PATTERNS OVERVIEW

Patterns take powerful single self-defense and attack techniques and tie them together as a story series in order to provide a way to practice applying focus and power in successively more demanding dynamic situations. To fully realize this intention the student must apply power in a realistic manner within the various imaginary pattern "encounters". Practicing patterns with focus and power, while using hard and soft, high and low, fast and slow, continuous and separate, develops a wide range of responses to be further applied to sparring, self-defense and board breaking. When performed correctly a pattern should end in the same location it began.

GUIDELINES AND EXPECTATIONS

Presented here are some fundamental practices to incorporate into your pattern training. Also know that these practices are applicable in many places in addition to patterns, so strive to do so.

Look with your eyes (peripherally) prior to turning your head when starting to change directions. Your eyes can move faster than your head so when changing directions first turn your eyes as far as they can go sideways to precede your head around. Doing so will enable you to see what is there and react before your head is fully facing the new direction.

Keep low in your stances throughout a pattern unless directed otherwise. This will give you more stability, your legs will be able to step further, and you can instantly jump without dipping down first and revealing your intention to your opponent. This is especially applicable in sparring.

Know the purpose/meaning of the pattern moves or techniques. Remember....knowing the pattern's steps in the correct order does not mean a student "knows" the pattern. This is obviously necessary but is only the beginning of truly knowing a pattern. Learning and incorporating the skills needed to correctly perform individual techniques, combination techniques, and groups of techniques (pausing between or speeding up where indicated) while using UTF Training Principles, the Fundamentals of Movement and Alignment, as well as the Principles of Living Force demonstrates a student's proficiency. Knowing applications for all the moves in a pattern, and having the ability to fit the moves into reasonable sparring sequences is an essential part of pattern practice. This demonstrates how our training overlaps multiple areas.

It is very important to maintain the center awareness you have when completing many techniques since that awareness is needed as the starting point to begin the moves that follow most effectively. While turning your center awareness OFF as a movement is finished is quite usual (especially when counting, or seeing the pattern steps as individual, separate movements) it is counter-productive to learning how to flow maximum energy from one technique to the next. This is the larger, more important skill to be learned from the practice of all patterns.

INTRODUCTION TO WRITTEN PATTERN (HYUNG) INSTRUCTIONS

The “Short Version” set of Pattern Instructions is intended to serve as a quick reference for

students who have already learned the more complete instructions, whether from more expansive written instructions or directly from Instructors. Do not attempt to learn a new pattern with these instructions since information about internal connections and transitions is missing. “Reminders” are usually supplied above the instructions in order to emphasize important features of that pattern. In order to speed the reading needed to find specific information various abbreviations, symbols and conventions have been adopted:

1. Since kicks, punches, strikes and blocks are most often performed at middle section, to save

space and reading time in all the pattern instructions these will be assumed to be middle

section unless described otherwise in bold in order to draw attention to the less-used levels.

“Right punch” would mean “right middle punch”, while

“Right high punch” would mean the less often used high section version of the punch

2. Frequently used stances are given abbreviations:

w-stance walking stance

L-stance L-stance

s-stance sitting stance

f-stance fixed-stance

3. Frequently used techniques are given shortened names:

Low-block = outer forearm low outward block

Side-block = inner forearm outward middle side block

Side-kick = foot-sword edge side piercing kick (not thrusting, pushing, or rising)

(Note that otherwise “low” and “side” are used as section and location descriptions)

4. The most frequently used tool for a technique is assumed, or it will be further described.

Guarding block = forearm guarding block, otherwise swordarm guarding block

Punch = forefist middle section front pitch, otherwise middle knuckle fist punch

5. A diagram is given of the pattern movements along with pattern orientation. For quicker

reading the various pattern directions are given abbreviations:

facing or moving toward Pattern-Back = >P-B

(Do note that sometimes the head, torso or hips may be facing in one direction while the

direction of the technique is in another: “s-stance >P-F with left knifehand strike >P-L”

Yul-Gok

is the pseudonym of a great philosopher and scholar Yi I (1536-

1584) nicknamed the “Confucius of Korea.” The 38 movements of

this pattern refer to his birthplace on 38º latitude and the

diagram (±) represents “scholar.”

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 (1910).

Toi-Gye

is the penname of the noted scholar Yi Hwang (16th A.D.), an auth-

ority on neo-Confucianism. The 37 movements of this pattern refer

to his birthplace on 37º latitude and the diagram (±) represents

“scholar.”

Hwa-Rang

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 refer to the 29th Infrantry Division, where

Taekwon-Do developed into maturity..

Choong-Moo

was the given name to the great Admiral Yi Sun Sin of the Yi Dy-

nasty. He was reputed to have invented the first armoured battleship

(kobukson) which was the precursor of the present day submarine in

1592 . The reason why this pattern ends up with the left hand attack

is to symbolize his regrettable death having no chance to show his un-

restrained potentiality checked by the forced reservation of his loyalty

to the king.

Gwang-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

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.

Gae-Baek

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.

Ul-Ji

is named after general Ul-Ji Mun Duk who successfully defended Korea against a Chinese invasion force of nearly one million soldiers led by Yang Je in 612 A.D. Ul-Ji, employing hit and run guerilla tactics, was able to decimate a large percentage of the force. The diagram ( )

represents his surname. The 42 movements represent the author's age when he designed the pattern.

note: step 17 should be a jumping reverse side kick.

Choi-Yong

Choi Yong is named after General Choi Yong, Premier and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces during the 14th 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 Yi dynasty.

Moon-Moo

honors the 30th king of the Silla Dynasty. His body was buried near Dae Wang Am (Great King's Rock). According to his will, the body was placed in the sea "Where my soul shall forever defend my land against the Japanese". It is said that the Sok Gul Am (Stone Cave) was built to guard him tomb. The Sok Gul Am is a fine example of the culture of the Silla Dynasty. The 61 movements in this pattern symbolize the last two figures of 661 AD when Moon-Moo came to the throne.

Se-Jong

is named after the greatest Korean king Se Jong who invented the Korean alphabet in 1443, and was a noted meteorologist. The diagram represents the king, while the 24 movements refer to the 24 letters of the Korean alphabet.

PRACTICING PATTERNS WITH FIVE MINDSETS

NOTES TO THE STUDENT

This is a system to help you get the most benefit from practicing the patterns. These mindsets are meant to be practiced in order, after you have learned all the steps of the pattern. At first you may want to spend extended time (several training sessions) on each mindset. When you feel ready, you may do all five mindsets individually in one training session. Practice all of these mindsets at various speeds and remember to relax but stay connected. The principles of living force and fundamentals of movement and alignment are the go to sources when studying the proper way to execute the techniques and stances.

Your instructor and seniors are there for you! Ask questions throughout the process.

1) TECHNIQUE

Do the pattern while mindfully studying the purpose of the technique, the tool used, proper path of execution, location of target and delivery of power.

2) STANCES

Do the pattern while focusing on moving from your center with good posture, proper weight distribution, appropriate height and foot position.

3) CONTINUITY

Do the pattern while focusing on integrating your breathing with the movement, timing, and technique transitions. In intermediate and advanced patterns include focus on groups or combinations of techniques and dynamics (slow, fast, soft and hard).

4) REAL APPLICATION

Do the pattern while imagining opponents attacking you as you apply the techniques of the pattern by blocking their techniques, grasping, thrusting and striking specific vital spots and/or joints on the attackers.

5) YOUR PATTERN

Perform your pattern to the best of your ability while combining the previous four mindsets. Make it your unique expression while staying within the boundaries of our principles, fundamentals and the description of the pattern.