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Patterns
As well as performing patterns skillfully, it is important
that a student understands why they are performing it, and
that they learn a little about the history of the pattern.
Examples of questions that may be asked are outlined below:
WHAT IS A PATTERN?
A
pattern is a set of fundamental movements, mainly defense and
attack, set in a logical sequence to deal with one or more
imaginary opponents. Patterns are an indication of a student's
progress - a barometer in evaluating an individual's
technique.
WHY DO WE PERFORM PATTERNS?
We practice patterns to improve our Tae Kwon Do
techniques, to develop sparring techniques, to improve
flexibility of movements, master body-shifting, develop
muscles and balance, and control breathing. They also enable
us to acquire techniques that cannot be obtained from other
forms of training.
WHY ARE THERE 24 PATTERNS?
The reason for twenty-four patterns in Tae Kwon Do is
because the founder, Major General Choi Hong Hi, compared the
life of a man with a day in the life of the earth and believed
that some people should strive to bequeath a good spiritual
legacy to coming generations and in doing so, gain
immortality.
Therefore, if we can leave something behind
for the welfare of mankind, maybe it will be the most
important thing to happen in our lives, as the founder says:
"Here I leave Tae Kwon Do for mankind as a trace
of a man of the late 20th Century. The twenty-four patterns
represent twenty-four hours, one day or of my life."
Students may also be asked the meaning of the pattern
that they have performed, or asked how many movements it is
made up of. The meanings are below:
CHON-JI means literally the "Heaven and the Earth". It is
in the Orient interpreted as the creation of the world or
the beginning of human history. Therefore it is the initial
pattern played by the beginner. The pattern consists of two
similar parts ? one to represent the Heaven and the other
the Earth.
DAN GUN is named after the Holy Dan Gun, the legendary
founder of Korea in the year 2333 BC.
DO SAN is the pseudonym of the patriot Ahn Ch'ang Ho
(1876 - 1938) who devoted his life to furthering the
education of Korea and its independent
movement.
WON HYO was the noted monk who introduced Buddhism in the
Silla dynasty in the year 686 AD.
YUL GOK was the pseudonym of a great philosopher and
scholar Yi I (1536 - 1584 AD) nicknamed the Confucius of
Korea. The 38 movements refer to his birthplace on 38
degrees latitude and the diagram represents the
scholar.
JOONG GUN is named after the patriot An Joong-Gun who
assassinated Hiro Bumi Ito, the Japanese governor general of
Korea. Kown is the man who played the leading part in the
Korea-Japan merger. There are thirty-two movements in this
pattern to represent Mr. An's age when he was executed in
the Lui-Shung prison in 1910.
TOI-GYE is the penname of the noted scholar Yi Hwang
(16th Century AD), an authority on neo-Confucianism. The 37
movements of the pattern refer to his birthplace on the
37degree latitude - the diagram represents the
scholar.
HWA RANG is named after the Hwa Rang Youth Group, which
originated in the Silla Dynasty about 600 AD. This group
eventually became the actual driving force for the
unification of the three kingdoms of Korea.
CHOONG-MOO was the given name of the great admiral Yi
Sun-Sin of the Yi Dynasty. He was reputed to have invented
the first armored battleship (Kobukson), which was the
precursor of the present day submarine in 1592 AD. The
reason why this pattern ends up 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.
The Tae Kwon Do
Oath Higher-grade students may be asked to relay the
Tae Kwon Do oath.
"As a student of Tae Kwon Do, I do solemnly pledge to
abide by the rules
and regulations of the Tae Kwon-Do
Association, to Strive always to be modest,
courteous and
respectful to all members, in particular my seniors, to put
the art into use
only for self-defense or defense of the
weak and never to abuse my knowledge of the
art."
The Tenets of Tae Kwon Do
There are five tenets that students should learn and
understand.
- COURTESY: To be polite to one's instructors,
seniors and fellow students.
- INTEGRITY: To be honest with oneself. One must be
able to define right and wrong.
- PERSERVERANCE: To achieve a goal, whether it is a
higher grade or any technique, one must not stop trying, one
must preserver.
- SELF-CONTROL: To lose one's temper when
performing techniques against an opponent can be very
dangerous and shows lack of control. To be able to live,
work ad train within one's capability shows good
self-control.
- INDOMITABLE SPIRIT: To show courage, when you and
your principles are pitted against overwhelming odds.
Belts
A student may be asked to explain the meaning of the color
of the belt that he/she is going for. The meanings are
below:
- WHITE: Signifies innocence, as that of the
beginning student who has no previous knowledge of Tae Kwon
Do.
- YELLOW: Signifies Earth, from which a plant
sprouts and takes root as Tae Kwon Do foundation is being
laid.
- GREEN: Signifies the plant's growth as Tae Kwon
Do skills begin to develop.
- BLUE: Signifies the Heaven towards which the
plant matures into a towering tree as training in Tae Kwon
Do progresses.
- RED: Signifies danger, cautioning the student to
exercise control, and warning the opponent to stay away.
- Black: Opposite to white, therefore signifying
the maturity and proficiency in Tae Kwon Do and also
indicated the wearer's imperviousness to darkness and fear.
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