yoo Sin, commanding general during the Silla Dynasty, who unified the three separate kingdoms of Korea. The 68 movements refer to the last two figures of 668 A.D., the year Korea was united. Number of movements: 68

CHOI YONG is named after General Choi Yong, Premier and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces during the fourteenth century Koryo Dynasty. Choi Yong was greatly respected for his loyalty, patriotism and humility. He was executed by his subordinate commanders, headed by General Yi Sung Gae, who later became the first King of the Yi Dynasty. Number of movements: 46

YON GAE is named after a famous General during the Koguryo Dynasty, Yon Gae Somun. The 49 movements refer to the last two figures of 649 A.D., the year he forced the Dang Dynasty to quit Korea after destroying nearly 300,00 Chinese troops at Ansi Sung. Number of movements: 49 UL JI is named after General Ul-Ji Mun Duk who successfully defend Korea against a Chinese invasion force of nearly one million soldiers led by Yang Je in 613 A.D. Ul-Ji employing hit and run guerrilla tactics was able to decimate a large percentage of the force. The diagram represents his surname. The 42 movements represents the author's age when he designed the pattern. Number of movements: 42

MOON MOO honours the thirteenth King of the Silla Dynasty. His body was buried near Dae Wang Am (Great King's Rock). According to his will, the body was placed in the sea "where my soul shall forever defend my land against the Japanese". It is said that the Sok Gul Am (Stone Cave) was built to guard his tomb. The Sok Gul Am is a fine example of the culture of the Silla Dynasty. The 61 movements in this pattern symbolise the last two figures of 661 A.D. when Moon Moo came to the throne. Number of movements: 61

SO SAN is the pseudonym of the great monk Choi Hyung Ung, 1520 - 1604, during the Yi Dynasty. The 72 movements refer to his age when he organised a corps of monk soldiers with the assistance of his pupil Samung Dang. The monk soldiers helped repulse the Japanese pirates who overran most of the Korean peninsula in 1592. Number of movements: 72

SE JONG is named after the greatest Korean King, Se-Jong, who invented the Korean alphabet in 1443 A.D., and was also a noted meteorologist. The diagram represents the King, while the 24 movements refer to the 24 letters of the Korean alphabet. Number of movements: 24

TONG IL denotes the resolution of the unification of Korea which has been divided since 1945. The diagram symbolises the homogenous race. Number of movements: 56