The Interpretation of Patterns:

There are a total of 24 Tae Kwon-Do 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 anon 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 import thing in
our lives.

The 24 patterns represent 24 hours, one day, or all of a
life.

ChonJi means literally "the Heaven and 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 learned by the beginner. The pattern consists of
two similar parts; one to represent the Heaven and the
other the Earth.


DanGun is named after the holy DanGun, the legendary
founder of Korea in the year of 2334 B.C.

DoSan is the pseudonym of the patriot Ahn ChangHo.
The 24 movements represents his entire life which he
devoted to furthering the education of Korea and its
independence movement.

WonHyo was the noted monk who introduced Buddhism
to the Silla Dynasty in the year of 686 A.D.

YulGok is the pseudonym of a great philosopher and
scholar YiI, nicknamed the "Confucius of Korea". The 38
movements of this pattern refer to his birthplace on the
38 degree latitude and the diagram represents "scholar".

JoongGun is named after the patriot Ahn JoongGun
who assassinated Hiro BumiIto, 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 in Lui Shung prison in
1910.

ToiGye is the pen name of the noted scholar Yi Hwang,
an authority on neo-Confucianism. The 37 movements
of the pattern refer to his birthplace on the 37 latitude,
the diagram represents "scholar".

Black Belt Patterns


HwaRang is named after the Hwa Rang Do youth group
which originated in the Silla Dynasty in the early 7th
century. The 29 movements refer to the 29th Infantry
Division, where Tae Kwon-Do developed into maturity.

ChoongMoo was the name given to the great Admiral
Yi SoonSin of the Yi Dynasty. He was reputed to have
invented the first armored battleship in 1592, which is
said to be the precursor of the present day submarine.
The reason why this pattern ends with a left hand attack
is to symbolize his regrettable death, having no chance
to show his unrestrained potentiality.

KwangGae is named after the famous GwangGae
TohWang, 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 rein for 39 years.

PoEun is the pseudonym of a loyal subject Chong
MoongChu who was a famous poet and whose poem "I
would not serve 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.

GeBaek is named after GeBaek, a great general in the
BaekJe Dynasty. The diagram represents his service
and strict military discipline.

SeJong is named after the greatest Korean King,
SeJong, who invented the Korean alphabet in 1443, and
was also a noted meteorologist, having invented the first
rain gauge in human history. The diagram represents
the king, while the 24 movements refer to the 24 letters
of the Korean alphabet.

YooSin is named after General Kim YooSin, a
commanding general during the Silla Dynasty. The 68
movements refer to the last two figures of 668 A.D. the
year Korea was united. The ready posture signifies a
sword drawn on the right rather than the left side,
symbolizing YooSin's mistake of following his king's
orders to fight with foreign forces against his own nation.

ChoongJang is the pseudonym given to General Kim
Duk Ryang who lived during the Yi Dynasty, 14th
century. This pattern ends with a left-hand attack to
symbolize the tragedy of his death at 27, while in prison,
before he was able to reach full maturity.

ChoiYong is named after General ChoiYoung, Premier
and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed forces during the
14th century Koryo Dynasty. ChoiYoung was greatly
respected for his loyalty, patriotism, and humility. He was
executed by his subordinate commanders headed by
General Yi SungGae, who later became the first king in
the Yi Dynasty.

TongIl denotes the resolution of the unification of Korea
which has been divided since 1945. The diagram
symbolizes the homogenous race.