Pattern Meanings

Do-san

Do-san is the pseudonym of the patriot Ahn Ch’ang-Ho (1876 - 1938) who devoted his entire life to furthering the education of Korea and its independence movement.

Won-Hyo

Won-Hyo was the noted monk who introduced Buddhism to the Silla dynasty in the year 686 AD.

Yul-Gok

Yul-Gok is the pseudonym of a great philosopher and scholar Yi I (1536 - 1584 AD) nicknamed the “Confucius of Korea”. The 38 movements in this pattern refer to his birthplace on 38 degrees latitude and the diagram represents “scholar”.

Joong-Gun

Joong-Gun is named after the patriot An Joong-Gun who assassinated Hiro-Bumi Ito, the first Japanese governor-general of Korea, known as the man who played a leading part in the Korea-Japan merger. There are 32 movements in this pattern to represent Mr. An’s age when he was executed at Lui-Shung prison in 1910.

Toi-Gye

Toi-Gye is the penname of the noted scholar Yi Hwang (16th AD), an authority on neo-Confucianism. The 37 movements in this pattern refer to his birthplace on 37 degrees latitude and the diagram represents “scholar”. 

Hwa-Rang

Hwa-Rand is named after the Hwa-Rang youth group which originated in the Silla Dynasty about 1350 years ago. This group eventually became the actual driving force for the unification of the three kingdoms of Korea. The 29 movements in this pattern refer to the 29th Infantry Division where Taekwondo developed into maturity.

Choong-moo

Choong-moo was the given name to the great admiral Yi Sun-Sin of the Yi Dynasty. He was reputed to have invented the first armoured battleship (Kobukson) which was the precursor of the present day submarine in 1952 AD. The reason why this pattern ends up with left hand attack is to symbolise his regrettable death having no chance to show his unrestrained potentiality checked by the forced reservation of his loyalty to the king.

Kwang-Gae

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 for 39 years. 

Chon-Ji

Chon-Ji literally means the “Heavens and the Earth”. It is in the orient interpretted as the creation of the world or the beginning of human history therefore is the initial pattern played by the beginner. This pattern consists of two similar parts, one to represent the Heaven and the other the Earth.

Dan-Gun

Dan-Gun is named after the holy Dan-Gun, the legendary founder of Korea in the year of 2333 BC.

Blue belt meaning

Signifies the heaven towards which the plant matures into a towering tree as training in Tae-Kwon Do progresses.

Red belt meaning

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. Also indicates the wearers imperviousness to darkness and fear.

Back 

Dwit

Flying

Twimyo

Vertical punch 

Sewo jirugi

Upward punch 

Ollyo jirugi

Upset punch

dwijibo jirugi

Downward punch

naeryo jirugi

crescent punch

bandal jirugi

U shape punch

digutja jirugi

Horizontal punch 

soopyong jirugi 

Knuckle Fist punch

songarak joomuk jirugi 

Obverse punch

baro jirugi

Reverse punch

bandae jirugi

X stance

Kyocha sogi

One leg stance

waebal sogi

Bending stance 

guburyo sogi 

Vertical stance

soo jik sogi

Diagonal stance

sasun sogi

Rear foot stance

dwit bal sogi

Low stance

nachuo sogi 

Back elbow strike

dwit palkup taerigi

Double side elbow strike

jau palkup taerigi

Straight elbow strike

sun palkup taerigi

Upper elbow strike

wi palkup taerigi

High elbow strike

nopun palkup taerigi 

Low block

najunde magki

Inward block

anuro magki

Outward block

bakuro magki

Double forearm block 

doo palmok makgi 

Outside block

bakat magki

Inside block

an magki

Rising block

chookyo magki

X fist block 

kyocha joomuk magki

X knife hand block

kyocha sonkal magki

Upward block

ollyo magki

Downward block

naeryo magki

Pressing block 

noollo magki

Hooking block

golcho magki

Wedging block

hechyo magki

Pushing block

miro magki

Scooping block 

duro magki 

Guarding block

daebi magki

Twin forearm

sang palmok magki

Double arc-hand block

doobandalson magki

Circular block 

dolli myo magki 

Nine shape block

gutja magki

U shape block

digutja magki

Turning kick

Dollyo

side piercing kick

yop chagi

side thrusting kick

yop cha tulgi

back piercing kick  

dwitcha jirugi 

front snap kick

ap chagi

stamping kick

cha bapgi

downward kick

naeryo chagi

reverse turning kick 

bandae dollyo chagi 

reverse hooking kick

bandee dollyo goro chagi

twisting kick

bituro chagi

vertical kick

sewo chagi

flying kick 

twimyo chagi 

flying front kick

twimyo ap chagi

flying turning kick

twimyo dollyo chagi

flying reverse turning kick

twimyo bandae dollyo chagi

flying side piercing kick 

twimyo yop chagi 

flying side thrusting kick

twimyo yopcha tulgi

flying high kick

twimyo nopi chagi

flying twisting kick

twimyo bituro chagi

rising kick 

cha olligi

crescent kick

bon dal chagi

checking kick

cha mum chagi

sweeping kick

goro chagi

Meaning of indomitable spirit

To show courage, when you and your principles are pitted against overwhelming odds.

Founder and president of AIMAA

grand master hee Il cho 9th Dan

year AIMAA was founded

1980

left 

wen

right

orun

w-shape block

san magki

upper elbow strike

wi palkup taerigi

arc hand strike 

bandal son taerigi 

X-fist rising block

kyocha joomuk chookyo magki

Courtesy meaning

To be polite to ones’ instructor, seniors and fellow students

vertical fingertip thrust

son sonkut tulgi

release from grab 

japiyo soltay 

high section outer forearm block

nopunde bakat palmok magki

palm pushing block

son badak magki

Integrity meaning

To be honest with oneself. To be able to define right from wrong.

Founder of TKD

Major General Choi Hong Hi 9th Dan

Date TKD was inaugurated

1955

Perseverance meaning 

To achieve a goal, whether it is a higher grade or to perfect a new technique, one must not stop trying.