Dollyo chagi is the Taekwondo roundhouse kick. The practitioner raises the knee, turns the hips, pivots on the non-kicking foot, and snaps the kick horizontally into the target at a 80 to 90-degree angle, either with the instep or with the ball of the foot (in the latter case, with the toes pulled back out... more »
In Dwit yop chagi (Taekwondo reverse turning back kick) the practitioner turns the body away from the target and pushes the back leg straight toward the target, hitting it with the heel while watching over the shoulder. The turning motion helps to give this kick a lot of power. Without proper care, you can “spin... more »
Eui Am is a Taekwondo form (Hyeong). The name “Eui Am” is the pseudonym of Son Byong Hi, leader of the Korean independence movement on March 1, 1919. The 45 movements refer to his age when he changed the name of his religion from Dong Hak (oriental learning) to Chondogyo (Heavenly Way Religion) in... more »
Ge Baek is a Taekwondo form (hyeong) in 44 movements. Gae-Baek is named after Gyebaek, a great general in the Baekje Dynasty. The diagram represents his severe and strict military discipline. [From Wikipedia. Original page is... more »
Hansu is a Taekwondo form. This pumsae is derived from the fluidity of water which easily adapts within nature. The symbol of the water repeats itself many times throughout all pumsae, hyeongs, and in martial arts in general. [From Wikipedia. Original page is... more »
Cho Hee Il (born October 13, 1940) is a prominent Korean-American master of taekwondo, holding the rank of 9th dan in the martial art. He has written 11 martial art books, produced 70 martial art training videos, and has appeared on more than 70 martial arts magazine covers. Cho won several national and international... more »
The Hook kick (in Korean, huryeo chagi or golcho chagi, in Japanese ushiro mawashi geri) strikes with the heel from the side (or flat of the foot in sparring). It is executed similar to a side kick. However, the kick is intentionally aimed slightly off target in the direction of the kicking foot’s toes.... more »
Jason Chambers (mma) and Bill Duff (wrestling) travel in Korea to learn Taekwondo, to compete with a pro in the sport after just 1 week of training. The Human Weapon TV series reviews various martial arts styles while two experts attempt to learn these unique fighting methods. You should at least watch the final episode... more »
Hwa rang is a Taekwondo 29 movements form (hyeong). This pattern is named after the Hwarang youth group, which was originated by the Silla Dynasty in about 1350 years ago. The group eventually became the actual driving force for the unification of the three Kingdoms of Korea. The 29 movements refer to the 29th... more »
Ilyo is a Taekwondo form. The state of spiritual cultivation in Buddhism is called ‘Ilyo’ which means ‘oneness’. In Ilyo, body and mind, spirit and substance, “I” and “you” are unified. The ultimate ideal of the martial art and pumsae can be found in this state. It is a discipline in which every movement... more »
Jitae is a Taekwondo form. This pumsae is derived from the meaning of the earth. All things evolve from and return to the earth, the earth is the beginning and the end of life, as reelected through the Yin and Yang. [From Wikipedia. Original page is... more »
Joong gun is a 32-movements Taekwondo form (hyeong). This pattern is named after the patriot Ahn Joong-Gun who assassinated Itō Hirobumi, the first Japanese governor-general of Korea, known as the man who played the leading part in the Korea-Japan merger. There are 32 movements in this pattern to represent Mr Ahn’s age when he... more »
The Juche hyeong has 45 movements. Juche is a philosophical idea that man is the master of everything and decides everything. In other words, the idea that man is that master of the world and his own destiny. It is said that this idea was rooted in Baekdu Mountain, which symbolize the spirit of... more »
Keumgang is a Taaekwondo pattern. Its name means “diamond,” symbolizing hardness. Keumgang is also the name of the most beautiful mountain in Korea, as well as the Keumgang warrior, named by Buddha. Thus, the themes of hardness, beauty, and pondering permeate this pumsae. [From Wikipedia. Original page is... more »
A knifehand strike is a strike using the part of the hand opposite the thumb (from the little finger to the wrist), familiar to many people as a karate chop, (in Japanese, shuto-uchi). This refers to strikes performed with the side of the knuckle of the small finger. Suitable targets for the knife hand... more »
Ko dang was one of the original 24 patterns created by General Choi. In the early 1980s, however, Kodang was removed from the official syllabus by General Choi and replaced by a new pattern which he named Juche. Go-Dang was a famous South Korean anti-communist, and when Choi began to spread his art throughout... more »