Patterns (Tul) Information

 
While students will be taught the appropriate Tul for their rank in class by the instructors, a Testing Syllabus is available to purchase with detailed, step-by-step instructions for 
all patterns, step-sparring and required knowledge.  This is very helpful for practicing at home 
or outside of class. See your instructor to purchase. 
 

Basic Pattern Information - The following is from General Choi's Encyclopedia of TaeKwon-Do:


  1. Pattern should begin and end at exactly the same spot. This will indicate the performer's accuracy.
  2. Correct posture and facing must be maintained at all times.  Muscles of the body should be either tensed or relaxed at the proper critical moments in the exercise.  The exercise should be performed in a rhythmic movement with an absence of stiffness.  Movement should be accelerated or decelerated according to the instructions in this.  Each pattern should be perfected before moving to the next .  Students should know the purpose of each movement.   Students should perform each movement with realism.  Attack and defense techniques should be equally distributed among right and left hands and feet.



The Reason for 24 Patterns
"The life of a human being, perhaps 100 years, can be considered as a day when compared with eternity.  Therefore, we mortals are no more than simple travelers who pass by the eternal years of an eon in a day.   It is evident that no one can live more than a limited amount of time.   Nevertheless, most people foolishly enslave themselves to materialism as if they could live for thousands of years.   And some people strive to bequeath a good spiritual legacy for coming generations, in this way, gaining immortality.   Obviously, the spirit is perpetual while material is not; therefore, what we can do to leave behind something for the welfare of mankind is, perhaps, the most important thing in our lives."

"Here I leave TaeKwon-Do for mankind as a trace of man of the late 20th century.   The 24 patterns represent 24 hours, one day, or all my life.   The name of the pattern, the number of movements, and the diagrammatic symbol of each pattern symbolizes either heroic figures in Korean history or instances relating to historical events."
 

Colored Belt Patterns
For videos of the patterns, go to testing requirements on the Traditional TaeKwon-Do Alliance site.

Chon-Ji Chon-Ji means literally "the Heaven the Earth."   In the Orient it is interpreted as the creation of the world or the beginning of human history, therefore, it is the initial pattern played by the beginner.   This pattern consists of two similar parts; one represents Heaven and the other represents Earth.

Movements = 19
Diagram = Plus sign

Dan-Gun Dan-Gun is named after the Holy Dan-Gun, the legendary founder of Korea in the year of 2,333 BC.

Movements = 21
Diagram = Capital I

Do_San Do-San is the pseudonym of the patriot Ahn Chang-Ho (1876-1938).   The 24 movements represent his entire life, which he devoted to furthering the education of Korea and to its independence movement.

Movements = 24
Diagram = Right stair step

Won-Hyo Won-Hyo was the noted monk who introduced Buddhism to the Silla Dynasty in the year 686 A.D.
Movements = 28
Diagram = Capital I

Yul-Gok Yul-Gok is the pseudonym of the great philosopher and scholar Yi I (1536-1584), nicknamed the "Confucius of Korea."   The 38 movements refer to his birthplace on the 38th latitude and the pattern diagram represents the Chinese character for "scholar."
Movements = 38
Diagram = Scholar sign

Joong-Gun Joong-Gun is named after the patriot Ahn Joong-Gun who assassinated Hiro-Bumi Ito, the first Japanese governor-general of Korea.   Ito was known as the man who played the leading part in the Korea-Japan merger.   The 32 movements represent Mr. Ahn's age when he was executed at Lui-Shung prison in 1910.
Movements = 32
Diagram = Capital I

Toi-Gye Toi-Gye is the pen name for the noted scholar Yi Hwang (16th century), an authority on neo-Confucianism.   The 37 movements refer to his birthplace on the 37th latitude and the diagram represents the Chinese character for "scholar."
Movements = 37
Diagram = Scholar sign

Hwa-Rang Hwa-Rang is named after the Hwa-Rang youth group which originated in the Silla Dynasty in the early 7th century.   This 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 TaeKwan-Do developed into maturity.
Movements = 29
Diagram = Capital I

Choong-Moo* 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 to the present day submarine.   The reason for this pattern ending in a left-hand attack is to symbolize his regrettable death.   Checked by the forced reservation of his loyalty to the king, Yi Sun-Sin was given no chance in his lifetime to show his unrestrained potentiality.
Movements = 30
Diagram = Capital I

              *  Choong-Moo is actually a black belt pattern but is presented here because it is needed for high red belts to pass their blackbelt testing.

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