Patterns - Lancs TaeKwonDo

What are patterns

Patterns are fundamental to the improvement of technique in TaeKwonDo. Each pattern teaches a student a new technique or level of complexity using an existing technique.
A pattern is a combination of attack and defence movements in a fixed and logical sequence which could be used to defend against one or more imaginary opponents.
Patterns are practised to improve TaeKwonDo techniques, to develop speed and power, improve flexibility, master body shifting, develop muscles, balance and breathe control.
Each meaning gives the student a better understanding of the perseverance of the Koreans to gain independence from other countries who have occupied Korea over the centuries. An understanding of the continuous struggle to achieve this independence should give students of TaeKwonDo the incentive to persevere with the learning and perfecting of TaeKwonDo techniques.

General Choi’s reason for 24 Patterns

The reason for 24 patterns is because the founder, Major General Choi Hong Hi, compared the life of a man with a day in the life of the earth. He believed that 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 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”

Coloured Belt Patterns

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CHON-JI TUL

Literally means the “Heaven 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. This pattern consists of two similar parts – one to represent the Heaven and the other the Earth. (19 movements)

Ready Stance – Parallel Ready Stance

STEP – MOVE – STANCE – TECHNIQUE

1. Left 90 Deg – Walking – Low Section Outer Forearm Block

2. Forward – Walking – Middle Punch

3. Right 180 Deg – Walking – Low Section Outer Forearm Block

4. Forward. – Walking – Middle Punch

5. Left 90 Deg – Walking – Low Section Outer Forearm Block

6. Forward – Walking – Middle Punch

7. Right 180 Deg – Walking – Low Section Outer Forearm Block

8. Forward – Walking – Middle Punch

9. Left 90 Deg – L – Middle Section Inner Forearm Block

10. Forward – Walking – Middle Punch

11. Right 180 Deg – L – Middle Section Inner Forearm Block

12. – Forward – Walking – Middle Punch

13. Left 90 Deg – L – Middle Section Inner Forearm Block

14. Forward – Walking – Middle Punch

15. Right 180 Deg – L – Middle Section Inner Forearm Block

16. Forward – Walking – Middle Punch

17. Forward – Walking – Middle Punch

18. Backward – Walking – Middle Punch

19. Backward – Walking – Middle Punch

End – move left foot to Parallel Ready Stance

DAN-GUN TUL

Dan-Gun is named after the Holy Dan – Gun, the legendary founder of Korea in the year of 2333 B.C. (21 movements)

Ready Stance – Parallel Ready Stance

STEP – MOVE – STANCE – TECHNIQUE

1. Left 90 Deg. – L. – Middle Knife Hand Guarding Block
2. Forward. – Walking. – High Punch
3. Right 180 Deg. – L. – Middle Knife Hand Guarding Block
4. Forward. – Walking. – High Punch
5. Left 90 Deg. – Walking. – Low Section Outer Forearm Block
6. Forward. – Walking. – High Punch
7. Forward. – Walking. – High Punch
8. Forward. – Walking. – High Punch
9. Left 270 Deg. – L. – Twin Forearm Block
10. Forward. – Walking. – High Punch
11. Right 180 Deg. – L. – Twin Forearm Block
12. Forward. – Walking. – High Punch
13. Left 90 Deg. – Walking. – Low Section Outer Forearm Block
14. Walking. – Rising Block
15. Forward. – Walking. – Rising Block
16. Forward. – Walking. – Rising Block
17. Forward. – Walking. – Rising Block
18. Left 270 Deg. – L. – Middle Knife Hand Strike
19. Forward. – Walking. – High Punch
20. Right 180 Deg. – L. – Middle Knife Hand Strike
21. Forward. – Walking – High Punch

End – move right foot to Parallel Ready Stance

DO-SAN TUL

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 independent movement. (24 movements)

Ready Stance – Parallel Ready Stance

STEP – MOVE – STANCE – TECHNIQUE

1. Left 90 Deg. – Walking. – High Outer Forearm Block
2. Walking. – Middle Punch
3. Right 180 Deg. – Walking. – High Outer Forearm Block
4. Walking. – Middle Punch
5. Left 90 Deg. – L. – Knife Hand Guarding Block
6. Forward. – Walking. – Middle Straight Fingertip Thrust
7. Left 360 Deg. – Walking. – Release and High Back Fist Strike
8. Forward. – Walking. – High Back Fist Strike
9. Left 270 Deg. – Walking. – High Outer Forearm Punch
10. Walking. – Middle Punch
11. Right 180 Deg. – Walking. – High Outer Forearm Punch
12. Walking. – Middle Punch
13. Left 120 Deg. – Walking. – Middle Wedging Block
14. Forward. – Front Snap Kick
15. Land in. – Walking. – Middle Punch
16. Walking. – Middle Reverse Punch
17. Right 60 Deg. – Walking. – Middle Wedging Block
18. Forward. – Front Snap Kick
19. Land in. – Walking. – Middle Punch
20. Walking. – Middle Reverse Punch
21. Left 30 Deg. – Walking. – Rising Block
22. Forward. – Walking. – Rising Block
23. Left 270 Deg. – Sitting. – Middle Knife Hand Strike
24. Right 180 Deg. – Sitting. – Middle Knife Hand Strike

End – move right foot to Parallel Ready Stance

WON-HYO TUL

Won-Hyo was the noted monk who introduced Buddhism to the Silla Dynasty in the year 686 A.D. (28 movements)

Ready Stance – Close Ready Stance A

STEP – MOVE – STANCE – TECHNIQUE

1. Left 90 Deg. – L. – Twin Forearm Block

2. L. – High Inward Knife Hand Strike

3. Slip Forward. – Fixed. – Middle Side Punch

4. Right 180 Deg. – L. – Twin Forearm Block

5. L. – High Inward Knife Hand Strike

6. Slip Forward. – Fixed. – Middle Side Punch

7. Left 90 Deg. – Bending Ready. – Forearm Guarding Block

8. Forward. – Middle Side Kick

9. Land in. – L. – Knife Hand Guarding Block

10. Forward. – L. – Knife Hand Guarding Block

11. Forward. – L. – Knife Hand Guarding Block

12. Forward. – Walking. – Middle Straight Fingertip Thrust

13. Left 270 Deg. – L. – Twin Forearm Block

14. L. – High Inward Knife Hand Strike

15. Slip Forward. – Fixed. – Middle Side Punch

16. Right 180 Deg. – L. – Twin Forearm Block

17. L. – High Inward Knife Hand Strike

18. Slip Forward. – Fixed. – Middle Side Punch

19. Left 90. – Walking. – Circular Block

20. Forward. – Low Front Kick

21. Land in. – Walking. – Middle Reverse Punch

22. Walking. – Circular Block

23. Low Front Kick.

24. Land in. – Walking. – Middle Reverse Punch

25. Right up to. – Bending Ready. – Forearm Guarding Block

26. Middle Side Kick

27. Left 270 Deg. – L. – Middle Forearm Guarding Block

28. Right 180 Deg. – L. – Middle Forearm Guarding Block

End – move right foot to Ready Stance

YUL-GOK TUL

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

Ready Stance – Parallel Ready Stance

STEP – MOVE – STANCE – TECHNIQUE

1. To left. – Sitting. – Left Punch Measure

2. Sitting. – Middle Punch

3. Sitting. – Middle Punch

4. L to R. – Sitting. – Right Punch Measure

5. Sitting. – Middle Punch

6. Sitting. – Middle Punch

7. Right 45 Deg. – Walking. – High Inner Forearm block

8. Forward. – Walking. – Low Front Kick

9. Land in. – Walking. – Middle Punch

10. Walking. – Middle Reverse Punch

11. Left 90 Deg. – Walking. – High Inner Forearm block

12. Forward. – Walking. – Low Front Kick

13. Land in. – Walking. – Middle Punch

14. Walking. – Middle Reverse Punch

15. Right 45 Deg. – Walking. – High Hooking Block

16. Walking. – High Hooking Block

17. Waling. – Middle Punch

18. Forward. – Walking. – High Hooking Block

19. Walking. – High Hooking Block

20. Walking. – Middle Punch

21. Forward. – Walking. – Middle Punch

22. L to R. – Bending Ready

23. Forward. – Side Kick

24. Land in. – Walking. – Middle Front Elbow Thrust

25. Right 180 Deg. – Bending Ready

26. Side Kick

27. Land in. – Walking. – Middle Front Elbow Thrust

28. Left 90 Deg. – L. – Twin Knife Hand Block

29. Forward. – Walking. – Straight Fingertip Thrust

30. Right 180 Deg. – L. – Twin Knife Hand Block

31. Forward. – Walking. – Straight Fingertip Thrust

32. Left 90 Deg. – Walking. – High Outer Forearm Block

33. Walking. – Middle Reverse Punch

34. Forward. – Walking. – High Outer Forearm Block

35. Walking. – Middle Reverse Punch

36. Jump Forward. – X. – High Back Fist Strike

37. Left 270 Deg – Walking. – High Double Forearm Block

38. Left 180 Deg. – Walking. – High Double Forearm Block

End – move right foot to Ready Stance

JOONG-GUN TUL

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 the leading part of 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 (1910AD).

Ready Stance – Parallel Ready Stance

STEP – MOVE – STANCE – TECHNIQUE

1. To left. – L. – Reverse Knife Hand Block

2. Low Front Snap Kick

3. Forward. – Rear Foot. – Middle Upward Palm Block

4. Right 180 Deg. – L. – Reverse Knife Hand Block

5. Low Front Snap Kick

6. Forward. – Rear Foot. – Middle Upward Palm Block

7. Left 90 Deg. – L. – Middle Knife Hand Guarding Block

8. – Slip Front Foot. – Walking. – Upper Elbow Thrust

9. Forward. – L. – Middle Knife Hand Guarding Block

10. Slip Front Foot. – Walking. – Upper Elbow Thrust

11. Forward. – Walking. – Upper Elbow Thrust

12. Forward. – Walking. – Twin Fist Upset Punch

13. Step Turn. – Walking. – X Fist Rising Block

14. Left 90 Deg. – L. – High Back Fist Strike

15. L. – Release From Grab

16. Slip Front Foot. – Walking. – High Reverse Punch

17. L to R move R. – L. – High Pack Fist Strike

18. L. – Release From Grab

19. Slip Front Foot. – Walking. – High Reverse Punch

20. R to L Forward. – Walking. – High Double Forearm Block

21. Pull in L Foot. – L. – Middle Punch

22. Forward. – Middle Side Kick

23. Land in. – Walking. – Middle Guarding Block

24. Pull in R Foot. – L. – Middle Punch

25. Forward. – Middle Side Kick

26. Land in. – L. – Middle Guarding Block

27. Slip L Foot. – Low. – Pressing Block

28. Forward. – L. – Middle Guarding Block

29. Slip R Foot. – Low. – Pressing Block

30. L to R turn 90 Deg. – Close. – Middle Circular Punch (Slow)

31. R Forward L. – Fixed. – U Shape Block

32. R to L move L. – Fixed. – U Shape Block

End – move left foot to Ready Stance

TOI-GYE TUL

Toi-Gye is the pen-name of the noted scholar Yi Hwang (16th A.D.), an authority on neo-confucianism. The 37 movements of the pattern refer to his birthplace on 37 degrees latitude, the diagram represents “scholar”.

Ready Stance – Close Ready Stance B

STEP MOVE STANCE TECHNIQUE

1. Left. – L. – Middle Inner Forearm Block

2. Slip L Foot. – Walking. – Upset Fingertip Thrust

3. L to R. – Close. – Low Low Block/High Back Fist (Slow)

4. Right. – L. – Middle Inner Forearm Block

5. Slip R Foot. – Walking. – Upset Fingertip Thrust

6. R to L. – Close. – Low Block/High Back Fist (Slow)

7. Forward. – Walking. – Low X Block

8. High Twin Fist Punch

9. Forward. – Front Snap Kick

10. Land in. – Walking. – Middle Obverse Punch

11. Walking. – Middle Reverse Punch

12. L to R. – Close. – Posture Move Hands on Hips

13. Left 90 Deg. – Sitting. – W Shape Block

14. Right 180 Deg. – Sitting. – W Shape Block

15. Right 180 Deg. – Sitting. – W Shape Block

16. Left 180 Deg. – Sitting. – W Shape Block

17. Right 180 Deg. – Sitting. – W Shape Block

18. Right 180 Deg. – Sitting. – W Shape Block

19. R to L Forward. – L. – Low Double Forearm Block

20. Slip Left Foot. – Walking. – Double Hand Grasp

21. Forward. – Upward Knee Kick

22. Turn. – L. – Middle Knife Hand Guarding Block

23. Forward. – L Low Front Kick

24. Land in. – Walking. – High Flat Fingertip Thrust

25. Forward. – L. – Middle Knife Hand Guarding Block

26. Forward. – R Low Front Kick

27. Land in. – Walking. – High Flat Fingertip Thrust

28. Back. – L. – High Backfist and Low Block

29. Forward Jump. – X. – Low X Block

30. Slip R Foot. – Walking. – High Double Forearm Block

31. Left 270 Deg. – L. – Low Knife Hand Guarding Block

32. Slip L FootWalking. – Circular Block

33. L to R. – L. – Low Knife Hand Guarding Block

34. Slip R Foot. – Walking. – Circular Block

35. Pivot Feet. – Walking. – Circular Block

36. Pivot Feet. – Walking. – Circular Block

37. Move R Foot. – Sitting. – Middle Punch

End – move right foot to Ready Stance

HWA-RANG TUL

Hwa-Rang is named after the Hwa-Rang youth group which originated in the Silla Dynasty about 1400 years ago. 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 Tae Kwon Do developed into maturity.

Ready Stance – Close Ready Stance C

STEP – MOVE – STANCE – TECHNIQUE

1. Left. – Sitting. – Middle Palm Pushing Block

2. Middle Punch

3. Middle Punch

4. Right 190 Deg. – L. – Twin Forearm Block

5. Slide Feet. – Upward Punch

6. Fixed. – Middle Side Punch

7. Pull R Foot. – Vertical. – Downward Knife Hand Strike

8. Forward. – Walking. – Middle Punch

9. Left 90 Deg. – Walking. – Lower Outer Forearm Block

10. Forward. – Walking. – Middle Punch

11. Slide Foot. – Grasp Right Fist

12. Side Kick, Knife Hand Strike

13. Forward. – Walking. – Middle Punch

14. Forward. – Walking. – Middle Punch

15. Left 270 Deg. – L. – Middle Knife Hand Guarding Block

16. Forward. – Walking. – Middle Straight Fingertip Thrust

17. Left 180 Deg. – L. – Middle Knife Hand Guarding Block

18. Middle Turning Kick

19. Middle Turning Kick. – Land in. – L. – Knife Hand Guarding Block

20. Left 90 Deg. – Walking. – Low Outer Forearm Block

21. Pull L Foot. – L. – Middle Punch

22. Forward. – L. – Middle Punch

23. Forward. – L. – Middle Punch

24. Slide L Foot. – Walking. – Low X Fist Block

25. – Slide Forward. – L. – Side Elbow Thrust

26. – Left 90 Deg. – Close. – Middle Inner/Low Outer Block

27. Change Position of Hands

28. Left Forward. – L. – Knife Hand Guarding Block

29. Right 180 Deg. – L. – Knife Hand Guarding Block

End – move right foot to Ready Stance

CHOONG-MOO TUL

Choong-Moo was the given name to the great Admiral Yi Sun-Sin of the Joseon Dynasty. He was reputed to have invented the first armoured battleship (kobukson) which was the precursor of the present day submarine in 1592 A.D. The reason why this pattern ends with a 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. (30 movements).

Ready Stance – Parallel Ready Stance

STEP – MOVE – STANCE – TECHNIQUE

1. Left 90 Deg. – L. – Twin Knife Hand Block

2. – Forward. – Walking. – High Knife Hand Strike/Left Backhand

3. Right 180 Deg. – L. – Knife Hand Guarding Block

4. Forward. – Walking. – Flat Fingertip Thrust

5. Left 90 Deg. L. – Knife Hand Guarding Block

6. Right 180 Deg. – Bending Ready

7. Middle Side Kick

8. Left 180 Deg. – L. – Middle Knife Hand Guarding Block

9. Jumping Right Side Kick. – Land. – L. – Knife Hand Guarding Block

10. Left 270 Deg. – L. – Low Outer Forearm Block

11. Slide Left. – Walking. – Both Hands Grab Head

12. Upward Knee Kick

13. Left 180 Deg. – Walking. – High Reverse Knife Hand Strike

14. High Turning Kick

15. Foot to Foot. – Middle Back Kick

16. Right 180 Deg. – L. – Middle Forearm Guarding Block

17. Middle Turning Kick

18. Right 90 Deg. – L. – U Shape Block

19. Jump Anti-CW. – L. – Middle Knife Hand Guarding Block – 360 Deg

20. Forward. – Walking. – Fingertip Upset Thrust

21. Pull L Foot. – L. – High Back Fist and Low Block

22. – Forward. – Walking. – Middle Straight Fingertip Thrust

23. Left 270 Deg. – Walking. – High Double Forearm Block

24. Forward. – Sitting. – Middle Inward Outer Forearm Block. – High Back Fist

25. Left 180 Deg. – Middle Side Kick

26. Middle Side Kick

27. Right 180 Deg. L. – Middle X Knife Hand Check Block

28. Forward. – Walking. – Upward Twin Palm Block

29. Right 180 Deg. – Walking. – Rising Block

30. Walking. – Reverse Middle Punch

End – move right foot to Ready Stance

Black Belt Patterns

Close

KWANG-GAE TUL

Kwang-Gae is named 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.

PO-EUN TUL

Po-Eun is the pseudonym of a loyal subject Chong Mong-Chu (1400 A.D.) 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. (36 movements)

GAE-BAEK TUL

Gae-Baek is named after Ge-Baek, a great general in the Baek Je Dynasty (660 A.D.). The diagram (I) represents his severe and strict military discipline. (44 movements)

EUI-AM TUL

Eui-Am is the pseudonym of Son Byong Hi, leader of the Korean independence movement on March 1, 1919. The 45 movements relate to his age when he changed the name of Dong Hak (Oriental Culture) to Chondo Kyo (Heavenly Way Religion) in 1905. The diagram (I) represents his indomitable spirit displayed while dedicating himself to the prosperity of his nation. (45 movements)

CHOONG-JANG TUL

Choong-Jang is the pseudonym given to General Kim Duk Ryang who lived during the Joseon Dynasty, fifteenth century. This pattern ends with a left-hand attack to symbolise the tragedy of his death at 27 in prison before he was able to reach full maturity. (52 movements)

KO-DANG TUL

Ko-Dang is the pseudonym of the patriot Cho Man Sik who dedicated his life to the independence movement and education of his people. The 39 movements signify his times of imprisonment and his birthplace on the 39th parallel.

JUCHE TUL

Juche is a philosophical idea that man is the master of everything and decides everything. In other words, the idea that man is the master of the world and his own destiny. It is said that this idea was rooted in Baekdu Mountain, North Korea. The diagram represents Baekdu mountain in North Korea. (45 moves). This idea is strongly linked to Communist ideology of North Korea.

CHOI-YONG TUL

Choi-Yong is named after General Choi Yong, Premier and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces during the fourteenth century Koryo Dynasty. Choi Yong was greatly respected for his loyalty, patriotism, and humility. He was executed by his subordinate commanders, headed by General Yi Sung Gae, who later became the first king of the Joseon Dynasty.(46 movements)

SAM-IL TUL

Sam-il Denotes the historical date of the independence movement of Korea which began throughout the country on March 1, 1919. The 33 movements in the pattern stand for the 33 patriots who planned the movement. (33 Movements)

YOO-SIN TUL

Yoo-Sin is named after General Kim Yoo Sin, commanding general during the Silla Dynasty, who unified the three separate kingdoms of Korea. The 68 movements refer to the last two figures of 668 A.D, the year Korea was united. (68 movements)