Poomsae is a line of movements based on the traditional Oriental ideas involved in the name of each Poomsae. Practitioners can learn defensive and offensive techniques against an imaginary opponent through practice of Poomsae from easy to complex, difficult ones.
Kyoruki is the actual sparring between two people with defensive and offensive techniques they have acquired through Poomsae practice as well as competition sparring.
Honsinsul is self defense.
Kyukpa means breaking. Practitioners can measure their precision of Taekwondo training by breaking solid objects such as planks, bricks and roof tiles with hands, fists, elbows and feet as body weapons.
Taekwondo Poomsae is meant by a "Form" in which a self-practice is devised to be performed in following the lines of movement in a systematic and consecutive way against an imaginary opponent or multi-opponents by using various Taekwondo technics of hand and foot.
Through practising Taekwondo Poomsae, we can apply the technics of hand and foot and the changes of stance learned from the basic technics adaptable to actual fighting . It also provides us with the effects on improving flexibility of body and being skilled in strength control, balance control, breath control, eye control and concentration of spirit, as well as cultivating martial art spirit through its mental discipline.
A Taekwondo 'Poomsae' comprises various stance, each with its peculiar nature but each blending into the other. A 'Poomsae' consists of about two dozen stances interconnected. Blocking, punching, striking, thrusting and kicking are among Teakwondo Poomsae, and these are properly carried out with hands, fists and feet to the vital sport of the body or target at which they are aimed, and the stances accordingly change forward stance, back stance, cat stance and horseriding stance, etc. as the situation requires. Most typical 'Poomsae' are Palgwe I-VIII, Taeguk I-VIII, Koryo, Kumgang, Taebak, Pyongwon, Shipjin, Jitae, Chunkwon, Hansoo and Ilyeo.
Meaning of each Poomsae:
TAEGUK: This represents the most profound oriental philosophy from which philosophical views on the world, cosmos and life are derived. The Taeguk Poomsae consists of different movements in sequence. The vital points of this Poomsae are to make exact the speed of breath and action and move the body weight properly while executing speedy actions. Thus we can fully realise the main thought of Taeguk.
| Taeguk Il Jang | - | Heaven and Light |
| Taeguk Yee Jang | - | Joyfulness |
| Taeguk Sam Jang | - | Fire and Sun |
| Taeguk Sah Jang | - | Thunder |
| Taeguk Oh Jang | - | Wind |
| Taeguk Yuk Jank | - | Water |
| Taeguk Chil Jang | - | Mountain |
| Taeguk Pal Jang | - | Earth |
PALGWE: Supplementary Training. The thought of Palgwe, another concept of the ancient
Oriental philosophy, implies symbolically all the phenomena of man and universe.
KORYO: Koryo is the name of an ancient dynasty in the Korean peninsula. The English
name of "Korea" originated from the name of this "Koryo" dynasty with
which was famed for the valiant spirit of its people which they defeated the Mongolian
aggression. Koryo Poomsae is based on sprit of Sonbae(Sonbi) which was inherited from
Koguryo to Balhae and to Koryo. Sonbae means strong martial art and honest spirit of
scholars.
KUMGANG: The word "Kumgang '' has originally the meaning of being too strong to be
broken. Also in Buddhism, what can break off every agony of mind with combination of
wisdom and virtue is called "Kumgang". The Poomsae "Kumgang" is named
after Mount Kumgang, symbol of solidity. "Kumgang" is also analogous of
"diamond".
TAEBACK: "Taeback" is the ancient name of Mount Paekdu where the legendary
Tangun founded a nation for the first time in the Korean peninsula 4,329 years ago on
Tangun calendar(1996 A.D = 4329 Tangun year). Poomsae "Taeback" takes its
principles of movement from the word "Taeback" which means being looked up to as
sacred.
PYONGWON: "Pyongwon" is meant by 'vast plain'. The plain is a source of
sustaining the human life and, on the other hand, a great open plain stretching out
endlessly gives us a feeling of majesty that is different from what we feel with a
mountain or the sea. An application of the providence of the plain which is blessed with
abundance and grace as well as boundless vastness into the practice of Taekwondo is Poomse
Pyongwon(plain) .
SHIPJIN: Shipjin has the meaning of 'decimal system' which stands for a symbolical figure
of 10 meaning endless development and growth in a systematic order. In Poomse Shipjin,
stability is sought in every change of movements.
JITAE: According to the oriental belief, all living things come from and return to the
earth (Jitae is derived from the meaning of the earth). The earth is indeed the origin and
terminal of life. Living things as well as all the natural phenomena of the earth
originate mainly from the changes and the form of the earth. Poomsae "Jitae" is
the movement which applies these features of the earth.
CHUNKWON: "Chunkwon" signifies the sky. From ancient times the orientals have
always believed and worshipped the sky as ruler of the universe and human beings. The
infinitely vast sky may be a mysterious and profound world of imagination in the eyes of
finite human beings. Poomsae Chunkwon is composed of the motions which are full of piety
and vitality.
HANSOO: Poomsae "Hansoo" derived from the word 'water' is typical with its
fluidity and adaptability as manifested in the nature of water.
LYEO: "Ilyeo" signifies oneness. In Buddhism the state of spiritual cultivation is said to be "Ilyeo"(oneness), in which body and mind, I (subject) and you (object), spirit and substance are unified into oneness. The ultimate ideal of Taekwondo lies in this state of Ilyeo. The final goal Taekwondo pursues is indeed a discipline in which we concentrate attention on every movement, shaking off all worldly thoughts and obsessions.
Step sparring (Daeryon)
Step sparring is a training form with one attacker and one defender. The defender has been
informed on how the attacker is going to attack. The attacker takes a step backwards (into
ab-kubi) and gives a kihap (yell) to show that he or she is ready to attack. The defender
responds with a kihap to indicate that he or she is ready too. The attacker starts, with
one punch (one-step), two punches (two-steps) or three punches (three-steps). One can also
use kicks, or a combination of kicks and punches. The defender reacts with several blocks
(depending on the number of punches or kicks) and a 'killing blow or kick'. The attacker
and defender both get back to beginning position afterwards. All is done to show the skill
one has gained. There are three sorts of stepsparring. For the unexperienced student
there is the three-steps (Sam-bo Daeryon), for the advanced student there is the two-steps
(I-bo Daeryon) and for 1st Dan or higher, there is the one-step (Il-bo Daeryon)
(theoretically). Practically, what type will be trained depends on the teacher.
There is also competition sparring. Non-contact and light sparring is a lot like
shaddow boxing. You will try to catch your opponent off guard but only touch him lightly.
This will increase your speed and technique.
Full contact sparring is only done when full body is worn. This will usually be during
competition training or the competition itself.
A specific part of self-defence, 'freeing techniques' is called 'Paegi'. Self-defence
is very important and is used for several purposes. It is used to learn the possibilities
and the impossibilities of his/her knowledge in various situations. This enables a student
to handle correctly in case of a conflict. Avoid the situation, or surprise the opponent.
Sometimes, it may be necessary to attack the opponent (the best defense is the attack).
You get to know your own strength and slowly gain more self-confidence.
There are two sorts of self-defence: The hard way and the soft way. In the 'hard-way' one
uses arms and legs to block a strike of the opponent. The advantage is that there is a
direct counter-threat, which results in pain for the opponent. The disadvantage is that
this method requires a lot of power and it may look extremely violent for outsiders.
The soft-way trains from a different view. Here you use the power and speed of the
opponent to neutralise him/her. All is done through circular movements. The advantage is
that you can neutralise your opponent without really hurting him and that no strength is
required. The disadvantage is that it takes a lot of skill and practise to come to the
necessary level.
You will be required to break boards with a hand and a foot technique for your belt gradings from green belt upwards.