Patterns & Terminology

Patterns (Poomse, Tul)

These are pre-arranged sequences of attack and defence movements against imaginary opponents. They are designed to improve power, accuracy and speed and to make techniques reflex actions rather than the result of (slow) conscious thought. The names of the patterns for coloured belt grade (kup) students is from the Tae guek (Tai Chi in Chinese) the ultimate principle in oriental philosophy. Tae means “great” and guek means “ultimate”; or “eternal”. Each pattern represents one of the eight Trigrams of the I Ching.

Coloured Belt Patterns

• KORYO: Taken after name of Korean dynasty: 27 movements.
• KEJIM GANG: Represents diamond, suggesting great strength: 27 movements.
• TAE BAEK: Old name of Baek Doo, highest mountain in Korea and site of mythical founding of Korea by Dan Gun: 26 movements
• PYONG WON: Plain: 31 movements
• SIP JIM: Decimal: 31 movements
• JI TAE: Earth: 28 movements
• CHON KWON: Sky: 27 movements
• HAN SOO: Water: 27 movements
• I LYO: Oneness: 27 movements

Numbers

The Korean command numbers are used when calling out movements or techniques to be performed, or when counting out a fallen contestant in a tournament. The second set of numbers, derived from the Chinese, are used when numbering things such as patterns or kup (grades).

Korean Terminology Glossary

• AN PALMOK MAKGI – Inner forearm block
• AP – Front
• AP CHAGI – Front kick
• AP CHA-OLLIGI – Front raising kick
• AP CHUK – Ball of foot
• AP DOLLYO CHAGI – Front turning kick
• AP JOOMUK – Forefist
• AP KOOBI – Long walking stance
• AP SOGI – Short walking stance
• ARAE MAKGI – Low block
• BAL – Foot
• BALNAL – Foot-knife (-sword)
• BANDAE CHIRUGI – Reverse punch
• BANDAE DOLLYO CHAGI – Reverse turning kick
• BANDAL CHAGI – Crescent kick
• BAN JAYOO KYORUKI – Semi-free sparring
• BARO CHIRUGI – Obverse punch
• BIT CHAGI – 45 degree turning kick
• BITURO CHAGI – Twisting kick
• BOM SOGI – Tiger (cat) stance
• CHAGI – Kicking
• CHA-RYUT (SOGI) – Attention (stance)
• CHIGI – Striking
• CHIKO CHAGI – Axe kick
• CHIRUGI – Thrusting, stabbing
• CHOONBI (SOBI) – Ready (stance)
• DARI – Leg
• DO BOK – Training suit; uniform
• DO JANG – Training hall
• DOLLYO CHAGI – Turning kick; roundhouse kick
• DOLLYO CHIREUGI – Turning punch
• DOO CHIRUGI – Double punch
• DUNG JOOMUK – Back fist
• DWI – Back
• DWICHUK – Bottom of heel
• DWIJIBO CHIREUGI – Upset punch
• DWIKUMCHI – Back of heel
• DWIRO DORA – About turn
• DWIT CHAGI – Back kick
• DWIT KOOBI – L stance
• EEBON KYORUKI – Two-step sparring
• GAMSA HAMNIDA – Thank you
• GOJUNG SOGI – Fixed stance
• GOLCHO CHAGI – Hooking kick
• GUMAN – Stop
• HANBAL SOGI – One-leg stance
• HANBON KYORUKI – One-step sparring
• HECHYO MAKGI – Wedging block
• HO GOO – Trunk protector (body armour)
• ILGO MAKGI – Rising block
• JAYOO KYORUKI – Free sparring
• JIRUGI – Hitting
• JEBI POOM MOKCHIKI – Rising knife-hand block with inward knife-hand strike
• JOOMUK – Fist
• JUCHUM SOGI – Sitting stance
• KIBON POOMSE – Basic pattern
• KIHAP – Shout
• KOA SOGI – X Stance
• KURYONG OPSHE – In your own time
• KYONG RE – Bow
• KYORUKI – Sparring
• KYUK PA – Breaking
• MAKGI – Block(ing)
• MOM – Body
• MOMTONG – Middle
• MOMTONG MAKGI – Middle section block
• NARANI SOGI – Parallel stance
• PAKAT PALMOK MAKGI – Outer forearm block
• PAL – Arm
• PALKUP – Elbow
• PALMOK – Wrist
• PALMOK DAEBI MAKGI – Forearm guarding block
• PARO – Return (to start position)
• POOM SE – Pattern (-TUL) (pron. “poom say”)
• PYONGI SOGI – Parallel stance
• SABUM NIM (KAE) – (School) Instructor; “SIR!”
• SAJU CHIREUGI – Four-directional punching
• SANBON KYORUKI – Three-step sparring
• SAN MAKGI – W-shaped block; mountain block
• SHIJAK – Begin
• SOGI – Stance(s)
• SON – Hand
• SONKUT – Spearfinger; fingertips
• SON-NAL – Knife-hand
• SON-NAL DAEBI MAKGI – Knife-hand guarding block
• SON-NAL DUNG – Reverse knife-hand; ridgehand
• TUL – Pattern (-TUL)
• TWIMYO CHAGI – Jumping kick
• TWIYO CHAGI – Jumping kick
• YOLGUL – Face
• YOP – Side
• YOP CHAGI – Side kick
• YOP CHIREUGI – Side punch