Taegeuk Pal Jang

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Taegeuk Pal Jang is the last of eight taegeuk taekwondo forms practiced by the Kukkiwon and the World Taekwondo Federation. A form, or poomsae (also romanized as pursue or poomse), is a choreographed pattern of defense-and-attack motions. Taegeuk Pal Jang is often (but not universally) practiced by students of Kukkiwon/WTF-style taekwondo with rank of 1st geup. First geup students of Kukkiwon/WTF-style taekwondo practice this form in order to advance to the next rank (usually 1st dan black belt), at which students then begin studying a new sequence of black belt forms.

Contents

Etymology

The taegeuk symbol Taegeuk.svg
The taegeuk symbol

The word taegeuk (Korean : 태극; Hanja : 太極, Korean pronunciation: [tʰɛgɯk̚] ) refers to the universe from which all things and values are derived. [1] [2] It is also the symbol that makes up the center of the flag of South Korea and the source for its name, taegeukgi (hangul: 태극기, where gi means "flag"). [3] The taegeuk is commonly associated with Korean Taoism philosophical values [4] as well as Korean shamanism. [5]

The word pal is the number 8 in the Sino-Korean numbering system. The word jang translates roughly as "chapter" or "part". Taegeuk Pal Jang translates as "Part 8 of the Taegeuk".

Symbolism

The floor pattern (or yeon-mu) of each taegeuk poomsae is three parallel lines. On each line, a 180 degree turn is performed.

The floor pattern of each taegeuk poomsae then represents three broken or solid lines, called trigrams or gwae (bagua in Chinese). Each trigram (gwae) corresponds to a natural element.

The Pal Gwae or 八卦 Bāguà—The eight trigrams
乾 Qián
☰		兌 Duì
☱		離 Lí
☲		震 Zhèn
☳		巽 Xùn
☴		坎 Kǎn
☵		艮 Gèn
☶		坤 Kūn
☷
Heaven/SkyLake/MarshFireThunderWindWaterMountainEarth
天 Tiān澤(泽) Zé火 Huǒ雷 Léi風(风) Fēng水 Shuǐ山 Shān地 Dì
GunTaeYiJinSeonGamGanGon
All three turns of Taegeuk Pal Jang are performed by pivoting in-place. This indicates that the associated trigram is three broken lines. Taegeuk Pal Jang.png
All three turns of Taegeuk Pal Jang are performed by pivoting in-place. This indicates that the associated trigram is three broken lines.

All three turns of Taegeuk Pal Jang are performed by pivoting in-place. (The turn on the third line is considered a pivot-in-place because the turn uses a cross stance as a transitional movement.) This indicates that the associated trigram is three broken lines; this is the trigram for earth ("gon"). The Kukkiwon teaches that this poomsae serves as the foundation (i.e., the earth) for the student's future training (i.e., black belt training). [6]

Techniques

As the final Taegeuk form, this poomsae focuses on consolidating prior lessons, and so includes only a few new techniques:

Of all the Taegeuk forms, this form includes on its upward stem the most advanced kick: a single upward jump in which the practitioner kicks twice (once with each leg) while still in the air. A similar (but simpler) combination is seen on the downward stem, where one front kick is performed on the ground, followed immediately by a single jump front kick.

Development

During the 1920s and 1930s many of the pioneers of taekwondo studied karate or Chinese martial arts in which forms practice is seen as an essential element of the martial art. When these pioneers returned to Korea after the Japanese occupation, they incorporated forms practice into their teaching. During the 1960s there were several efforts among these pioneers to unify their styles of martial art and create a consolidated set of forms. In 1965 the Korea Taekwondo Association appointed a committee of representatives from six of the Nine Kwans to develop the forms for what is now called Kukkiwon- or WTF-style taekwondo. [7] The committee consisted of:

In 1967, this committee introduced the Palgwae and Yudanja (Black Belt) forms (including a simpler version of Koryo). In 1971 two additional kwans joined the committee:

This expanded committee went on to develop the Taegeuk forms.

See also

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Taegeuk Il Jang is the first of eight taekwondo forms practiced in Kukki Taekwondo, as defined by the Kukkiwon. A form, or poomsae, is a choreographed pattern of defense-and-attack motions. Taegeuk Il Jang is considered a beginner form, often practiced by students of Kukki style taekwondo with rank of 8th geup. Eighth geup students of Kukki-style taekwondo practice this form in order to advance to the next rank.

Taegeuk Ee Jang is the second of eight taekwondo forms practiced by the Kukkiwon and the World Taekwondo Federation. A form, or poomsae, is a choreographed pattern of defense-and-attack motions. Taegeuk Ee Jang is considered a beginner form, often practiced by students of Kukkiwon/WTF-style taekwondo with rank of 7th geup. Seventh geup students of Kukkiwon/WTF-style taekwondo practice this form in order to advance to the next rank.

Taegek Sam Jang is the third of eight taekwondo forms practiced by the Kukkiwon and the World Taekwondo Federation. A form, or poomsae, is a choreographed pattern of defense-and-attack motions. Taegeuk Sam Jang is often practiced by students of Kukkiwon/WTF-style taekwondo with rank of 6th geup. Sixth geup students of Kukkiwon/WTF-style taekwondo practice this form in order to advance to the next rank.

Taegek Sa Jang is the fourth of eight taekwondo forms practiced by the Kukkiwon and World Taekwondo. A form, or poomsae, is a choreographed pattern of defense-and-attack motions. Taegeuk Sa Jang is often practiced by students of Kukkiwon/WT-style taekwondo.

Taegeuk Oh Jang is the fifth of eight taekwondo forms in the Taegeuk set practiced by the Kukkiwon and World Taekwondo. A form, or poomsae, is a choreographed pattern of defense-and-attack motions. Taegeuk Oh Jang is often practiced by students of Kukkiwon/WT-style taekwondo with rank of 4th geup. Fourth geup students of Kukkiwon/WTF-style taekwondo practice this form in order to advance to the next rank.

Taegeuk Yook Jang is the sixth of eight taekwondo forms practiced by the Kukkiwon and the World Taekwondo Federation. A form, or poomsae, is a choreographed pattern of defense-and-attack motions. Taegeuk Yook Jang is often practiced by students of Kukkiwon/WTF-style taekwondo with rank of 3rd geup. Third geup students of Kukkiwon/WTF-style taekwondo practice this form in order to advance to the next rank.

Taegeuk Chil Jang is the seventh of eight taekwondo forms practiced by the Kukkiwon and the World Taekwondo Federation. A form, or poomsae, is a choreographed pattern of defense-and-attack motions. Taegeuk Chil Jang is often practiced by students of Kukkiwon/WTF-style taekwondo with rank of 2nd geup. Second geup students of Kukkiwon/WTF-style taekwondo practice this form in order to advance to the next rank.

References

  1. ↑ Gukgiwon (국기원) (2005). Taekwondo textbook. Seoul: 오성출판사. p. 303. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  2. ↑ Rogers, William Elford (1994). Interpreting Interpretation: Textual Hermeneutics as an Ascetic Discipline. University Park, Pa: Pennsylvania State University Press. p. 303. ISBN   9780271010618 . Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  3. ↑ Korean overseas information service (2003). Handbook of Korea (11. ed.). Seoul: Korean Overseas Information Service. p. 568. ISBN   9788973750054 . Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  4. ↑ Kim, Sang Yil; Ro, Young Chan (1984). Hanism as Korean mind : interpretation of Han philosophy. Los Angeles, Calif.: Eastern Academy of Human Sciences. p. 66. ISBN   0932713009 . Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  5. ↑ Korea's Sam-Taegeuk Symbol. san-shin.org, dedicated to the sacred mountains of Korea.
  6. ↑ Kim, Soon-Bae (2012). Taekwondo Textbook. Seoul: Kukkiwon. ISBN   978-8973367504.
  7. ↑ Kang, Won-Sik. "A Modern History of Taekwondo" (PDF). www.stanford.edu. Stanford University. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
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