Poomsae
품새
For the sport poomsae performance guide please click here:
Italicized text following the Hangul is the approximate phonetic pronunciation. It is important to say things properly — don’t be the person pronouncing Taebaek as “Tie-Back”. We all know at least one.
Referred to as Hyeong 형 (“Hyuhng”) until 1971. Spelled as 품세 “pumse” until 1987 when Kukkiwon changed the official spelling to 품새 “poomsae”
A prearranged series of movements meant to impart martial arts concepts to the individual practicing it. There are many benefits to poomsae practice, including the development of proprioception, balance, strength and speed to name a few.
The applications of poomsae have their limits. The techniques of the poomsae were never developed to be used against a professional fighter in an arena or on a battlefield. They are, however, meant to be effective against someone who has no idea of the strategy being used to counter their aggressive behaviour (a thug without a lot of experience in people fighting back, for example).
A competitive sport unto itself with divisions of Recognized Poomsae and Freestyle Poomsae for both individuals as well as teams. As the high performance sport aspect of Poomsae has evolved with regards to those who compete under World Taekwondo, the emphasis has shifted from imparting practical skills to delivering the most technically proficient performance with high aesthetic presentation.
Recognized Poomsae does have some variance in technical specifications between Kukkiwon style and World Taekwondo sport style but for the most part there is standardization amongst techniques.
The Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA) debuted the set of 8 Taegeuk patterns in 1972, replacing the earlier set of 8 Palgwae patterns which debuted in 1967.
Freestyle Poomsae 자유 품새 (“Jah-Yoo Poom-Seyh”) was introduced as a competitive sport by World Taekwondo in 2012.
International Taekwon-Do Federation patterns are called Teul 틀 (“Tool”) and differ greatly from those of Kukkiwon Taekwondo.
Practitioners of Japanese Karate perform patterns called Kata - 型 (“Kah-Tah") and indeed there are many similar movements and combinations, as Taekwondo is majorly influenced by Shotokan Karate-Do.
“Always perform kata exactly, combat is another matter.”
- Gichin Funakoshi’s 18th Precept
List Of Kukkiwon Taekwondo Poomsae
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Palgwae Il-Jang (1) Poomsae
팔괘 일장 품새Palgwae I-Jang (2) Poomsae
팔괘 이장 품새Palgwae Sam-Jang (3) Poomsae
팔괘 삼장 품새Palgwae Sa-Jang (4) Poomsae
팔괘 사장 품새Palgwae O-Jang (5) Poomsae
팔괘 오장 품새Palgwae Yuk-Jang (6) Poomsae
팔괘 육장 품새Palgwae Chil-Jang (7) Poomsae
팔괘 칠장 품새Palgwae Pal-Jang (8) Poomsae
팔괘 팔장 품새
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Taegeuk Il-Jang (1) Poomsae
태극 일장 품새Taegeuk I-Jang (2) Poomsae
태극 이장 품새Taegeuk Sam-Jang (3) Poomsae
태극 삼장 품새Taegeuk Sa-Jang (4) Poomsae
태극 사장 품새Taegeuk O-Jang (5) Poomsae
태극 오장 품새Taegeuk Yuk-Jang (6) Poomsae
태극 육장 품새Taegeuk Chil-Jang (7) Poomsae
태극 칠장 품새Taegeuk Pal-Jang (8) Poomsae
태극 팔장 품새
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Koryo Poomsae
고려 품새Keumgang Poomsae
금강 품새Taebaek Poomsae
태백 품새Pyeongwon Poomsae
평원 품새Sipjin Poomsae
십진 품새Jitae Poomsae
지태 품새Cheonkwon Poomsae
천권 품새Hansu Poomsae
한수 품새Ilyeo Poomsae
일여 품새
List Of Chang-Heon Taekwon-Do Teul
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Cheon-Ji Teul
천지 틀Dan-Gun Teul
단군 틀Do-San Teul
도산 틀Weon-Hyo Teul
원효 틀Yul-Gok Teul
율곡 틀Jung-Geun Teul
중근 틀Toi-Gye Teul
퇴계 틀Hwa-Rang Teul
화랑 틀Chung-Mu Teul
충무 틀
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Gwang-Gae Teul
광개 틀Po-Eun Teul
포은 틀Gye-Baek Teul
계백 틀Eui-Am Teul
의암 틀Chung-Jang Teul
충장 틀Juche Teul
주체 틀Sam-Il Teul
삼일 틀Yu-Sin Teul
유신 틀Choi-Yeong Teul
최영 틀Yeon-Gae Teul
연개 틀Eul-Ji Teul
을지 틀Mun-Mu Teul
문무 틀Seo-San Teul
서산 틀Se-Jong Teul
세종 틀Tong-Il Teul
통일 틀
List Of Shotokan Karate-Do Kata
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Heian Shodan
平安初段Heian Nidan
平安二段Heian Sandan
平安三段Heian Yondan
平安四段Heian Godan
平安五段Bassai Dai
披塞大Jion
慈恩Enpi
燕飛Kanku Dai
観空大Hangetsu
半月Jitte
十手Gankaku
岩鶴Tekki Shodan
鉄騎初段Tekki Nidan
鉄騎二段Tekki Sandan
鉄騎三段Nijūshiho
二十四步Chinte
珍手Sōchin
壯鎭Meikyō/Rōhai
明鏡Unsu
雲手Bassai Shō
披塞小Kankū Shō
観空小Wankan
王冠Gojūshiho Shō
五十四歩小Gojūshiho Dai
五十四歩大Ji'in
慈陰
List Of Kodokan Judo Kata
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Randori-No-Kata
乱取りの形Katame-No-Kata
固の形Kime-No-Kata
極の形Kōdōkan Goshinjutsu
講道館護身術Jū-No-Kata
柔の形Gō-No-Kata
剛の形Itsutsu-No-Kata
五の形Koshiki-No-Kata
古式の形Seiryoku Zen'yō Kokumin Taiiku
精力善用国家体育Joshi-Goshinhō
女子護身法
World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships
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2006
Seoul, South Korea2007
Incheon, South Korea2008
Ankara, Turkey2009
Cairo, Egypt2010
Tashkent, Uzbekistan2011
Vladivostok, Russia2012
Tunja, Colombia2013
Bali, Indonesia2014
Aguascalientes, Mexico2016
Lima, Peru2018
Taipei City, Taiwan2020
Online due to COVID-19 pandemic
Originally scheduled for Herning, Denmark2022
Goyang, South Korea2024
Hong Kong, China2026
Not Yet Announced
Poomsae
품새
“Poom-Seyh”
A pattern of movements intended to develop physical and mental ability while also teaching concepts to be used in non-consensual violence.
Jayu Poomsae
Freestyle Poomsae
자유 품새
“Jah-Yoo Poom-Seyh”
A pattern of movements, choreographed by the competitor and/or their coach, which must fall within the prearranged guidelines of World Taekwondo.
Poomsae Bunhae
Poomsae Application
품새 분해
“Poom-Seyh Boon-Heyh”
Sometimes spelled as “boonhae”.
Deconstructing individual or sequences of movements in poomsae to ascertain their practical applications.
Not meant to be taken as series of movements to use but rather as a series of concepts to adapt according to the situation.
Another name for the practice is 품새 풀이 Poomsae Puri (“Pool-Ee”) which means Poomsae Solution.
In Karate this practice is called 形分解 Kata Bunkai (“Kah-Tah Boon-Kaee”).
Yeon-Mu Seon
연무선
“Yuhn-Moo-Suhn”
The Yeon-Mu Line of a poomsae is the line which is traced on the floor by the movement of the form.
Jang
Chapter / Part
장
“Jahng”
Yugeupja (colour belt) poomsae are numbered 1st part (il-jang) through 8th part (pal-jang).
Yugeupja Poomsae
Colour Belt Poomsae
유급자 품새
“Yoo-Goop-Jah Poom-Seyh”
The set of patterns used for Geup (grade) students to advance belts through rank promotion tests.
Taegeuk
The Unity Of Opposites; Balance; Harmony
태극 / 太極
“Teyh-Guhg”
Taegeuk refers to the source of everything in the universe and the universal law in which everything continuously goes through cycles of creation and destruction.
The Korean pronunciation of the Chinese word 太極 Tàijí (Tai Chi).
Tae 太 means “bigness” and geuk 極 means “eternity”.
Represented by a circle comprised of the opposite colours of red and blue blending together as seen on the national flag of the Republic of Korea 🇰🇷 (South Korea).
Also called Eum-Yang 음양 (“Oom-Yahng”).
Perhaps better known to most people in the west by its black and white depiction ☯ and Chinese name: 陰陽 Yin Yang (“Yeen-Yahng”).
Taegeuk Poomsae
Colour Belt Poomsae
태극 품새
“Teyh-Guhg Poom-Seyh”
The colour belt Taegeuk patterns developed by the Kukkiwon in 1971, they became officially required for rank advancement in 1974 alongside the older Palgwae patterns before completely replacing them in 1988.
The forms are named Il-Jang (Part 1) through Pal-Jang (Part 8) with each form being represented by one of the 8 Trigrams of the I Ching (The Book Of Changes).
The committee responsible for the development of these patterns included:
Kwak Gun-Sik of the Chung Do Kwan
Lee Young-Sup of the Song Moo Kwan
Lee Kyo-Yoon of the Han Moo Kwan
Park Man-Hae of the Chung Do Kwan
Hyun Jong-Myun of the Oh Do Kwan
Kim Soon-Bae of the Chang Moo Kwan
Lee Chong-Woo of Jidokwan
Young Ki-Bae also of Jidokwan
Young Tae-Han of Moo Duk Kwan
Palgwae Poomsae
Colour Belt Poomsae
팔괘 품새
”Pahl-G’weyh Poom-Seyh”
Developed between 1965 and 1967. The original set of patterns used for Geup (Grade) students to advance belts through rank promotion tests. The Kukkiwon officially required these forms for advancement from 1967 until 1974 when the Taegeuk Poomsae were also made mandatory.
In 1988 the Kukkiwon stopped requiring these forms in any official capacity though many schools continue using them to this day either as a supplement to or replacement for the Taegeuk set.
The forms are named Il-Jang (Part 1) through Pal-Jang (Part 8) with each form being represented by one of the 8 Trigrams of the I Ching (The Book Of Changes).
The committee responsible for the development of these patterns included:
Kwak Gun-Sik of the Chung Do Kwan
Lee Young-Sup of the Song Moo Kwan
Lee Kyo-Yoon of the Han Moo Kwan
Park Man-Hae of the Chung Do Kwan
Hyun Jong-Myun of the Oh Do Kwan
Kim Soon-Bae of the Chang Moo Kwan
Yudanja Poomsae
Black Belt Poomsae
유단자 품새
“Yoo-Dahn-Jah Poom-Seyh”
The Black Belt patterns developed by the Kukkiwon in 1967 (Koryo was revised in 1971, with the previous version being referred to as “Old Koryo”).
Used for Dan rank promotion.
Kibon Il-Jang
기본 일장
“Kee-Bohn Eel-Jahng”
Yeon-Mu Line: 工
Basic Form #1. Not a Recognized Poomsae.
Rank: 10th Grade - Sip Geup - 십 급
Based on the Shotokan Karate-Do Kata named Taikyoku Shodan.
Side To Side Turn 1: Front Foot
Side To Side Turn 2: Front Foot
Kibon I-Jang
기본 이장
“Kee-Bohn Ee-Jahng”
Yeon-Mu Line: 工
Basic Form #2. Not a Recognized Poomsae.
Rank: 9th Grade - Gu Geup - 구 급
Side To Side Turn 1: Front Foot
Side To Side Turn 2: Front Foot
Taegeuk Il-Jang
태극 일장
“Teyh-Guhg Eel-Jahng”
Trigram: ☰
Geon 건 / Sky 天
Yeon-Mu Line: 王
Taegeuk 1.
Rank: 8th Grade - Pal Geup - 팔 급
Side To Side Turn 1: Front Foot
Side To Side Turn 2: Front Foot
Side To Side Turn 3: Front Foot
Taegeuk I-Jang
태극 이장
“Teyh-Guhg Ee-Jahng”
Trigram: ☱
Tae 태 / Lake 澤
Yeon-Mu Line: 王
Taegeuk 2.
Rank: 7th Grade - Chil Geup - 칠 급
Side To Side Turn 1: Front Foot
Side To Side Turn 2: Front Foot
Side To Side Turn 3: Back Foot
Taegeuk Sam-Jang
태극 삼장
“Teyh-Guhg Sahm-Jahng”
Trigram: ☲
Ri 리 / Fire 火
Yeon-Mu Line: 王
Taegeuk 3.
Rank: 6th Grade - Yuk Geup - 육 급
Side To Side Turn 1: Front Foot
Side To Side Turn 2: Back Foot
Side To Side Turn 3: Front Foot
Taegeuk Sa-Jang
태극 사장
“Teyh-Guhg Sah-Jahng”
Trigram: ☳
Jin 진 / Thunder 雷
Yeon-Mu Line: 王
Taegeuk 4.
Rank: 5th Grade - O Geup - 오 급
Side To Side Turn 1: Front Foot
Side To Side Turn 2: Back Foot
Side To Side Turn 3: Back Foot
Taegeuk O-Jang
태극 오장
“Teyh-Guhg Oh-Jahng”
Trigram: ☴
Seon 선 / Wind 風
Yeon-Mu Line: 王
Taegeuk 5.
Rank: 4th Grade - Sa Geup - 사 급
Side To Side Turn 1: Back Foot
Side To Side Turn 2: Front Foot
Side To Side Turn 3: Front Foot
Taegeuk Yuk-Jang
태극 육장
“Teyh-Guhg Yook-Jahng”
Trigram: ☵
Gam 감 / Water 水
Yeon-Mu Line: 王
Taegeuk 6.
Rank: 3rd Grade - Sam Geup - 삼 급
Side To Side Turn 1: Back Foot
Side To Side Turn 2: Front Foot
Side To Side Turn 3: Back Foot
Taegeuk Chil-Jang
태극 칠장
“Teyh-Guhg Chihl-Jahng”
Trigram: ☶
Gan 간 / Mountain 山
Yeon-Mu Line: 王
Taegeuk 7.
Rank: 2nd Grade - I Geup - 이 급
Side To Side Turn 1: Back Foot
Side To Side Turn 2: Back Foot
Side To Side Turn 3: Front Foot
Taegeuk Pal-Jang
태극 팔장
“Teyh-Guhg Pahl-Jahng”
Trigram: ☷
Gon 곤 / Earth 地
Yeon-Mu Line: 王
Taegeuk 8.
Rank: 1st Grade - Il Geup - 일 급
Side To Side Turn 1: Back Foot
Side To Side Turn 2: Back Foot
Side To Side Turn 3: Back Foot
Koryo
고려
“Koh-L’yuh”
Yeon-Mu Line: 士
Meaning: Wise
The pattern required to test for 1st Dan.
Keumgang
금강
“Goom-Gahng”
Yeon-Mu Line: 山
Meaning: Unbreakable
The pattern required to test for 2nd Dan.
Taebaek
태백
“Teyh-Beyhg”
Yeon-Mu Line: 工
Meaning: Artisan
The pattern required to test for 3rd Dan.
Pyeongwon
평원
“P’yuhng-Wuhn”
Yeon-Mu Line: 一
Meaning: Peaceful
The pattern required to test for 4th Dan.
Sipjin
십진
“Shihp-Jihn”
Yeon-Mu Line: 十
Meaning: Longevity
The pattern required to test for 5th Dan.
Jitae
지태
“Jee-Teyh”
Yeon-Mu Line: ㅗ
Meaning: Self-Reliant
The pattern required to test for 6th Dan.
Cheonkwon
천권
“Chuhn-Gwuhn”
Yeon-Mu Line: ㅜ
Meaning: Pious
The pattern required to test for 7th Dan.
Hansu
한수
“Hahn-Soo”
Yeon-Mu Line: 水
Meaning: Adaptable
The pattern required to test for 8th Dan.
Ilyeo
일여
“Eel-Yuh”
Yeon-Mu Line: 卍
Meaning: Oneness
The pattern required to test for 9th Dan.
This is the only poomsae which is not used in competition.
Please note that the left facing sauwastika 卍 is NOT associated with the evils of the Nazi party of World War II nor is it associated with any sort of deplorable neo-Nazi movement.
The oldest archaeological evidence of the symbol in Asia is dated at around 3,000 BCE.
Ilyeo’s floor line references the Buddhist symbol which stands for the whole of creation.
Please follow this link to read more on the subject:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika