Sipjin
십진
“Shihp-Jihn”
Yeon-Mu Line: 十
Meaning: Longevity
5th Dan Poomsae

十

Sipjin (sometimes spelled Shipjin) represents the 10 creatures of long life according to Taoist ideology, including two heavenly bodies, three natural objects, two plants and three animals: sun, moon, mountain, water, stone, pine tree, herb of eternal youth, tortoise, deer and crane. It symbolizes the great nature, trust desire and love of people.

Its Poomsae Line follows the character of 十 (the number 10 written in Chinese) which is the philosophical foundation of Sipjin, an infinite numbering of the decimal system, and ceaseless development. Thus, in a broad sense, Sipjin involves the 10 creatures, the whole universe, and the process of birth and death of all living creatures with seasonal changes — from spring to summer, fall and winter — and changing energy. In a narrow sense, it signifies the microcosms of humans. Thus, when applied to the human body, Sipjin reflects the changes in body and mind that must be identified to maintain the natural flow.

In terms of practice, Sipjin Poomsae moves must be practiced to perform them seamlessly such that “the defense is offense” and “the offense is defense”.

The organization of the Sipjin Poomsae line 十 is such that the center of the axis must be maintained on the center line regardless of moving forward, backward, left or right, whether attacking or defending. The center of the axis refers to keeping the neck and tailbone in a straight line (strong posture). Therefore, the vertical line of 十 is a state wherein the strength and balance of the body are aligned with the center line. Here, the practitioner will learn to move forward and backward or left and right seamlessly.

“Sipjin Poomsae is a combination of weight and agility. 바위 밀기 Bawi Milgi (Rock Pushing) is a practice technique that strengthens the lower body by concentrating breathing in the lower abdomen to systematize the power transmission from the ground to the palm. In 서기 Seogi (Stances), the center line’s alignment is an important practice element. 쳇다리 지르기 Chetdari Jireugi (Fork Punch) facilitates equal power transmission with both arms using their rotational power in the same directions. You will also train how to firmly stomp on the ground while rotating the upper body in one direction to transmit power, like in Chetdari Jireugi.

While practicing 작은 돌쩌귀 Jageun Doljjeogwi (Small Hinge) and 앞 차기 Ap Chagi (Ap Chagi), you learn about the operation of oppositional power — the upper body pulling and the lower body kicking. The connection between 받아 막기 Bada Makgi (Absorbing Blocks) and 잡기 Japgi (Grabbing) are taught with 손날 등 거들어 막기 Sonnal Deung Geodeureo Makgi (Assisted Ridge Hand Block).

Sipjin Poomsae practice aims to acquire skills of using power and body to prepare the practitioner for the practice of high-level Poomsae. In this stage, the practitioners will learn to shift their weight as well as use their body’s force.”

Technique Summary

서기 Stances:

  • Closed Stance / Moa Seogi / 모아 서기

  • Parallel Stance / Naranhi Seogi / 나란히 서기

  • Backward Stance / Dwit Gubi / 뒷 굽이

  • Forward Stance / Ap Gubi / 앞 굽이

  • Riding Stance / Juchum Seogi / 주춤 서기

  • Front Cross Stance / Ap Kkoa Seogi / 앞 꼬아 서기

  • Back Cross Stance / Dwi Kkoa Seogi / 뒤 꼬아 서기

  • Tiger Stance / Beom Seogi / 범 서기

방어 기술 Defensive Skills:

  • Bull Block / Hwangso Makgi / 황소 막기 (5 Seconds)

  • Palm Assisted Inner Forearm Outward Block / Sonbadak Geodeureo An Palmok Bakkat Makgi / 손바닥 거들어 안 목 바깥 막기

  • Opening Mountain Block / Hechyeo Taesan Makgi / 헤쳐 태산 막기

  • Assisted Knife Hand Downward Block / Sonnal Geodeureo Naeryeo Makgi / 손날 거들어 내려 막기

  • Ridge Hand Middle Opening Block / Sonnal Deung Momtong Hechyeo Makgi / 손날 등 몸통 헤쳐 막기

  • Knife Hand Low Opening Block / Sonnal Arae Hecheo Makgi / 손날 아래 헤쳐 막기 (5 Seconds)

  • Upward Tripping Block (Lift Up) / Ollyeo Georeo Makgi (Kkeuleo Olligi) / 올려 걸어 막기 (끌어 올리기)

  • Knife Hand Low Cross Block / Sonnal Eotgeoreo Arae Makgi / 손날 엇걸어 아래 막기

  • Assisted Ridge Hand Block / Sonnal Deung Geodeureo Makgi / 손날 등 거들어 막기

공격 기술 Offensive Skills:

  • Spear Hand Horizontal Thrust / Pyeonsonkkeut Eopeo Jjireugi / 편손끝 엎어 찌르기

  • Double Punch / Dubeon Jireugi / 두번 지르기

  • Side Punch / Yeop Jireugi / 옆 지르기

  • Double Side Elbow Strike (Yoke Strike) / Du Palgup Yeop Chigi (Myeongye Chigi) / 두 팔굽 옆 치기 (멍에 치기)

  • Front Kick / Ap Chagi / 앞 차기

  • Fork Punch / Chetdari Jireugi / 쳇다리 지르기

  • Assisted Forward Back Fist Strike / Deung Jumeok Geodeureo Ap Chigi / 등 주먹 거들어 앞 치기

  • Instep Stomp / Jitjjihgi / 짓찧기

특수품 Special Skills:

  • Basic Ready Posture / Kibon Junbi Jase / 기본 준비 자세 (5 Seconds)

  • Wrist Turning / Palmok Dollyeo / 팔목 돌려 (5 Seconds)

  • Rock Pushing / Bawi Milgi / 바위 밀기 (5 Seconds)

  • Stand Up & Clench Both Fists / Ileonaseo Du Jumeokeul Kkwag Jwiseyo / 일어나서 두 주먹을 꽉 쥐세요 (5 Seconds)

  • Small Hinge / Jageun Doljjeogwi / 작은 돌쩌귀

기합 Kihap:

  1. On the first Pulling Side Punch

  2. On the second Pulling Side Punch

  3. On the Stomp + Assisted Back Fist Forward Strike

Performance Notes:

  • Rhythm / Tempo:
    Be mindful of the different intervals between movements, which are determined by whether or not the next technique is offensive or defensive.

  • Bull Block:
    From Basic Ready Posture make sure that the forearms are vertically parallel to one another with 1 fist’s space between them. It should take 4 seconds for the fists to reach nose height, at the 5th second the fists should quickly shoot up then separate ½ a fist outward each (making 2 fists’ space between), 1 fist from the forehead

  • Palm Assisted Inner Forearm Outward Block → Spear Hand Horizontal Thrust:
    Don’t lower the blocking hand as it is opening and turning prior to the thrusting attack. The fingertips of the assisting hand should stay at the wrist line of the other arm until they attack

  • Mountain Opening Block:
    Make sure that the wrists cross below the belt and rise up to eye level before separating into the opening motion

  • Front Cross Stance → Side Punch:
    The pulling arm reaches across the face and is shoulder height as it begins the grabbing motion, the rear foot of the stance should be raised on its ball while the front foot remains flat

  • Double Side Elbow Strike:
    There is no 1st Position dominant arm / stepping leg relationship here, the top arm can be either

  • Rock Pushing:
    Push from the hip with the lower arm going to nose height and the upper arm ending similar to an Upward Block. The body should be turned with the palms facing sideways and 1 fist’s space between the hands. Both arms should be curved, not bent or straight, at the end

  • Upward Tripping Block / Lifting Up:
    In 1st Position make sure to counter turn the torso and slightly move the left arm to the left before driving your hips into Forward Stance and lifting

  • Front Kick + Small Hinge:
    Make sure that the Small Hinge is on the hip of the anchor foot side with the top fist in vertical position as the next technique is offensive rather than defensive

  • Fork Punch:
    There should be 2 fists’ space between the forearms at the end of the strike, which should be at solar plexus height

  • Assisted Ridge Hand Block:
    The palms face the opposite directions of Assisted Knife Hand Block in 1st Position and 2nd Position. Make sure that the thumb is folded over the palm. This is one of two techniques in Recognized Poomsae where the Assisting/Pulling Hand starts palm up rather than palm down (with the other being the Downward Blocks which follow the Low Turnover Thrusts in Koryo).

  • Kihap:
    This is the only Recognized Poomsae from amongst both the Yugeupja and Yudanja patterns with 3 Kihap.