Taegeuk (taekwondo)

For the Korean symbol, see Taegeuk.
Taegeuk
Hangul 태극
Hanja 太極
Revised Romanization Taegeuk
McCune–Reischauer T'aegŭk
The Korean taegeuk symbol, equivalent to the Chinese symbol Taijitu, representing the unity of opposites (the yin and yang).

In the context of taekwondo the term taegeuk refers to a set of poomsae or forms used to teach taekwondo.[1] A form, or poomsae (also romanized as pumsae or poomse) is a defined pattern of defense-and-attack motions. Outside of the context of taekwondo, the word taegeuk refers to the Taoist principle of the "unity of opposites" (yin and yang). Taegeuk is also the name of the red and blue circular symbol used in the flag of South Korea.

All students studying Kukkiwon-style (i.e., World Taekwondo Federation) taekwondo must learn these forms to advance to a higher level of belt. There are eight taegeuk forms, each one more complex than the last to display the student's mastery of the techniques learned. In order to receive a black belt, the student must perform all taegeuk forms consecutively.

Between 1967 and 1971 Kukkiwon-style taekwondo made use of an older set of forms called the palgwae forms developed by the Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA) with input from some of the original nine kwans of taekwondo. By 1970 additional kwans had joined the KTA so the newer set of taegeuk forms was developed to better represent inputs from all the participating kwans. By 1971 the palgwae forms were considered to be deprecated in favor of the newer taegeuk forms, though some school still teach palgwae forms as well.[2]

Each Taegeuk form symbolizes a specific state thought to be indicative of the belt the student currently holds, and is represented in WTF Taekwondo by trigrams (originally derived from the I-Ching) similar to those found in the four corners of the South Korean flag.

Taegeuk Poomsae

Many schools require that form practice begin with a bow to the flag and/or instructor, but the motions of the forms themselves do not require the bow, nor is it necessary in personal practice.

Belt level Name Symbol Techniques introduced
8th Geup 태극 1장 (Taegeuk Il-jahng) ☰, "天", "건", "Heaven, Light"
  • Walking stance
  • Front stance (also called long stance)
  • Low block
  • Inside block (also called middle block)
  • High block
  • Middle punch
  • Front kick (also called front snap kick)
7th Geup 태극 2장 (Taegeuk Ee-jahng) ☱, "澤", "태", "Lake"
  • High punch
6th Geup 태극 3장 (Taegeuk Sam-jahng) ☲, "火", "이", "Fire"
  • Back stance
  • Knifehand middle block
  • Knifehand neck strike
5th Geup 태극 4장 (Taegeuk Sa-jahng) ☳, "雷", "진", "Thunder"
  • Double knifehand block
  • High knifehand block
  • Palm block
  • Back fist strike
  • Spearhand strike
  • Side kick
4th Geup 태극 5장 (Taegeuk O-jahng) ☴, "風", "손", "Wind"
  • Cross stance
  • L-Shape Stance
  • Outside block
  • Hammer fist
  • Elbow strike
3rd Geup 태극 6장 (Taegeuk Yuk-jahng) ☵, "水", "감", "Water"
  • Outer forearm block
  • Double wedge block (also called opening block)
  • Roundhouse kick
2nd Geup 태극 7장 (Taegeuk Chil-jahng) ☶, "山", "간", "Mountain"
  • Tiger stance
  • Horse stance
  • Lower knifehand block
  • Double block
  • Knee strike
  • Double upset punch (i.e., uppercut)
  • Crescent kick
1st Geup 태극 8장 (Taegeuk Pal-jahng) ☷, "地", "곤", "Earth"
  • Mountain stance
  • Jumping front snap kick

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Poomsae". World Taekwondo Federation. Retrieved 2014-04-21.
  2. ↑ Lee, Kyu Hyung (11/06/2006). Complete Taekwondo Poomsae: The Official Taegeuk, Palgwae and Black Belt Forms of Taekwondo. Turtle Press. ISBN 978-1880336922. Check date values in: |date= (help)
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, February 08, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.