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 were, however, most effective against someone who had no idea of the strategy being used to counter their aggressive behaviour.
A competitive sport unto itself with divisions of Recognized Poomsae and Freestyle Poomsae for both individuals as well as teams.
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 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
Poomsae
품새
“Poom-Seyh”
A pattern of movements intended to develop physical and mental ability while also teaching self-defense concepts.
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
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
